Yan Zak Crushes Adamu Barnaba

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak destroyed Adamu Barnaba today at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Zak maintained his undefeated record with a second round TKO victory.

In a battle of undefeated 26 year olds, Zak used his height advantage effectively, jabbing southpaw Barnaba back to the ropes early in the fight. From that point forward, Zak's offensive onslaught never let up.

After a three-punch combination and a straight one-two, Zak utilized an odd punch: a lead right uppercut. The shorter man from Tanzania was often caught in a defensive crouch, allowing Zak to throw lead uppers with his back hand without facing retribution. Zak also peppered Barnaba with lead straight rights.

Barnaba was gassed after the first round. He wheezed like an octogenarian after climbing a flight of stairs. Zak toyed with the Tanzanian in the second round. He kept his left artificially low and unleashed a barrage of straight rights that found their mark again and again. Barnaba fired his dangerous right hook because Zak's left was so low, but missed. It was Barnaba's one chance to get back in the fight.

A left and a chopping right two minutes into the round put Barnaba down in a heap. The tough Tanzanian beat the count, but took a false step after a delay and the contest was thankfully stopped two minutes and thirteen seconds into the second stanza.

Zak drastically outclassed Barnaba, so he didn't get to go through the gears as he did in his last fight against Arshdeep Singh. The Israeli's improvement came in the form of taking care of business. In previous fights, he had played with his overmatched opponents too much. He did that a little in this second round here with his piston-like series of straight rights, but he didn't allow Barnaba to linger in the fight. With the combination of a shrewd game plan last fight and spiteful intentions in this one, Zak is developing a formidable pro style.

Yan is now 8-0 with 6 KOs while Barnaba tumbles to 10-1-1 (8 KOs).

Yan Zak and Adamu Barnaba Make Weight

Yan Zak and Adamu Barnaba both made weight for their cruiserweight+ bout at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates tomorrow. The contract weight for this clash of unbeatens was 203 pounds.

Zak, a 26 year old, came in at 202.4 pounds. The resident of Ashdod, Israel is 7-0 with 5 KOs. His heaviest weight thus far during his pro career was 202.8 pounds while the lightest was 190. Zak and his team arrived in Dubai yesterday. This will be the fourth fight in the emirate for the "Terminator."

Barnaba came in at 198.2 pounds. He was a junior middleweight until he moved up to cruiserweight last year. Since moving up to cruiserweight, his lightest weight has been 186.3 pounds and his heaviest has been 200.5. A 26 year old from the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Barnaba has a record of 10-0-1 with 8 KOs.

Zak-Barnaba is scheduled for ten rounds. For a preview of the fight, visit here.

Yan Zak to Face Adamu Barnaba in a Battle of Unbeatens

Cruiserweight Yan "Terminator" Zak is scheduled to face Adamu Barnaba at the Meydan Gallery in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on June 6. Both fighters are undefeated 26 year olds.

Zak is coming off a fifth round TKO win against Arshdeep Singh earlier this month, which moved his record to 7-0 with 5 KOs. The resident of Ashdod, Israel was particularly impressive in that fight. He showed an educated game plan and was defensively responsible throughout the contest. Zak will need a similar type of performance against Barnaba.

With a record of 10-0-1 (8 KOs), Barnaba has had a weird career. A Luis Ortiz-like 26, Barnaba resides in Mabiba, Tanzania, which is on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, the country's most important city. BoxRec lists pro fights when he was a prepubescent scamp and a random draw in 2019. His career really started last year. He has been 8-0 since 2025 although a few of his opponents' names on the fight film don't match those on his BoxRec ledger.

A southpaw, Barnaba has chiseled six-pack abs; they're just hidden behind a drooping beer belly. But don't let his physique fool you. He's a strong, skilled fighter. With a back as wide as the cultural gap between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, Barnaba possesses a powerful right hook to the head and body. In recent fights, he's shown a snapping jab and a quick straight left. He aims to take center ring, is composed and patient in the ring, and uses feints. He sometimes avoids punches by leaning back.

Barnaba resembles a tough test for Zak, but Zak is a massive step up for Barnaba. Though skilled, he has primarily feasted on unschooled novices. Zak has punished journeyman and recently stepped up to face unheralded fighters with good records.

