WKN – World Fighting Tour
A Journey Marked by Excellence & Remembrance in Latvia 🇱🇻 !
The highlight of our stay in Riga, Latvia, for the WKN President and Director was the IBA Intercontinental Boxing Championship at Arena Riga. This event was co-promoted by DREAM BOXING & LNK Boxing, showcasing an intense showdown between two top-ranked boxers: Ukrainian Bogdan Sobol and Argentinian Lucas Bastida, both officially ranked in the top 50 and 70 worldwide.
We were honored to be invited to private boxes by our friends and partners, Mr. Evgeny Sapronenko (a former Olympic gymnastics champion and President of the Latvian Gymnastics Federation) and Mr. Vadim Milov (successful entrepreneur and director of RFS, Latvia’s most prestigious football club), the masterminds behind LNK Boxing.
The tension was palpable in a packed Arena Riga as the fighters entered the ring. The fight was fierce, culminating in a brutal KO in the 8th round, with Bastida claiming the IBA Intercontinental title that Sobol had defended three times. Unfortunately, Sobol had to be hospitalized immediately after the match, but we are relieved to know he is now in stable condition. We send him our best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to form.
Special congratulations to Zaur Dzavadov, our triple WKN champion, who once again delivered an impressive victory against a Brazilian opponent, thrilling the electrified crowd that was fully behind him.
Our sports are beautiful but unforgiving, especially when the competition reaches the highest levels. That night, Arena Riga was a true theater of what combat sports can be at their peak—a powerful mix of glory and ultimate adversity.
A special thought goes out to our dear friend, Jorge Acero Cali 🇦🇷(rip). From wherever he is now, we’re sure he must be proud to see Bastida crowned champion that night in Riga. This is a historic achievement, as Bastida is only the second Argentinian to win an IBA title in boxing history. The first was Carlos Baldomir in the 2000s, who famously beat Arturo Gatti for the IBA World Title, only to lose it later to the legendary Floyd Mayweather.
Jorge, wherever you are, you can be proud of Bastida—he honored the legacy of Argentina’s great fighters, and your friends Stephane and Osman were there to crown him in your memory.
This trip was filled with emotion and shared moments with our Latvian friends, all united in our common goal: the development of the sports we love and the promotion of harmony between nations through the timeless, universal values that sports represent. A heartfelt thank you to Evgeny, Vadim, Romanas, Julia, Jekaterina, Rolland, Zaur, and everyone else for their kindness and for making our stay an unforgettable memory.
The next WFT – World Fighting Tour will likely be in Uzbekistan… Stay tuned!