Frank Buglioni vs. Fedor Chudinov: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Fedor Chudinov will finally defend his WBA super middleweight title against Frank Buglioni on Saturday night.
The bout was initially meant to take place in July this year, but champion Chudinov pulled out after suffering a broken nose while sparring.
Thankfully, the Russian (13-0, 10 KOs) has had no setbacks during training for the new date.
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Buglioni (17-1-1, 13 KOs) has home advantage as he bids to claim a belt that was previously held by three other Brits—Joe Calzaghe, Brian Magee and Carl Froch.
Also on the bill at Wembley Arena in London, Ryan Walsh and Samir Mouneimne meet for the vacant British featherweight title, while the Commonwealth strap is up for grabs when Lewis Pettitt takes on fellow super bantamweight Bobby Jenkinson.
Bradley Skeete, meanwhile, defends the WBO European welterweight title in a 10-rounder against Mark Thompson.
When: Saturday, September 26, at 10 p.m. BST / 5 p.m. ET
Where: Wembley Arena, London, England
TV: BoxNation (UK)
Live stream: BoxNation (UK)
Warrior Spirit
Buglioni has been given advice by a man who knows what it takes to become a world champion in the 168-pound division.
Steve Collins held the WBO title during his career. Now, the Celtic Warrior and his brother, trainer Paschal Collins, have prepared Buglioni for the biggest night of his boxing life to date.
Collins believes the Englishman has what it takes to claim the title on Saturday, telling Sky Sports:
"I'm very confident. I'm not a dreamer, I'm a realist and the fact is Frank is talented enough and good enough to beat any super-middleweight in the world.
Right now—where Frank Buglioni is—there are very few guys in the division that can go 12 rounds with him.
He's fighting a guy who is at his level experience-wise in professional boxing, so it's an even match going in but we believe our preparation has been better.
"
As revealed by promoter Frank Warren in his blog for BoxNation, Buglioni could be earning a living in less painful ways: "Though he is a qualified surveyor, he’s turned down modelling jobs and offers of acting roles to concentrate on a boxing career."
The Londoner appears to be fully focused on his career in the ring.
His record is solid, with a defeat to the experienced Sergey Khomitsky the only blemish in 19 fights. This opportunity at a major title may have come earlier than even he expected.
However, there are money-spinning fights are out there to be made in a division full of names, including possibly against compatriots James DeGale and George Groves.
First, though, Wise Guy has to hand a first defeat to the current champion. After Saturday night, he should have a better idea of whether he made the right career choice.
Rapid Rise
Chudinov thrust himself into the big time when he outpointed experienced German Felix Sturm in May to claim the vacant WBA title.
He now comes to London knowing it hasn't always been a happy spot for his family to visit—Fedor's brother, middleweight Dimitry, was beaten by Chris Eubank Jr. at the O2 Arena in February.
However, the younger sibling has no intention of seeing his perfect record disappear just yet, per Martin Domin of MailOnline:
"All my hard training has been done and now I just have to focus on Saturday night and keeping hold of my world title, nothing is more important.
We've seen plenty of Frank Buglioni and I know what I have in front of me, he's a good strong fighter but he will be found short at world championship level.
It doesn't matter where I fight in the world, a ring is a ring to me and I will do the job that I have to do and I will beat Buglioni.
"
Chudinov may have had only 13 pro bouts, but he is 28 years old and previously compiled over 170 wins in his time as an amateur, according to BoxRec.
He is short, stocky and powerful.
Buglioni will have both a height (he is 6'1" compared to Chudinov at 5'9 ½") and reach (78" versus 72") advantage and would be well advised to fight at a distance.
Chudinov has won 10 times by knockout, including hospitalising Australian Ben McCulloch when picking up the interim WBA strap last year inside two rounds.
But you can make a case that he caught Sturm at the end of his career to claim the title. Buglioni, in contrast, is in his prime.
Prediction
Buglioni is a promoter's dream—tall, handsome (Warren's word, not mine) and already with a strong fanbase in the English capital.
He has all the tools outside the ring to be a success. However, he now needs to show he has improved as a boxer since that disappointing loss to Khomitsky.
But Chudinov is a serious test. He is a tough, uncomplicated champion.
Expect him to wear down Buglioni and close the gap between the pair as the rounds progress, resulting in the Russian retaining his title with a late stoppage.
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