Zak's foot and hand speed should carry the fight against the plodding Tanzanian. Yan will need to be careful because Barnaba is a hard-punching southpaw. While his right hook is his money punch, he pulls the punch back too far, allowing himself to be countered. Adamu has yet to face an opponent talented enough to take advantage of that flaw. In Yan Zak, he will.

This bout is scheduled for ten rounds.

Yan Zak Dominates Arshdeep Singh Bhatt

From the opening bell, cruiserweight Yan Zak was in complete control against Arshdeep Singh Bhatt today. Displaying a shrewd game plan, flashy skills, and responsible technique, Zak won by fifth round TKO at the New Olympic Sport Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The "Terminator," a 26 year old, opened the fight probing Singh's high guard with jabs. He soon found the left hook to the body available, his jabs acting as a decoy. By the end of the round, Zak's jabs were looking to land, not just set up the body shots.

Singh proved himself to be a decent fighter with solid technique. He had a crisp jab of his own and occasionally countered Zak's jabs, but the difference in hand speed forced the Punjabi to keep his hands home most of the time.

Singh, a 27 year old, opened the second returning Zak's jabs with his own and going to the body with left hooks. But Zak kept touching the body and snapping back Singh's head with his stick. Yan began timing Singh, landing showy counters just as the thought of throwing entered Singh's mind.

In the third, Zak included left hooks to the head and rights to the body. He added layers to the attack as the fight went on, showing maturity and more of a pro style. In past fights, he had kept his hands low when he felt in control, but today the right glove was sensibly plastered to the right side of his face when he jabbed.

Singh had been game until the fourth when he tired rapidly. The body shots wore him down as did Zak's combinations. The Indian fighter got the worse of an accidental butt and shook his arms towards the end of the round. Walking back to his corner, he wheezed, trying to catch his breath.

In the fifth, Singh had a brief moment of restoration before Zak's hard combos forced him to take a knee. He arose before the ten count, but was clearly gassed and the fight was stopped a minute and ten seconds into the round. Zak is now 7-0 with 5 KOs. Singh falls to 11-3 with 9 KOs.

With the win, Yan captured a minor belt, but more importantly this fight represented an important step in his pro career. In past fights, he sometimes got bored trying to get the opponent to open up. Today, he was focused throughout. Every move seemed to be the right one, whether boxing on the outside in the third or forcing Singh back to the ropes in the fourth. The only mistake he made was allowing Singh to throw several wild uppercuts from the outside without consequence. Always skilled and talented, Zak displayed an especially high ring IQ against a game opponent.

Yan Zak and Arshdeep Singh Make Weight

Cruiserweights Yan Zak and Arshdeep Singh Batth both made weight ahead of their clash at the New Olympic Sport Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia. This bout is now scheduled for ten rounds and is for a minor trinket, the WBF intercontinental cruiserweight belt.

Both fighters came at 200 pounds. Zak, a 26 year old from Ashdod, Israel, has been between 198.5 and 202.8 pounds during his career. He is 6-0 with 4 KOs.

Singh is a 27 year old from Chakar, India. He was a light heavyweight in 2024, so his lightest weight was 174.3 pounds. His heaviest has been 204.3 this past December. His record is 11-2 with 9 KOs.

For a preview of the fight, visit here.

Yan Zak to Fight Arshdeep Singh Batth

Cruiserweight Yan Zak is scheduled to fight Arshdeep Singh Bhatt this Saturday at  the New Olympic Sport Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia. This will be Zak's forth pro fight in Tbilisi.

Zak is 6-0 and has been dominating the competition thus far in his pro career, which began a year ago. The 26 year old from Ashdod, Israel has consistently fought more experienced foes, three of them with winning records. Nicknamed the "terminator," he typically boxes, utilizing eye-catching counters and creative combinations.

Singh is a 27 year old from the village of Chakar in southern Punjab, India. His older sister, Olympian Simranjeet Kaur, inspired Arshdeep to take up boxing when he was 11 years old. With a record of 11-2 with 9 KOs, Singh is another experienced opponent with a winning record. He traveled to New Zealand early in his career and upset an undefeated local fighter there back in 2024. That same year, he traveled to Slovakia where he lost to journeyman Pavol Garaj.

