Radzhab Butaev-Alexander Besputin set for November 30th on DAZN

Eddie Hearn has claimed victory in the purse bid for Radzhab Butaev vs. Alexander Besputin, which the WBA ordered earlier this year for the “regular” welterweight title formerly held by Manny Pacquiao. The fight will headline a November 30th DAZN card in Monaco; Top Rank, Besputin’s promoter, had intended to add it to the October 18th Olseksandr Gvozdyk-Artur Beterbiev card in Philadelphia.

Scott gave the WBA their deserved tongue-lashing for the title nonsense already, but like him, I won’t let that nonsense detract from a quality matchup between two former elite amateurs. Butaev (12-0, 9 KO) has had a fairly quiet pro career; “The Python” was set to take part in the WBC “Jose Sulaiman World Invitational” tournament last year, but had to withdraw before the opening round.

Said tournament apparently imploded before the semifinals, so it’s honestly a lucky break on his part.

Besputin (13-0, 9 KO) has been a fixture of Top Rank cards in recent years, taking home wins on the Ramirez-Orozco, Lomachenko-Pedraza, and Lomachenko-Crolla undercards. He certainly has the greater strength of schedule, but he’ll also give up three inches of height and four inches of reach to Butaev.

The card doesn’t currently have any competition; the only notable event scheduled for the 30th at the moment is Anthony Mundine vs. John Wayne Parr, which shouldn’t overlap due to time zones.