Barabanovs vs. Tevdorashvili In Latvia

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July 12, 2011 / BY UBO PRESS OFFICER

Barabanovs (9-1, 5 KOs) turned professional in 2008. After winning a bronze medal at the 1996 Junior World amateur championships in Cuba he turned to Kickboxing and won several titles, including amateur and professional world championships.  

Making the transition back to regular boxing, Barabanovs won his first four pro fights, including a victory over undefeated Russian prospect Elis Idrisov in Finland, before losing a decision in a rematch in Russia. In 2010 he went to Ireland and beat another prospect, John Waldron, and finished the year by capturing the Baltic Boxing Union title by beating countryman Martins Kukulis.

Since winning the BBU title Barabanovs has scored two knockout victories in 2011, and he is considered the best professional boxer in Latvia at the moment. Winning the UBO title on July 29 will further establish that claim, but he will not be in for an easy ride against Tevdorashvili.

Despite a mediocre 9-5-2 (5) record, Giorgi Tevdorashvili has proved that he can compete with some of the best Light Heavyweights in Europe. After turning pro in 2008 he went undefeated through his first five bouts before losing a decision in Belorussia to the much more experienced EBU-EE (European External European Union) titlist Mahamed Aripadzhieu.

Tevdorashvili returned at Cruiserweight in an IBO International and GBC title fight in Azerbaijan against Roman Golovachenko, again losing on points, before a draw against Countryman Paata Berikashvili made him realize that a return to Light Heavyweight would serve him best.    

Back in his natural weight class, Tevdorashvili scored a first round knockout-victory in February 2010 before winning the Georgian title with a unanimous decision over Shota Sopromadze two months later. That victory earned him a shot at world-ranked Ukranian Vitaliy Rusal (26-1), but after a great effort he lost a controversial split decision.  

A trip back to Ukraine saw Tevdorashvili on the wrong end of another close decision against Viacheslav Uzelkov (22-1), who had fought for the WBA World title in his last fight. Inspired by the fact that he could compete against world class operators, Tevdorashvili returned to Georgia and beat Zurab Stefanishvili in an eight round non title fight just a month later.  

One more victory earlier this year lined Tevdorashvili up for another championship fight. But after again showing that he can “hang” with some of the best in Europe, the Georgian Road-Warrior lost on points to former WBO World title-challenger Nadjib Mohamedi (23-2) in a WBF Intercontinental title fight in France.

Less than three weeks later Tevdorashvili beat one Zviad Kereselidze in Variani, Georgia, and he will travel to Latvia confident, knowing he has fought, and some would argue beat, bigger names than Andrejs Barabanovs. After coming up short in two previous title fights abroad, he will be determined to make it third time lucky on July 29.

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