Singh keeps a high guard and is a good, tough fighter, but he's likely not on Zak's level in terms of speed and skill. Boxing has brought Singh all over India. He's fought in Chandigarh - a capital city shared by the states of Punjab and Haryana. Bangalore, Mumbai, Goa, and New Delhi have been other locales for his fights.

Zak and Singh share a common opponent. Zak blasted out Darshan Singh in one round while Arshdeep went the eight-round distance in their first fight and scored a second round KO in the rematch. This bout is scheduled for eight rounds.

Zak-Dorodola Canceled

The cruiserweight clash between Yan Zak and Ola Dorodola has been canceled. The fight had been scheduled to take place on April 10 in Dubai, but the current war in the Middle East has grounded many flights out of Israel.

Israel and the United States attacked Iran on February 28, assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While the U.S. and Israel continue to strike Iran, Iran and its allies have countered with strikes against Israel and several Arab nations. Several Iranian drone strikes have hit Dubai, where the government of the United Arab Emirates has arrested any citizen filming the destruction.

In an address to the country, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to say today that the timeline for ending the war is "two-to-three weeks." Yesterday, he explained, "We're finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job."

But President Trump has shifted his timeline during this war. In early March, he said, "We projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that." On March 9, he said "I think the war is very complete, pretty much." He added, "We're very far ahead of schedule."

Eleven days later, President Trump reiterated, "I think we won. We've knocked out their Navy, their Air Force. We've knocked out their anti-aircraft. We've knocked out everything." On March 24, he said, "We've won this. This war has been won." And yet it persists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained his timeline yesterday. "It's definitely beyond the halfway point," he said. "But I don't want to put a schedule on it."

As the war continues, Yan Zak and the other Israeli boxers sit on the sideline, which unfortunately has become an all-to-frequent occurrence since the attacks of October 7, 2023. Those attacks and the resulting conflict in Gaza understandably put boxing on the backburner. Last summer's twelve day war against Iran also caused a disruption for the boxers.

The military actions of the Israeli government since the October 7 attacks have been widely unpopular outside of the country. The global criticism of Israeli foreign policy has drifted into the realm of antisemitism at an alarming rate and negatively affected many Jewish boxers regardless of their position on the subject, from getting fights to experiencing verbal attacks online and in person.

When fighters can't get fights due to politics, it typically has to do with managerial and promotional contracts. But the recent history of the Jewish people can accurately be told through the lens of  boxing, and the events of the present are no exception.

Yan Zak Stops Sadiki Maroy

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak stopped Sadiki Maroy when Maroy retired after the third round, claiming an injury. It wasn't Zak's best performance due to Maroy's awkward attacks, but Yan's class was evident.

Zak, a 26 year old who just won the Israeli amateur title last week, started the first round cautiously. He threw range-finding jabs and feinted to keep the bigger Congolese fighter off of him. The 37 year old Maroy is a stance-switcher, but he primarily fought as a southpaw, which somewhat neutralized the effectiveness of Zak's superior jab. Zak controlled center ring and got inside Maroy's wide punches when the bigger man initiated his wild assaults.

Zak did more damage in the second round, crashing chopping rights to the side of Sadiki's skull. Maroy went for broke in the round and was clearly winded by the end of the three minutes. Meanwhile, Yan landed straight rights, particularly after showing the jab.

Maroy, nicknamed the "Buffalo," seemed to run out of gas by the third. He started the round passively, staying on the perimeter as his mouth remained agape. Conversely, the "Terminator," landed a right-left-right combination and some more chopping rights off his jab.

When the bell rang, Maroy limped to his corner. Even before he began limping, it seemed as if he wouldn't come out for the fourth. Maroy laid on his back as his cornerman rubbed his right calf. Maroy pounded the canvas with his gloves in apparent agony. This went on past the minute-rest period, and the fight was stopped.

Because Maroy was a southpaw heavyweight who threw awkward wide shots, Zak didn't look quite as fluid as usual. Sometimes, he pulled straight back to avoid the shots, instead of shifting on an angle so he could counter. It was still an impressive victory, beating a man 13 pounds heavier who now has a solid record of 17-3-1. Zak is 6-0 with 4 KOs.

Yan Zak and Sadiki Maroy Weigh In

Yan Zak and Sadiki Maroy weighed in ahead of their clash tomorrow at the Westin Hotel Ballroom in Dubai, United Arab Emirates tomorrow.

