French boxer Souleymane Cissokho will face Lithuanian Egid Kavaliauskas on December 7 in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, in a WBC world welterweight semi-final, announced Boxium Promotions, a fight organization company, in a press release published Friday.
2016 Olympic vice-champion in Rio, Cissokho, 33, who has won his 17 professional fights will find in Kavaliauskas a formidable opponent, whose record is 24 victories, 1 draw and 2 defeats.
The Lithuanian, bronze medalist at the 2011 World Championships as amateurs, has competed since he turned professional in 2012, a world championship, WBO welterweight, lost against the American holder Terence Crawford by stoppage of the referee in the ninth round, December 14, 2019.
This fight will have a very special flavor for Cissokho. A native of Dakar, the man who is already ranked No. 1 challenger by the WBC remains deeply attached to his African roots.
The American Mario Barrios is the new WBC welterweight champion since the abandonment of his belt this summer by Terence Crawford, moved up to the super-welterweight where he became WBA champion by beating the holder, the Uzbek Israil Madrimov, on 14 last August.
