Well, another gala for Eye of the Tiger and another knockout for Mehmet Unal. But is anyone really surprised?
The simple answer is: maybe. An undefeated opponent was brought in to face Mehmet in the hope that he would finally be pushed into later rounds and we could see what he looks like when taken into deep waters.
And in that sense, mission accomplished. His opponent, Altin Zogaj—who was undefeated going into the fight—showed tremendous heart and managed to drag Mehmet into the 9th round.
But that’s literally what he did: he dragged him to the 9th round. The fight could have been stopped much earlier according to many fans, analysts, and even the head of Eye of the Tiger himself, Camille Estephan.
Zogaj’s ability to absorb punishment ended up working against him, and in the end he went down hard. Unal therefore adds another knockout to his record.
So the question becomes: how far can the Mehmet Unal train go before it hits a wall?
Here are four potential opponents that would make sense at this stage of the Turkish boxer’s career.
Photo: Vitor Munhoz – Mehmet Unal
Oleksandr Gvozdyk (21–3, 17 KOs)
Well known to Quebec fans, Gvozdyk is a true veteran. In 2018, he defeated Adonis Stevenson to become WBC world champion—a fight that left a lasting impression on the fans who were at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City.
But let’s be realistic: Gvozdyk has slowed down considerably. Now 38 years old, the Ukrainian is far less dangerous than he once was. His most recent loss to Radivoje Kalajdzic is proof of that.
That said, Gvozdyk remains a solid opponent, and his only losses have come against world-class fighters. He went the 12-round distance against David Benavidez and even won a few rounds in 2024. He also survived 10 rounds against the feared Artur Beterbiev in 2019, though he was stopped after just 7 rounds by Kalajdzic earlier this February.
Gvozdyk is still ranked among the top fighters by the WBO and The Ring magazine. If Mehmet were able to stop him more quickly than those fighters did, he could be propelled into the ranks of the top light heavyweights at 175 pounds.
Photo: Boxingnews Magazine – Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Radivoje Kalajdzic (30–3, 22 KOs)
If Gvozdyk is a good option, Kalajdzic is an even better one—quite simply because he’s the man who beat him.
Kalajdzic has a résumé similar to Gvozdyk’s, that’s true. He also lasted only five rounds against Beterbiev in 2019. He lost a split decision to Marcus Browne in 2016 and a unanimous decision to David Morrell in 2024.
But overall, his record is still quite impressive. He has never lost to “entry-level” opponents, and his most recent win gives him momentum that he’ll try to build on.
He’s 34 years old, similar in age to Unal, and is very likely to climb in the next WBO rankings.
A win over Kalajdzic would be a true step up for Mehmet.
Imam Khataev (11–1, 10 KOs)
Another opponent who could make sense—and who shares the same promoter—is Imam Khataev.
Khataev has made tremendous progress over the past year. And even though his most notable fight is a loss, he has built a strong reputation at light heavyweight.
Last July, he lost a split decision to David Morrell, in a fight where Imam still managed to knock Morrell down in the 5th round. The bout sparked a lot of reaction from fans who felt Khataev had done enough to earn the decision.
He then showcased the full extent of his talent by knocking out Adam Deines in the 3rd round in December 2025.
Khataev and Unal are both dangerous punchers, and a fight between them would guarantee fireworks.
Whether Eye of the Tiger would want to make this fight remains to be seen, but if world title opportunities are on the table, nothing is impossible.
Photo: Jeff Lockhart – Imam Khataev
Anthony Yarde (27–4, 24 KOs)
To close things out, Anthony Yarde is a well-known British boxer renowned for his toughness. He’s never been known for exceptional skill, but he is durable. He would allow Unal to log rounds against a well-established light heavyweight.
In doing so, Unal could prove to the world that he is a legitimate boxer—though a win would not be guaranteed.
This is the kind of fight that could propel him toward something bigger, a sort of “coming-out party” if he wins.
Yarde has been stopped by Sergey Kovalev, Artur Beterbiev, and David Benavidez—three fighters who belong in a class of their own. If Mehmet were able to join that group, he would prove beyond any doubt that he is ready for a world championship shot.
