DETROIT (May 8, 2024) – Promoter Dmitriy Salita has been awarded “USBA Promoter of the Year” and the USBA light heavyweight title fight between Ali Izmailov and Charles Foster promoted by Salita Promotions has been named “USBA Fight of the Year” at the IBF’s 39th Annual Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
Held at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Salita was bestowed the honors at this year’s IBF Meet the Champions cocktail event, which attracted several hundred guests, as well as a large group of past and present world champions, including Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad, Amanda Serrano, Alfredo Escalera, Ivan Calderon, Juan LaPorte and Michael Nunn.
Izmailov vs. Foster was held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY, during the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s June 2023 Induction weekend festivities and broadcast worldwide on Showtime Networks. Izmailov defended his USBA Championship for the first time against Foster, winning a 10-round unanimous decision in the fight.
Salita is currently working the next installment of his “Big Time Boxing USA” series, taking place on Thursday, May 23, at Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit, and airing live on premium sports platform DAZN.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from the IBF,” said Dmitriy Salita. “I thank their organization for recognizing my company’s work and for bestowing ‘Fight of the Year’ to my fighter, Ali Izmailov. To receive this plaque in front of such a large group of great champions and boxing luminaries is a thrill I will never forget.”
In the next “Big Time Boxing USA” event, heavyweight Jermaine Franklin Jr. (22-2, 14 KOs) takes on Devin Vargas (22-10, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event, and in the eight-round co-feature a matchup of highly regarded prospects will be in the toughest test of their respective careers when undefeated Joshua James Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) steps up to face fellow undefeated Roger Hilley (13-0, 8 KOs).
Tickets for the May 23 event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Wayne State Fieldhouse Box Office.
Image courtesy of “Boxing” Bob Newman.
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