Armenian boxer Hovhannes Bachkov continued his undefeated professional run with a dominant performance at the IBA Pro?7 Champions Night tournament in Istanbul, where he knocked out South Africa’s Xolisani Ndongeni to win the vacant IBA Pro Intercontinental Super Lightweight title and successfully retain his WBA Continental belt.
The bout, held on July 2, 2025, at Rixos Tersane Istanbul, was initially scheduled against Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev, who withdrew due to injury. Ndongeni, a seasoned fighter with over 30 wins in his career, stepped in as a late replacement. Despite the short notice, Bachkov maintained his focus and delivered a confident, calculated performance.
In the opening two rounds, Bachkov fought defensively from the center of the ring, with Ndongeni landing a few clean shots. By the third round, Bachkov had found his rhythm and began dominating the pace of the fight with precise punches and constant pressure. Over the following rounds, the Armenian boxer controlled the distance, dictating the tempo and forcing Ndongeni onto the back foot.
The fight ended in the ninth round when Bachkov landed a powerful left straight followed by a right hook that sent Ndongeni to his knees. As the referee approached to start the count, Ndongeni’s corner threw in the towel, signaling the end of the match.
With this win, Bachkov improved his professional record to 8–0, with seven victories by knockout. It marked his second fight of 2025 after returning from hand surgery in March, when he captured the WBA Continental title by knocking out José Rivas Bastardo in Dubai.
Following the fight, Bachkov expressed his gratitude: “I am very happy that I managed to achieve victory and win this championship belt. I thank everyone who came to support me, as well as those who couldn’t come to Turkey but sent their encouragement from afar.”
The fight was attended by IBA President Umar Kremlev, the President of the Armenian Boxing Federation Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, and several notable figures in the boxing world, including Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford, and David Haye.
