Bishkek, June 23, 2026 /Kabar/. The major international evening of professional boxing will take place in Bishkek on July 3, featuring athletes from seven countries. The tournament's organizing committee announced this.
The tournament will be held at Zhashtyk Arena sports stadium and will bring together boxers from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Thailand, and Cuba.
The main event of the evening will be the arrival of world boxing legends – former undisputed world champion in two weight classes Evander Holyfield and Olympic champion and former WBA world champion Alexander Povetkin. They will attend the tournament as guests of honor and will not participate in the bouts.
The program includes eight fights, including two title fights. In one of the main bouts, Kyrgyzstan's Yktyar Nyshanov will face Russia's Mikhail Tarkhanov. The special belt of the Chairman of Jogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan(Kyrgyz Parliament) will be at stake.
Another title fight will be for the Kyrgyz Professional Boxing League belt, with Kyrgyzstan's Akzhol Sulaimanbek uulu facing experienced Thai fighter Phayom Campee.
In addition, the tournament will feature six ranking bouts featuring boxers from Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Cuba. The international boxing evening will feature Central Asian stars as guests of honor: legendary Uzbek boxer Muhammadkadyr Abdullaev, a 2000 Sydney Olympic champion, world and Asian champion, winner of the Asian Games, and independent Uzbekistan's first Olympic champion in summer sports; and Kazakhstan's Kanat Islam, a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games and World Championships, and holder of the WBO and WBA international professional titles.
According to the organizers, holding international tournaments will allow Kyrgyz athletes to compete more frequently in the professional ring, gain ranking points, and strengthen Kyrgyzstan's position in the international boxing arena.
The tournament will be held with the support of Marlen Mamataliev, Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh. The concert program will begin at 5:00 PM, and the boxing matches will begin at 6:00 PM.