Murat “Lord Pitbull” Kazgan vs. Will “The Kill” Chope – IBA Fight

ISTANBUL, June 19, 2025

Bare Knuckle Brawls and Olympic Champions Set to Collide

The IBA.pro 7 Champions’ Night in Istanbul on July 2,2025,promises a night of explosive action,featuring both professional boxing and bare-knuckle fights.

• Murat Kazgan, “Lord Pitbull,” will make his debut in Türkiye in a bare-knuckle fight.
• The main event showcases a professional boxing match between Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Albert Batyrgaziev and former IBA champion James Dickens.
• The co-main event features Olympic bronze medalist Hovhannes Bachkov facing Shohjahon Ergashev.

The IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night, set for July 2, 2025, in Istanbul, will showcase a thrilling blend of professional boxing and bare-knuckle brawls, headlined by a clash between a Turkish fighter and an American known for his ferocity. The event is anticipated to bring a new level of excitement to fight fans.

Bare Knuckle Battles Heat Up

One of the most anticipated bare-knuckle fights will pit Turkish fighter Murat Kazgan, also known as “Lord pitbull,” against American Will Chope, nicknamed “The Kill.” Kazgan, 39, has one win and one loss in bare-knuckle competition, while 34-year-old Chope has a record of three wins and seven losses. Chope’s experience includes a 2022 bout in Moscow and participation in the BKFC league, as well as an extensive MMA background. Notably, Chope fought Max Holloway at a UFC event in 2014. He also holds a professional boxing record of four wins,three losses,and one draw.

Did you know?-Bare-knuckle fighting has seen a resurgence in recent years, wiht organized leagues attracting fighters from various combat sports backgrounds.The sport emphasizes raw punching power and durability.

Despite his extraordinary martial arts experience and international appearances, Kazgan will be performing in Türkiye for the first time, offering a unique chance for the local crowd to witness his skills live. also on the card, Russia’s Mikhail Tarabrin will compete in another IBA Bare knuckle fight, with his opponent soon to be announced.

Reader question:-With the rise of both professional boxing and bare-knuckle fighting, which style do you find more compelling and why? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Boxing Showdown: Olympic Gold on the Line

The main event of the IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night in Istanbul will feature a professional boxing match. Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) of Russia will face former IBA champion James Dickens (35-5, 14 KOs) of Great Britain. Both the WBA interim and IBA Pro Super Featherweight titles will be contested in this 12-round bout, promising high-stakes action.

In the co-main event,Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov (7-0,6 kos),a Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist and renowned amateur boxer,will face Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev (25-2,22 KOs) in a ranking fight under IBA Pro rules at 63.5 kg.

Tickets are available at the link.

Beyond the Bell: IBA.Pro and the Future of Combat Sports

The upcoming IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night in Istanbul underscores the evolving landscape of combat sports.This event, featuring professional boxing and bare-knuckle fights, reflects a growing trend of merging different disciplines to attract a wider audience. The appearance of “Lord Pitbull” in his bare-knuckle debut, alongside Olympic boxing champions like Albert Batyrgaziev and Hovhannes Bachkov, highlights the versatility and appeal of these athletes. The IBA.Pro Champions’ Night serves as a platform where diverse combat styles converge for a night of dynamic competition.

The IBA.Pro aims to set a new standard for combat sports by promoting diverse talent and innovative match-ups. This approach is mirrored in the scheduling of both boxing and bare-knuckle fighting on the same fight card,offering something for all fight fans.

What’s Driving the Trend?

The increasing popularity of mixed combat events stems from several factors:

• Athlete Versatility: Fighters are often cross-training across disciplines. This allows for a more diverse and exciting skill set, drawing in a wider audience.
• Fan Demand: Fans crave novel bouts and diverse card layouts. Events that blend combat styles cater directly to this interest, leading to increased viewership and engagement.
• Marketing and Promotion: The strategic pairing of bare-knuckle and boxing in an event draws increased interest.

This diverse approach could lead to higher levels of creativity in matchups,and could push boundaries. Such as, the main event boxing match between Batyrgaziev and Dickens, along with the co-main event featuring Bachkov and Ergashev, showcases the high level boxing talent that the IBA.Pro are able to attract. The inclusion of bare-knuckle bouts injects rawness and a unique draw. The IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night is a prime case study.

Benefit: Events like the IBA.Pro Champions’ Night offer a more complete experience for spectators. They may discover new fighters and sport.

The Future of IBA.Pro

The IBA.Pro’s future likely involves continuing to experiment with fight cards and athlete selections.We can anticipate more cross-disciplinary events, more international reach, and increased participation from top-tier athletes in both boxing and bare-knuckle disciplines.

IBA Champions Nights will likely further develop their global presence, potentially expanding into digital media streaming. These steps will help introduce new combat sport fans by creating innovative fight cards.

By embracing different fight styles and the presence of many talented athletes, fight nights like the IBA.Pro are reshaping the future of combat sports, paving the way for a more dynamic and inclusive surroundings.

Reader Question: What other combat sports do you anticipate the IBA.Pro integrating into their events in the future? Share your predictions in the comments below.