The busiest fighter in Asia is set to compete in his 41st professional fight.
Exactly a month after successfully copping the URCC Lightweight Championship, Will “The Kill” Chope (31-9) is set to face 30 year old Russian Lightweight Akop “The Sniper” Stepanyan (22-8) at the Abu Dhabi Warriors 4 on Tuesday, May 24 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Chope was supposed to fight last April 30 in Shanghai, China, but his opponent pulled out a day before the event. Moreover, no one stepped up to the plate due to the short notice of the offer.
In a twist, the 25-year-old stepped in for the injured Ryan Healy to face Stepanyan in Abu Dhabi.
“The Sniper” is no slouch, having won nine out of his last ten bouts. However, the Russian lost his last fight due to a first round submission against Vener Galiev last April 22.
Chope will have a six-inch height advantage over his opponent in this bout, but the URCC champion needs to be wary of his opponent’s striking, as he has finished the majority of his opponents via KO or TKO.