Photo: Vincent Ethier – Arthur Biyarslanov, aka ‘The Wolf,’ made quick work of late-sub Tamas Kiliti.
Arthur Biyarslanov (16-0, 14 KOs) once again proved that he is ready to move to the next level last Thursday, when he pulverized Hungarian champion Tamas Kiliti (10-1, 6 KOs) in 3 rounds at the Cabaret du Casino in Montreal.
The next step in his career is clear:
We need to find an appropriate opponent for a fight at the Casino de Montreal (no, Gervonta Davis won’t be fighting on a Thursday at the casino), one that fits the idea of a main event on ESPN+. As Quebec’s top matchmaker, here’s my list of potential opponents for Arthur. A very specific list, because I love top 5s!
5. Mathieu Germain (24-2-1)
Regis Lévesque would say that even a 6-year-old girl could fill an arena with this fight. It has everything:
- A rematch of the 2014 Canadian championships.
- Mathieu is 6th with the IBF.
- ‘G-Time’ is trained by Stéphane Larouche. Imagine the press conference before the fight! We need to bring fun and spectacle back to boxing, and this fight would promise plenty.
Mathieu Germain is now a free agent, and he likely isn’t thrilled about facing Christian Palma, a boxer who has already been outclassed by Biyarslanov and Orobio. With the right payday and a proper training camp, this would be an instant classic. I almost want to end the article here.
4. Batyr Jukembayev (23-1)
I’m so smart that I find myself dangerous. Here, I’m reviving the idea of spicing up the fight with the rivalry between Stéphane Larouche and EOTTM, while also bringing back memories with Batyr, who was a staple of the EOTTM stable and a Quebec fan favorite. Batyr is also ranked 9th by the WBA and is coming off a streak of five consecutive wins against quality opponents. A duel between two southpaws representing two generations of EOTTM’s 140 lb division? The place would be packed.
3. Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (29-3-1)
He’s a real boxing machine. Valenzuela turned pro at such a level that you could say he’s been undefeated since he was 22. He deserved a points victory against Montana Love, and he got his revenge by demolishing Yves Ulysse Jr. in just 52 seconds. Ranked 34th on BoxRec, he’s strangely not ranked by the four major federations. A dangerous opponent, but a great opportunity for Biyarslanov.
2. Alfredo Santiago Alvarez (15-2)
Here, I’m not looking for anything complicated, just the number 8 in the WBO. This Dominican stood up to Devin Haney and has recently beaten Karl Dargan and Angel Fierro. He’s a solid boxer, but nothing too daunting for Biyarslanov, who aims to become world champion. Santiago was an amateur at the same time as our Chechen Wolf; they may have even crossed paths in major competitions.
1. Ryan Martin (26-2)
Nicknamed ‘Blue Chip,’ his losses came against Josh Taylor and Robert Easter Jr. I like the idea of him facing a credible American boxer for Biyarslanov’s visibility. Moreover, Martin has extensive experience, competing in professional boxing, the Team Combat League, and bare-knuckle fights. Recently, he moved to California to relaunch his career with Ivan Sylve. He claims he’s ready to take it to the next level… well, here’s a main event on ESPN against an undefeated Wolf. He’ll accept.
Expert Prediction:
EOTTM has always had a knack for finding promising boxers in the 140 lb division. I predict that the Claggett-Biyarslanov-Orobio trio will find much success in the coming years.
Do you know your Wolf well?
Arthur Biyarslanov, nicknamed ‘The Wolf,’ is a high-level athlete, three-time Canadian champion who made his mark on the international scene by participating in major tournaments such as the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where he won the gold medal. He also won a bronze medal at the Continental Championships in Venezuela. In 2015, he was the only Canadian to compete at the World Championships in Qatar. Competing in the 64 kg category, he continued to gain experience traveling the world, which allowed him to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. After this Olympic adventure, the Toronto native spent about two years on the amateur circuit before redirecting his career toward professional boxing.
Since signing with Eye of the Tiger, Arthur Biyarslanov has been on a mission. In just six months, he has fought three times, now headlining on ESPN+ and Punching Grace. He’s currently ranked 32nd on BoxRec and has just won and defended the NABF 140 lb title. At 29 years old, he is coached by Samuel Décarie-Drolet, a close friend and highly competent trainer.
To learn even more about Arthur, read my first story about him (RIGHT HERE).
