IVAN BARANCHYK SEEKS FOURTH STRAIGHT VICTORY OF 2016 IN MIAMI, OK

“THE BEAST” RETURNS TO MIAMI, OK

New York, NY (12/9/16) – Making his fourth straight appearance tomorrow at the Buffalo Run Casino, in Miami, OK, where he has built a strong local following, undefeated junior welterweight contender Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk (12-0, 10 KOs) will face Wilberth Lopez (15-6, 10 KOs), of Tucson, AZ, in an eight-round bout. Australian junior lightweight contender Billel Dib (20-1, 10 KOs) will also see action on the undercard.

Born in Russia, raised in Belarus and now living and training in Brooklyn, NY, the 23-year-old Baranchyk is coming off an impressive 10-round unanimous decision victory over Chinese amateur standout Wang Zhimin (7-0) that was televised by SHOWTIME’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” series on September 23. Extended the 10-round distance for the first time, Baranchyk, known as a knockout artist, proved he had the stamina and technical ability to expertly outbox his foe en route to winning with scores of 100-90 twice, and 99-91. With the victory, Baranchyk, co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Fight Promotions Inc., and Holden Productions’ Four State Franchise, seized the USBA junior welterweight title. It was his third fight on ShoBox, with the other two bouts lasting a combined two minutes and 49 seconds, having scored highlight reel first-round knockouts over Shadi Shawareb (9-0-2) last December and Nicholas Givhan (16-0-1) in March. It was against Givhan that Baranchyk picked up the WBC USNBC 140lb. belt.

Before turning pro in June 2014, Baranchyk culminated his amateur career with a 120-18 record. He won gold at the 2010 Class A Vilnuse tournament, 2011 and 2013 Match Event tournament, 2011 Kostukovichi International tournament, 2011 and 2012 Soligorsk Open International tournament, 2012 Class A Liventsev tournament, 2013 Active Military tournament, 2013 Republic of Belarus Open Cup, 2014 Vitebsk University tournament in Belarus, and was an amateur champion of Belarus from 2009-2014.

Currently ranked no. 12 by the IBF, Baranchyk has thus far dealt six opponents their first professional loss. His adversary tomorrow Lopez, himself, has defeated five previously unbeaten foes. Lopez had won 10 bouts in a row before suffering a majority decision loss in October to 16-0 Juan Ruiz.

World-ranked Australian super featherweight contender Billel Dib, of Sydney, New South Wales, will be featured on the undercard in his second US appearance this year. Rated no. 5 by the WBO and no. 12 by the WBA, Dib will be facing Colombian former world title challenger Carlos Padilla (16-4-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Dib is riding an 11-fight winning streak since his only defeat in 2012; a loss he avenged via eighth-round stoppage in a rematch. A pro since 2011, Dib has won the Australian and interim WBO Oriental super featherweight titles, and is also the cousin of former IBF featherweight champion Billy Dib.