Kazakhstan’s Sultan Zaurbek is relishing the prospect of fighting back in his home country when he confronts Azinga Fuzile of South Africa on the undercard of the IBF and WBO middleweight title fight between the champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and Anauel Ngamissengue on April 5.

The junior lightweight fight represents the chief support for Alimkhanuly-Ngamissengue. Alimkhanuly has fought 13 of 16 times as a professional in the US, and last fought in his home country in his second fight, in 2017.

Zaurbek, 28, will arrive at Astana’s Barys Arena having most recently fought in Ireland, when defeating Damian Wrzesinski in December, and having not competed in Kazakhstan since 2021. At junior welterweight Batyr Jukembayev, also of Kazakhstan, will fight England’s Kane Gardner over 10 rounds. Incidentally, the celebrated Gennady Golovkin only fought in his home country once.

“I’m very excited to be fighting in Kazakhstan again for the first time in four years,” he told BoxingScene. “And it is great that this is the biggest fight of my career so far.

“Fuzile is a world-level fighter who has challenged at the highest level. I respect him but I want to prove that I belong at that level. Astana on April 5 is the next step on my journey to a world title and I promised a big performance for all the Kazakh people.”

Fuzile, 28, lost via unanimous decision in 2021 when he fought Kenichi Ogawa of Japan for the vacant IBF title. His only other defeat in 20 contests came against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in 2019. Zaurbek remains undefeated in 19.

“The Kazakh King returns home on April 5 for what will be an emotionally charged fight in front of his home fans,” said his promoter, Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman. “But expect another clinical performance from Sultan because victory, against the high-level and proven Futile, will set him up for a shot at conquering the world. 

“The champions at super featherweight will not be able to avoid Sultan for any longer after he sees off Fuzile in Astana. The clock is ticking on their time at the top.”