Alberto Puello is only days away from his high stakes bout with Batyr Akhmedov, as they collide for the vacant WBA junior welterweight belt.
The bout is part of a Showtime televised quadrupleheader, on Saturday, August 20, from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Josh Taylor vacated the title to focus on a looming rematch with Jack Catterall.
“I feel great. I’m focused on what has been an intense preparation with brand new challenges that I had never encountered before, but I am very satisfied with the results we have obtained ahead of the fight so far. This week is a lot more relaxed. We have been lightening our load as the fight gets closer. What’s left is keeping up our winning mentality, the one we always have, to then come out and shine on August 20,” Puello said.
The upcoming contest is easily the biggest fight in Puello’s career.
Akhmedov has won two in a row, both by stoppage, after losing a close twelve round decision to Marrio Barrios in September of 2019.
“This is going to be the most important fight of my career so far, no doubt about it. The biggest opportunity I’ve had. I’m ready to seize it against a quality opponent that has given people a lot to talk about, that’s for sure. However, I’m ready to be crowned as champion and take the title,” Puello said.
“I don’t know much about Batyr Akhmedov. I saw his last fight against Argenis Méndez and the one he had previously against Mario Barrios, but not much more than that. My coach and I have Batyr studied up, having watched video of him, but that isn’t the most important thing for me anyway. I’m focused on me and on being 100%, because at the end of the day he could come out fighting in a totally different way.”