Boxer Papin’s manager: “Next year we are aiming for a fight for the world title”

Alexey Papin’s team will make every effort to organize the championship fight in 2026. The manager of the Russian boxer, Vitaly Tarasov, told Match TV.

On Friday in Vologda, in a first heavyweight bout, Papin defeated Rollie Lambert from Cameroon by technical knockout, who refused to continue the fight after the third round due to a shoulder injury. The 38-year-old Russian has 20 victories and one defeat in the professional ring. Papin is ranked ninth in the WBA cruiserweight rankings and holds the WBA Asia belt. Lambert, 36, has 18 wins, four losses and a draw.

— The opponent was quite serious, he fought for the world title. He came here not to serve a number, but to win. As the battle progressed, Alexey only accelerated and took the initiative. The way the fight ended… It’s difficult to say whether his hand actually hurt, or whether he broke down psychologically. Alexei himself felt uneasy afterwards; he was expecting something completely different. But this is sport, this happens. Next year we are targeting a world title fight. We will do everything to make this happen,” Tarasov told Match TV.

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