Zak weighed in at 199 pounds. Yan has been between 190 and 202.8 pounds during his professional career. The 26 year old from Ashdod Israel is 5-0 with 3 KOs.

Maroy was 212.7 pounds. This the heaviest of the 37 year old's career. The previous high for the native of Lumbumbashi, DRC was 210.3 pounds in his last fight this past summer.

This bout is schedule for eight rounds and can be viewed live on iFL TV's YouTube page.

Preview of Yan Zak vs. Sadiki Maroy

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak faces veteran Sadiki Maroy on Saturday at the Westin Hotel Ballroom in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Zak is coming off a win of the Israeli amateur title last weekend.

Zak is a 26 year old based in Ashdod, Israel. He has been very impressive in his first five pro bouts, scoring three KOs against veteran foes. The "Terminator" turned pro last May and has been active since. This will be his third fight in Dubai.

Maroy is a 37 year old from Lumbumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He boasts a sterling record of 17-2-1 with 8 KOs. Maroy has a better record than any of Zak's other opponents, but he isn't as skilled. Nicknamed "The Buffalo," Maroy is hard puncher and isn't coming up in weight like a couple of Zak's other opponents.

Maroy turned pro in 2007, but took a six and half year break before coming back last summer. This will be his first fight outside of Africa. He has mostly fought in his home country, but did venture to Ghana and Nigeria for fights. Sadiki has a good left hook and a powerful overhand hard. Zak's speed and straight punches should prove too much for the veteran though.

Zak-Maroy is scheduled for eight rounds.

2026 Israeli Amateur Championships

Winner	Result	Opponent
Super Heavyweight, 90+
Yan Zak	WO	Arman Malkan
Mahmoud Naarami	WO	Arthur Abramov
Yan Zak👑	Dec	Mahmoud Naarami
Heavyweight, 90
Ariel Prilutski	Dec	Mohamad Shlabani
Ariel Prilutski 👑	RSC 2	Oleg Berkovich
Cruiserweight, 85
Yonatan Barashi 👑	RSC 2	Alex Karchevski
Light Heavyweight, 80
Nikita Padi	Dec	Jade Owolo
Ron Yaer	?	Shelleshevet Gerzef
Nikita Padi	Dec	David Bazov
Daniel Ilyushonok	RSC 2	Ron Yaer
Daniel Ilyushonok👑	Dec	Nikita Padi
Middleweight, 75
Ahmad Jbarin	Dec	Kobnat Netgoko
Yosef Barbor	Dec	Edward Milnikov
Ahmad Jbarin	Dec	Yosef Barbor
Khalid Alzbarga	Dec	Mohamad Magrabi
Ahmad Jbarin 👑	Dec	Khalid Alzbarga
Junior Middleweight, 70
Tomer Benny	WO	Benny Nizard
Mohamad Wagih	Dec	Abd-al Rahman Isa
Bogdan Loptin	Dec	Adham Kayouf
Igor Novikov	Dec	Basel Tuma
Tomer Benny	Dec	Mohamad Wagih
Igor Novikov	Dec	Bogdan Loptin
Tomer Benny 👑	Dec	Igor Novikov
Welterweight, 65
Ahmad Shtiwi	RSC 2	Sagev Rhamim
Ahmad Shtiwi	Dec	Ali Shaon
Adrian Warwar	RSC 2	Ben Rafael
Ahmad Shtiwi 👑	Dec	Adrian Warwar
Lightweight, 60
Matan David	RSC 2	Roe Bazov
Iurii Lapchevisky	Dec	Boaz Finkel
Abdullah Rahel	Dec	Idad Totando
Iurii Lapchevisky	Dec	Matan David
Abdullah Rahel	Dec	Matar Samuel
Abdullah Rahel 👑	Dec	Iurii Lapchevisky
Bantamweight, 55
Farid Harish	Dec	Tom Samuel
Mike Tayber	Dec	Eyal Pinto
Farid Harish 👑	Dec	Mike Tayber
Flyweight, 50
David Zakhari 👑	RSC 2	Ofek Dotan
Lightweight, 60
Myriam Lahmi 👑	Dec	Aria Fain

Recap

Yan Zak, a 5-0 pro, won yet another national title. In preparation for his fight against Sadiki Maroy this Saturday, he treated the finals like a sparring session. Others with pro experience didn't fare as well. Benny Nizard and Arthur Abramov, both 1-0, withdrew before fighting. Alex Karchevski, also 1-0, was thoroughly outboxed by Yonatan Barashi. Another pro, Ahmad Shtiwi (9-0, 7 KOs) used infighting to win the welterweight title.

