After an absence of 15 months, 31-year-old Ryad Merhy returns to the ring on Saturday during Charleroi Boxing Night at the Dôme.
The Belgian pugilist, whose impressive record of 30 victories versus 1 defeat includes 25 wins by knock out, will no longer be fighting as a light heavyweight, class in which he is the reigning world champion.
He will now be competing in the new bridge weight division, in an eight-round bout against Dusan Krstin.
The 27-year-old Serb finished his provisional last fight in September 2020 and has not been able to win a duel since November 2017.
Merhy’s goal is clear: to become world champion in the new weight category (between 90.719 kg and 101.605 kg), which was recently approved and introduced by the World Boxing Council.
His last camp was on 17 July 2021.
