IT’S OFFICIAL: Mukhammad Shekhov and Yerny Betancourt Set for WBA World Title Eliminator

Mukhammad Shekhov and Yerny Betancourt

Russian powerhouse RCC Boxing has pulled the curtain back on a high-stakes WBA Super Bantamweight world title eliminator. The clash pits the undefeated Asian continental king, Uzbekistan’s Mukhammad Shekhov, against the volatile WBA Gold champion, Venezuela’s Yerny Betancourt.

The 122-pound (55.3 kg) showdown will serve as the chief support for the May 30th mega-card at the UGMK Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The evening is headlined by light heavyweight king Dmitry Bivol, who defends his 175-pound crowns against Michael Eifert.

The Matchup: Style vs. Substance

Mukhammad Shekhov (17-0-1, 4 KOs), the 33-year-old technician out of Bukhara, enters his first camp of 2026 coming off a stellar 2025 campaign. In his last outing in July, he dismantled the previously unbeaten Argentine prospect Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz (23-1) via a clinical unanimous decision. Prior to that, he showcased his dominance in Hungary with a decision win over Orlando Morales.

While Shekhov’s 20% knockout ratio suggests he isn't a one-punch destroyer, his ring generalship is undeniable. He has become a "Latino specialist" of sorts, racking up consecutive wins over the likes of Ruiz, Morales, and Colombia’s Leonardo Carrillo. The Uzbek travels on a five-fight winning streak, relying on high-volume pressure and tactical discipline rather than raw power.

The Challenger: Betancourt’s Momentum

In the opposite corner, Yerny Alexander Betancourt (27-2, 21 KOs) arrives in the form of his life. The 26-year-old native of Miranda captured the WBA Gold title last August in dramatic fashion, scoring a final-round stoppage against Mexico’s Miguel Moreno González in front of a raucous Venezuelan crowd.

Betancourt is no stranger to hostile territory. In May 2025, he traveled to Argentina to outpoint veteran José Velásquez, and in 2024, he secured the WBO Youth World Title against Ayrton Ezequiel Segovia.

Unlike Shekhov, Betancourt brings the "equalizer" to the ring, boasting a KO percentage north of 70%. With five straight wins—three by way of stoppage—the Venezuelan is a dangerous underdog. However, this fight presents a unique litmus test: it marks the first time in his professional career that Betancourt will compete outside of the Americas.

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