Akhmadaliev to Fight Castillo Ahead of Inoue Showdown

Guadalajara, Mexico – Murodjon Akhmadaliev is set to return to the boxing ring on May 30, just a few weeks ahead of his anticipated showdown with Naoya Inoue. Akhmadaliev, the former unified junior featherweight champion with a record of 13-1 (10 KOs), will face Luis Castillo on the undercard of the Manuel Gallegos-Khalil Coe rematch.

The event will take place at Domo Alcalde, and Akhmadaliev’s performance could pave the way for a significant fight on September 14 against the undisputed junior featherweight champion, Naoya Inoue, who has an impressive record of 29-0 (26 KOs). However, both fighters must secure victories in their upcoming bouts to set this bout in motion. Inoue is scheduled to defend his title against San Antonio’s Ramón Cardenas, 26-1 (14 KOs), in Las Vegas this Sunday.

The bout on May 30 represents a chance for Akhmadaliev to stay active in the sport after a lengthy break. He has not fought since December 14, 2023, when he scored a third-round knockout against Ricardo Espinoza in Monte Carlo. That win earned him the interim WBA junior featherweight title.

Akhmadaliev’s inactivity was influenced by expectations of a title shot against Inoue, which led him to withdraw from a proposed fight last summer. Now, he seeks to avoid letdowns from a year of missed opportunities.

Previously, Akhmadaliev held both the WBA and IBF junior featherweight titles, but his reign ended controversially in April 2023 with a split decision loss to Marlon Tapales. Inoue later defeated Tapales, claiming the title and becoming a two-division undisputed champion.

Having fought only twice since his loss to Tapales, Akhmadaliev is eager to establish himself again with a victory. He had previously won against Kevin Gonzalez by sixth-round knockout, which made him the WBA mandatory challenger. The upcoming fight could be crucial for his future aspirations in the boxing world.