Roman Andreev vs Zaur Abdullaev Preview September 8th, 2023
There’s a good 10-round domestic lightweight fight over in Russia this Friday, September 8th as Zaur Abdullaev dukes it out with unbeaten Roman Andreev. The fight can be seen on RCC boxing in Russia. Abdullaev last saw action in March when he beat Ricardo Nunez by 10-round unanimous decision after dropping him in the first round. Andreev hasn’t boxed since June, 2021 when he was down in the first round but fought back to beat Freddy Fonseca by 12-round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBA Gold Lightweight Title.
Andreev vs Abdullaev Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Roman Andreev +275
- Zaur Abdullaev -345
My Pick
The 37 -year-old Andreev is back in the ring after a two-year absence and enters it with a perfect record of 25-0 with 17 Ko’s and has boxed 115 rounds since turning pro back in 2008. He had a fine amateur career as be competed in the youth national championships and became a member of the youth Russian amateur national squad. He reportedly won many international and national tournaments and won 135 of his 150 amateur bouts.
Since turning pro he’s also captured the WBO European, WBO Inter-Continental, and Pan Asian Boxing Association Lightweight Titles. He stands just over 5-feet-7-inches tall with an unlisted reach and has above-average power with a current knockout ratio of 68 per cent with power in both hands and has gone the distance in two of his last four outings. Andreev has fought mainly in his homeland with his biggest wins coming over Miguel Aguilar, Rey Labao, Rolando Magbanua, Patrick Malinga, Craig Evans, Pavel Malikov, and Jesus Cuadro.
Abdullaev is a 29-year-old who will step into the ring with a mark of 17-1 and fights out of Armenia. He’s 5-feet-9-inches tall and unfortunately also has an unlisted reach so is an 1.5-inches taller than Andreev. He enjoyed a fine amateur career as well as he won a silver medal at the Russian National Junior Championships in 2010 and the European Youth Championships in 2011 and made it to the quarterfinals of the Russian National Youth Championships in 2012.
He has above-average power in his fists with a current 58.8 per cent knockout ratio and has gone the distance in three of his last five fights. Abdullaev turned pro in 2017 and has fought 129 rounds since. His biggest win came in 2022 when he stopped former world champion Jorge Linares in the 12th round. He’s also beaten Dejan Zlaticanin, Humberto Martinez, Jovanni Straffon, Roberto Gonzales, Ardie Boyose, Deiner Berrio and Hank Lundy and won the WBO Youth Lightweight Title in 2018.
His toughest test and only pro loss came against Devin Haney for the WBC Interim World Lightweight title in September, 2019 and was stopped after four rounds. That bout took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City in what has been his only fight outside of Russia so far. Abdullaev has taken on stiffer opposition as a pro in Haney and Linares and is eight years younger than Andreev.
Prediction…
Abdullaev likes to break his opponents down but he’s facing an unbeaten boxer in Andreev. However, Andreev has been out of the ring for just over two years and is 37 years old, so it’s hard to predict what he has left in the tank. Abdullaev could be stopped if he isn’t 100- per cent prepared and this fight could very well come down to his chin. This is a tough call and common sense says to go with the younger boxer Abdullaev, but his chin has to hold out.
Andreev is pushing 40 years old and has been out of the ring for two years.
Play: Abdullaev -345 @ BetOnline.ag
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Roman Andreev betting • Zaur Abdullaev betting