Junior welterweight Arthur Biyarslanov, Canada’s only 2016 Olympic boxer and a sought-after prospect, signed a multifight deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn on Friday.
Biyarslanov (2-0, 2 KOs), who was 85-13 as an amateur, including winning a gold medal in the 2015 Pan American Games and five Canadian titles, turned pro in December and won his second fight in February, but he had no promoter. Last week Biyarslanov, 23, signed with manager Keith Connolly, who made the deal with Hearn this week.
“Arthur had a fantastic amateur career and he’s started his pro journey in explosive fashion with two first-round KO wins,” Hearn said. “He’s a 23-year-old talented puncher with a great future ahead of him and I can’t wait to watch his journey with us.”
Biyarslanov, nicknamed the “Chechen Wolf,” fled war-ravaged Chechnya with his family at age 10 and settled in Toronto, where he took up boxing and became a standout amateur.
“I am very happy to join Matchroom Boxing USA. Together with my team and manager Keith Connolly, I believe I can get to the top, and I cannot wait for my third pro fight and building to some massive nights in the future,” Biyarslanov said.
The date for Biyarslanov’s Matchroom Boxing debut has not been set, but it is likely to be in April. He will fight on streaming service DAZN, where Hearn has a long-term deal.