Among the amateurs, David Zakhari, Ahmad Jbarin, and Abdullah Rahel stood out. Flyweight champion Zakhari looks like a young David Alaverdian with his feints, jukes, and ability to find odd angles. Jbarin bounces around the ring dictating the action, but he's not afraid to get rough either. Rahel is a slickster with a smart jab and precise counters.

Two fights stood out. The first was a lightweight semifinal bout between Alaverdian protégé, Matan David, and stylist Iurii Lapchevisky. Though both are skilled boxers, they treated the fans to an all-out brawl. Neither won the lightweight title this year, but both 19 year olds are quite promising.

The second fight came in the junior middleweight final. A bloodied Igor Novikov staggered southpaw Tomer Benny several times. Benny ultimately got a disputed decision and won the national title.

Yan Zak to Fight February 14

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak is training for his next fight, which is scheduled to take place on February 14. Nicknamed the "Terminator," the 25 year old from Ashdod, Israel is 5-0 with 3 KOs.

The challenge for Zak's team will be finding suitable opponents for their talented fighter. A decorated amateur, Zak has already proven himself too good for the gritty journeymen that prospects typically fight when they reach double digit wins.

Zak has convincing wins against professional B-siders Mukhiddin Rajapbaev and Viktor Chvarkou. He also trounced winning fighters Bakhromjon Fozilov and Abdul Ubaya. The latter two were naturally smaller than Zak, but Yan still held the speed and skill advantages.

Jewish Boxing in 2025

The year in Jewish boxing was dominated by two newcomers with very different backstories and fighting styles. Yan Zak and Brooklyn Barwick are both in their mid-20s and both made their professional debuts this year, but the similarities stop there.

Zak, a 25 year old Israeli, is a decorated amateur. He won the gold medal at the U-22 European Championships a couple years ago and has competed - and even defeated - some of the very best amateurs in the world. He turned pro in May and ends the year with a record of 5-0 with 3 KOs against stiff competition. Zak is a terrific prospect, but the challenge will be to find opponents good enough that his skills won't regress. Hopefully, he refrains from picking up bad habits against foes who are not nearly as good as him.

Barwick, on the other hand, comes from the world of influencer boxing. The 26 year old American had no amateur experience before turning pro in March. In many ways, Zak and Barwick represent two divergent paths in the sport of boxing currently. Whereas the amateur standout Zak has only recently cultivated his social media presence, Barwick's social media game is ahead of her boxing ability. A brawler, Barwick has improved tremendously in her six pro fights, all knockout victories, feasting on inexperienced Latin American fodder. She talks a good game, but is also putting in the work in the gym, where she is catching up after a late start in boxing.

David Alaverdian returned from an extensive layoff with an impressive decision victory in February. He coached in Israel much of the year. Cletus Seldin won a decision in March, but recently came back with an adverse finding for PEDs before his last fight.

Joshua Feldman and Doron Zinman, who both won in February and again in May, have spent much of the year training Las Vegas under the tutelage of Brandon Woods. Lev Jackson came back and won two fights in Mexico this year, both by knockout. Odelia Ben Ephraim lost her fight. She was the B-side in Spain against a stylish undefeated prospect. Though Ben Ephraim's record was 0-1 and she had to leave her old gym because of pettiness from its management, her 2025 represented the best of boxing. She didn't look to pad her record; instead, she took on a difficult challenge, gave the fans a high-level and thrilling fight, and keeps working to get better.

Danielle Cohen and Devin Struben won their fights in 2025. David Malul not only took two decision victories, but started his own promotional company, in New York of all places, no easy task. Daniel Ivanovski was 2-0, both fights within eight days of each other. Yonatan Landman didn't fight this year, but is training hard and spoke with The JBB in February.

