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.
