Murodjon Akhmadaliev will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Bantamweight Super Championship for the fourth time next Saturday against Marlon Tapales at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

The Uzbek, who is one of the most outstanding fighters of the division and is also IBF champion, will make his first fight of 2023 and it will be a new presentation on American soil, where he has recorded popularity thanks to his good performances. 

The WBA champion won the belt in January 2020 in a tough fight against Daniel Roman, whom he defeated by split decision in Miami. Since then he has made defenses against Ryosuke Iwasa, Jose Velasquez and his most recent in 2022 against Ronny Rios.

Akhmadaliev is a smart fighter with good tools who knows how to impose his strength and speed in the ring. He had a good amateur career and since he jumped to the professional ranks he has been able to show that quality also in this area. 

His opponent will be the Filipino Tapales, an experienced fighter who has worked hard to get this opportunity and who is used to fight in different places. He has experience in Thailand, Japan and has also done several fights in the United States, so stepping on American soil to fight is not strange for him.

Tapales has already been bantamweight world champion. Now he is one victory away from getting it but it will be a pretty tough fight against a reigning champion. 

Akhmadaliev comes in with 11 wins and 8 knockouts, while Tapales has 36 wins, 3 setbacks and 19 knockouts.