The 122 lbs matchup between Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Kevin Gonzalez is scheduled for December 16th, following the WBA’s mandate in August for the two fighters to face each other. This fight has been designated as an eliminator for the WBA super bantamweight title, currently held by Filipino champion Marlon Tapales.

The bout offers a pathway for both fighters to challenge for the WBA super bantamweight title. However, the winner of this contest is likely to gain the opportunity to contend for all four world titles in the division. WBA & IBF champion Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KO’s) is set to unify with WBC & WBO champion Naoya Inoue in the same month.

Uzbek Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-1, 8 KO’s) and Mexican Kevin Gonzalez (26-0-1, 13 KO’s) will feature on the undercard of the Matchroom-promoted fight card headlined by Sunny Edwards and Jesse Rodriguez. The two fighters currently hold the #1 and #2 spots in the WBA rankings, respectively.

A victory for either fighter holds contrasting significance. Akhmadaliev, a former unified champion for approximately three years before a loss to Tapales in April of this year, aims to reclaim his status. On the other hand, Gonzalez, who has yet to contend for a world title, sees this as his first chance to fight for all four world titles.

On paper, Akhmadaliev appears to have the better chance despite having fewer professional fights than Gonzalez. His tenure as a unified champion has exposed him to a more talented range of opponents and genuine contenders, while Gonzalez has recently emerged from the fringes of contention.

The Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, will host this significant WBA eliminator between the two fighters. They view this upcoming bout not only as a stepping stone toward world title glory but also as a path to making sports history, with the potential for an undisputed fight for the winner in the near future.