Past Jewish boxers Larry Boardman, "The Corn Belt Ace" Hymie Wiseman, "A Laborer in the Entertainment Business" Benny Franklin, "The Human Sponge" Alf Ros, "The Casino" Dino Berkowitz, "The Jewish Jolter" Ronnie Cohen, "The Conqueror of Jackie Fields" Harry Wallach, legendary promoter Don Elbaum, and Hall of Famer Jill Matthews were all remembered by The Jewish Boxing Blog this year.

On a personal note: I published several articles for other websites during the first half of the year. I hope to continue doing so in 2026. Away from boxing, 2025 was something of a monumental year for me professionally, which somewhat diverted my attention away from The JBB the last few months. Fans of Jewish boxing don't have to worry though, The JBB is committed to providing the fans with the usual quality of coverage about all things Jewish boxing past, present, and future. Thank you all for your support.

2025 IBA World Championships Round Up

Three Jewish fighters fought in the 2025 IBA World Championships in Dubai, UAE. Two have fought professionally and another non-Jewish Israeli pro boxer took part in the tournament. Yan Zak, Miroslav Kapuler-Ishchenko, and Daniel Ilyushonok all made respectable showings in the amateur championships.

Cruiserweight Yan Zak, a 25 year old with a pro record of 5-0 with 3 KOs, reached the quarterfinals with two victories in the tournament. He outpointed Portugal's Jose Antonio Dos Santos Rodriguez in the round of 32 and then beat Ecuador's Marlo Delgado Suarez. Zak suffered a cut above the left eye heading into his quarterfinal fight against Armenia's Rafayel Hovhannisyan. Zak, who had won a grueling pro fight against Abdul Ubaya on November 29 and two bruising amateur fights within the week, ran out of gas and was outboxed by Hovhannisyan.

Middleweight Miroslav Kapuler also made the quarters, but he had to win an extra bout to get there. Kapuler is 3-0 as a pro, but it has been several years since he participated in a prizefight, choosing to fight primarily as an amateur. A nasty headbutt busted up Kapuler's nose and blackened his eyes in his opening contest against Osward Talaka of the Solomon Islands. The fight was stopped in the second and Kapuler won on points.

The southpaw Kapuler faced further damage against Kenya's Edwin Owuor, mostly caused by Owuor's head. Kapuler was slick and smart in taking another victory and avoiding an injury stoppage. The 28 year old Israeli next faced Juan Gonzales, and outboxed the Colombian. He was scheduled to face Sabrizhan Akkalykov of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals, but Kapuler was unable to compete due to the continued damage he had endured throughout the tournament.

Light heavyweight Daniel Ilyushonok is a 23 year old southpaw who has yet to turn pro. A stand-up boxer, he has become one of the better amateurs in Israel in recent years, representing the country in many of the big tournaments. He comfortably outboxed Tautuarii Nena of French Polynesia in the round of 32. In the round of 16, Ilyushonok faced the far more experienced Agejev Artjom, who was able to get inside against Daniel and take the victory.

Ahmad Shtiwi, a 26 year old Israeli, made the light welterweight quarterfinals. A 9-0 pro, he won two fights before coming up short against Yertugan Zeinulinov of Kazakhstan.

The IBA has been banned from running the Olympic boxing tournament for repeated egregious corruption. A new amateur entity, World Boxing, runs a competing amateur world championships. Though many countries have defected to World Boxing, Israel currently remains a member of the IBA.

Yan Zak Wins Tough Fight

Yan Zak defeated Abdul Ubaya in a rough fight today at the Round 10 Boxing Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Zak scored three knockdowns, but ate some big shots for his trouble.

Under a giant portrait of Diego Corrales's battle against Jose Luis Castillo, Zak started the fight by introducing his left Reyes glove to Ubaya's face. He soon added the straight right off his jab. During an exchange, Zak scored a knockdown with a short right counter. The 25 year old from Ashdod, Israel became so confident by the end of the opening stanza that he kept his hands down and peppered his Tanzanian opponent with jabs, straight rights, and a right uppercut.

To start the second, Zak pawed with his jab but had trouble finding the target due to Ubaya's slipperiness. Midway through the round, Ubaya opened up with wild combinations, a couple of which hit Zak behind the head. Zak scored another knockdown with a left counter. The 25 year old spent the third round controlling center ring. He threw a right to initiate a pull counter as part of his boxing clinic. Ubaya lunged with his shots too much.

