Ivan Redkach vs. Yakubu Amidu: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info

With the new year comes a look at some of the top new fighters on the boxing scene, and Friday night shouldn't disappoint boxing fans looking for a taste of the pugilists looking to dominate headlines in the sport in the coming years.

There is a bevy splashed across the TV landscape on Friday, but fans of the sweet science would be remiss if they missed out on a potentially entertaining scrap between Ivan Redkach (17-0, 13 KOs) and Yakubu Amidu (21-5-2, 19 KOs) on Jan. 9. at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, in Cabazon, California.

Redkach is a hot prospect looking to make a name for himself in the hot California desert, but Amidu's solid standing in the world of boxing makes him a dangerous opponent for this young brawler to overlook. Nevertheless, here's to those working their way up in the world.

On the undercard, middleweight Ievgen Khytrov (7-0, 7 KOs) will take on Maurice Louishome (8-0-1, 4 KOs) and promising 22-year-old Patrick Day (9-0-1, 5 KOs) squares off against Alantez Fox (13-0-1, 4 KOs).

Here is a look at the viewing info for the fight, followed by a quick preview of the main event.

Ivan Redkach vs. Yakubu Amidu Fight Info

Date: Friday, Jan. 9

Time (ET): 11 p.m.

Location: Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California

TV: Showtime

Live Stream: Showtime Anytime (subscription required)

Redkach-Amidu Preview

Redkach is 28 years old and looking to make the leap from rising star to full-blown contender. ESPN.com's Dan Rafael named him one of the top 20 prospects of 2013 and gave an assessment of his strengths in the ring:

"

A southpaw, Redkach has been devastating as a pro. He's gifted offensively, attacks the body and has a relentless style. He should be ready for meaningful fights in 2014, which he will kick off Jan. 17 against Canada's Tony Luis. Redkach was limited to three fights in 2013, winning two by early KO (the other ended in a no-decision because of an accidental head-butt).

"

The Ukrainian puncher certainly had himself a year to build upon in 2014, even if the fight calendar was a bit empty.

Al Bello/Getty Images

He dominated Tony Luis in a 10-round unanimous-decision victory on Jan. 17, knocking Luis down in the first and controlling the bout throughout. The Los Angeles-based fighter then went on to hand Sergey Gulyakevich just the third loss of his 11-year pro career in June in another win by unanimous decision.

Redkach doesn't fight often, but when he steps into the squared circle, he makes it look easy with an aggressive style and pretty combinations. He also has plenty of experience despite what's on his professional ledger; Redkach participated in over 300 amateur fights before turning pro.

Redkach is on the doorstep of the lightweight division's upper tier, but he's going to have to bust down the entryway at some point considering he fought just twice last year and is inching toward his 30s. Of course, it's quite possible forces outside the ring have slowed the boxer's ascent, per his own account.

"That’s what I wished,” Redkach said through his translator Edward Grigoryan, via RingTV.com's Anson Wainwright. “It was (a) management issue. Now I am with Al Haymon, probably everything will go faster.”

One might find it difficult to move quickly in the ring against Amidu, a determined brawler who knows how to dig into an opponent and turn events into a slugfest.

The 30-year-old with the alias "Black Mamba"—unclear who earned it first, him or Mr. Kobe Bryant—is more than just cannon fodder for potentially elite fighters, although his recent results might suggest otherwise.

Amidu is 1-3-1 over his last five bouts, dating back to Jan. 2012. The one win was a TKO victory over the lowly Rynell Griffin, who was 7-18-2 heading into that bout. Amidu's most recent contest was a split-decision loss to Chris Rudd in ESPN's 2014 Boxcino lightweight tournament quarterfinals back in February.

That result was a bit wonky, as the four judges were split evenly after the scheduled six rounds, forcing the two boxers to go back for a seventh round, which went in Rudd's favor, per BoxRec.com.

It's possible the sting of the loss has completely dissipated at this point, but 11 months is quite the layoff for any fighter serious about staying in the game and avoiding complete anonymity. This isn't necessarily his own fault, however. Amidu was schedule to fight 29-year-old Anthony Peterson in a junior welterweight bout in December.

Rafael reported in December that Amidu pulled out of the fight, but RingTV.com's Francisco Salazar provided a different take on the matter in January:

"Amidu was scheduled to fight Anthony Peterson on Dec. 20 in Shelton, Washington. According to Bobby Hitz, Amidu was replaced by Hector Velazquez at the request of Barry Hunter, who trains Peterson. "

UCNLive.com's Steve Kim gave his take, which does seem to bolster Amidu's reputation a bit:

Amidu doesn't rely much on speed, which should help in this case, but if he comes out flat or lacks sharpness Redkach should punish him. After all, the ascendant pro has bigger bouts in mind.

"I am going to concentrate on my upcoming fight Jan. 9, but I’ve always been thinking and dreaming of a fight with Jorge Linares," said Redkach, via Wainwright.

This should be a hard-fought contest, but Redkach is clearly the main draw here and for good reason. Amidu is a stepping stone—a status that can bring the best out of some fighters if they do indeed feel slighted—and Redkach is primed to make a big leap on Friday.