The fight originally scheduled for April 4th between #2-ranked Dmitry “The Hunter” Sukhotsky (21-2-0, 16 KOs) and #4-ranked Anatoliy “The Gladiator” Dudchenko (19-2-0, 13 KOs) has been postponed. Sukhotsky has pulled out of the eliminator and Nadjib Mohammedi (34-3-0, 20 KOs) has agreed to participate in his place. The bout is tentatively scheduled to be part of the card on the June 21st event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, PA on NBCSN Fight Night.
Dudchenko, 35, is originally from Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine and now resides in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently the IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion. This will be his first fight in the Northeast and his first since signing with Main Events. “The Gladiator” has won sixteen straight bouts in a row (seven by knockout) dating all the way back to May 16, 2008 with his first round TKO of Chris Eppley in Evansville, Indiana.
Mohammedi, 29 of Gardanne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France has never fought in the United States. Nadjib has not lost since October 8, 2011 when Sukhotsky defeated him via TKO in the second round in Saint Petersburg, Russia; he has won ten straight since that time with seven knockouts. Mohammedi is currently ranked #5 in the IBF.
Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva said, “Dudchenko is ready to fight anyone the IBF wants him to fight. We are working to make sure this fight gets done as soon as possible. The IBF has ordered the winner of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Beibut Shumenov match-up to fight the winner of this fight. So this is a very big opportunity for both fighters.”