Ubaya started the fourth more effectively with his jab. Defensively, he dipped to his right, so Zak connected with a chopping right. Some more chopping rights followed. A short counter scored a third knockdown of the fight. To Ubaya's credit, the 29 year old climbed off the canvas for the third time and finished the fourth round strong. Zak won the quite moments with his jab in the fifth, but Ubaya won the loud moments with a sweeping left and a subsequent combination.

Ubaya took off the sixth round as Zak controlled the action. Hopelessly behind, Ubaya spent the final two rounds trying to win. He landed some good body shots and used aggression to force Zak to retreat at times. Towards the end of the eighth rough, Ubaya went for broke. He showed courage and stamina in the closing rounds. Zak's offense was solid, but he appeared to fade a bit down the stretch in his first eight-rounder.

As the scores were tabulated, the crowd chanted "Abdul, Abdul!" Yan Zak was declared the winner. The Jewish Boxing Blog scored the fight 77-72 for Zak. The cruierweight prospect is now 5-0 with 3 KOs. BoxRec has Ubaya at 10-5 with 6 KOs, but he has at least three more victories than that.

Yan Zak and Abdul Ubaya Weigh In

Yan Zak and Abdul Ubaya weighed in ahead of their cruiserweight clash tomorrow at the Round 10 Boxing Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Zak came in at a fit 189.6 pounds. The 25 year old is 4-0 with 3 KOs. His previous lightest was 198.5 pounds.

Ubaya weighed in at 184.1 pounds. This is the heaviest of the 29 year old's career. His previous high was 175.3 pounds in September.

Zak's size advantage could play a role in tomorrow's bout. Ubaya is a tricky, powerful opponent, but he is coming up in weight. He's the toughest opponent Zak has yet faced, but the Israeli has shown great skills and power during his amateur career and over the course of his first four pro fights.

For a preview of the fight, click here.

Yan Zak to Face Abdul Ubaya

Cruiserweight Yan Zak faces Abdul Ubaya on Saturday at the Round 10 Boxing Club in  Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Zak was originally scheduled to face Dickson Mwakisopile. Zak's team was initially told Mwakisopile had died in a motorcycle accident, but it turned out he had simply suffered a standard cut over his left eye. Ubaya, who comes in on about two weeks' notice, is a tougher opponent than Mwakisopile.

A 25 year old, Zak is 4-0 with 3 KOs. He has been roughing up experienced journeyman thus far in his career. Ubaya is a 29 year old from Kibaha, Tanzania. Kibaha is just outside Dar es Salaam where many of Ubaya's fights have taken place. The upset-minded Ubaya has also won in Thailand and Russia, and lost by split decision in England.

Ubaya's best punch is a chopping right. He has a decent jab and a solid left hook. He's most effective throwing combinations off the jab, but he can be wild and is susceptible to counter rights and crisp jabs. Oluwatosin Kejawa snapped back Ubaya's head numerous times with his quality jab in their 2023 fight. Ubaya also uses tricky upper body movement and throws punches from odd angles to great effect.

BoxRec lists Ubaya as 10-4 with 6 KOs, but he is more experienced than that. Fights in 2020 against Richard Mazule, Michael Kalyalya, Zuber Karemba have not been included on his BoxRec ledger.

Ubaya took a disputed decision loss to Pius Mpenda in 2021. Mpenda has since been a challenging opponent for some very good fighters. Ubaya traveled to Thailand in 2023 and upset Davrobek Kurbonov, who faded down the stretch. For that win, Ubaya was awarded the WBC Asian title because it's apparently outside the World Boxing Council's purview to know that Tanzania isn't in Asia. After the split decision loss to Kejawa in England, Ubaya dominated Ibragim Estemirov in Russia last year. He then was stopped by Pawel Sosulin.

This year, Abdul beat up an out-of-shape Godfrey Paulo Kamala and had more wrinkles in his game than Stephen Nyamhanga. He will be a tough opponent for Zak. Ubaya's biggest drawback is his size. He has fought as heavy as light heavyweight, but it's a big jump up to cruiserweight. Zak needs to be careful, but his size, speed, and boxing ability should allow him to take the fight.

Zak-Ubaya is scheduled for eight rounds.

Preview of Yan Zak vs Dickson Mwakisopile

Cruiserweight Yan Zak looks to make it five consecutive wins to start his professional career when the 25 year old takes on Dickson Mwakisopile on November 29 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The resident of Ashdod, Israel will have a skill advantage when he fights Mwakisopile, a rugged 30-year-old brawler from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. After turning pro on May 3, Zak has achieved a steady level of activity. The challenge for the Terminator's handlers is to find suitable opponents for the decorated amateur. Mwakisopile will pose a certain test for Zak.

Mwakisopile's record is a mediocre 8-5 with 7 KOs. He's been stopped four times. He turned pro in 2012 and cobbled together only four fights over the next eleven years. An upset victory over undefeated heavyweight Selemani Kavuta to start 2024 energized Dickson's career. Kavuta's philly shell defense confused Mwakisopile until Kavuta opened up in the fourth and ate a concussive counter right. That TKO victory led to a clash against one-time Tyson Fury foe Sefer Seferi, a fight in which Mwakisopile quit after the second round.

A year ago, prospect Timur Bibilov knocked out Mwakisopile in the opening round with a pair of left hooks. Two weeks later, Dickson blasted out Said Mbelwa in the first round of a rematch twelve years in the making. Mbelwa had beaten the young Tanzanian in his 2012 debut. To start 2025, Dickson traveled to Russia where he was rudely welcomed by Ruslan Fayfer, who disposed of the Dar es Salaamian inside one round.

Mwakisopile is on a three-fight win streak. He's an aggressive stalker, not unlike a college friend I once had. A stone-faced power-puncher, he throws a chopping right and his hips produce significant torque for his left hook. But he leaves himself open for counters. His right hand moves away from his face when he jabs. He boxed a bit against Kavuta but is primarily a one-dimensional pressure fighter. Zak will need to be careful to avoid Mwakisopile's heavy hands, but his speed and skill should carry the day.

Zak-Mwakisopile is scheduled for eight rounds.

David Malul and Yan Zak in Separate Fights Next Month

Welterweight David Malul and cruiserweight Yan Zak are both scheduled to be in the ring next month. Malul will face Colin Huntington at Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York, USA on November 13. Zak is taking on Dickson Mwakisopile in Dubai, UAE on November 29.

Malul (3-0, 2 KOs) will be making his promotional debut when he faces Huntington, a 23 year old from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 22 year old "King" David will be fighting in his home borough for the first time as a professional. Huntington sports a record of 3-6 with 2 KOs. He has been stopped four times.

Zak, a 25 year old, has a record of 4-0 with 3 KOs. The resident of Ashdod, Israel has been active since turning pro in the spring. His opponent, Mwakisopile is a 30 year old from Da es Salam, Tanzania. Mwakisopile has a record of 8-5 with 7 KOs. He has been stopped four times.

The Jewish Boxing Blog will have full previews of both fights in the comping weeks.

Yan Zak Stops Fozilov in the Fourth

Cruiserweight prospect Yan Zak defeated Bakhromjon Fozilov by fourth round TKO at Sport Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia today. Zak dictated the action from the opening bell as Fozilov could not overcome the Israeli's size, skill, and speed advantages.

Zak, a 25 year old, immediately took control of center ring. Though he faced a southpaw, the resident of Ashdod used his jab often, primarily as a range finder. Fozilov's best defense in the first round was his feints.

After a relatively slow opening stanza, Zak ratcheted up his attack. He jabbed to the body and landed straight shots down the middle in the quiet moments. He added a sneaky right uppercut. Fozilov moved, occasionally throwing wild homerun shots. He caught Zak with a wide right hook, but Yan was able to walk through it. Zak effectively cut off the ring, which negated B.F.'s escape plan.

Fozilov, a 28 year old from Fergana, Uzbekistan, went down four times in the third round. The first two were called slips, but he couldn't deal with Zak's relentless body work or his quick combinations. Fozilov took a knee to assuage the beating. When he got up, Zak placed a combo to the body and Fozilov fell once again.

By the fourth round, Fozilov's punch resistance to the body had evaporated. Zak scored two more knockdowns with shots to the Uzbek's midsection. The referee mercifully stopped the fight.

Zak improves his record to 4-0 with 3 KOs. Fozilov is now 10-5-3 with 9 KOs. This is the second time he's been stopped.