If you attended a professional boxing event at Buffalo Run Casino and Resort in Miami, Oklahoma, during 2016 or 2017, you likely haven’t forgotten Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk.
Local fight fans fondly remember Baranchyk as part of the former Four State Franchise, promoter Tony Holden’s stable of fighters.
Baranchyk earned six wins at Buffalo Run throughout ’16 and ’17, and during that time, his aggressive style, his knockout power and his youthful appearance made him a fan favorite.
Chants of “Beast, Beast, Beast” filled the Peoria Showplace arena during his final bout in the area, a July 2017 unanimous decision over Keenan Smith that aired live on Showtime. Strobe lights flashed, techno music blared and Ivan “broke out” of a steel cage before the bout.
Baranchyk even called Miami his adopted hometown. In fact, Baranchyk, is still listed as fighting out of Miami, Oklahoma.
While he hasn’t been in this region for more than three years, it’s safe to say Baranchyk still has a large number of fans in our area.
And those fans have an opportunity to watch Baranchyk in a high-profile fight on Saturday night.
Baranchyk will meet Jose Zepeda in a 10-round junior welterweight main event on Saturday night’s Top Rank Boxing’s card from Las Vegas that will air live on ESPN+. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. Central time and the main event is slated for 9. You must have a subscription to ESPN+ to watch.
Baranchyk, the 27 year-old from Belarus, is 20-1 with 13 knockouts ahead of Saturday’s clash inside the MGM Grand Conference Center’s “bubble.” The 31-year-old Zepeda is 32-2.
In the WBC’s 140-pound rankings, Zepeda is ranked second and Baranchyk is ranked sixth.
This is Baranchyk’s biggest scrap since he dropped the IBF super lightweight title to Josh Taylor on May 18 of 2019 in Scotland during the World Boxing Super Series.
The hard-hitting Baranchyk is coming off a technical knockout over Gabriel Bracero last October on a card that took place inside historic Madison Square Garden.
Zepeda and Baranchyk were scheduled to clash back in July, but Baranchyk suffered an injured rib during training. Both combatants are now healthy.
Holden is still co-promoting Baranchyk and is part of Ivan’s camp inside the “bubble” in Las Vegas.
At Thursday’s Top Rank press conference, Baranchyk noted he’s more than ready to earn a statement victory.
“In my training camp, I’ve been going harder and harder and harder,” Ivan said during the press conference. “I feel great. I’m ready to fight all rounds. I can go 10, 12, or 20 rounds. I’m very hungry. You will see a good fight Saturday night.”
With a win, Baranchyk will ascend into the championship picture at 140 pounds and another high-profile fight will follow, possibly against WBC/WBO champion Jose Ramirez.
“This is the best division,” Baranchyk said. “This fight is very important for me because it will be my next step towards a world title opportunity. If we win this fight, maybe I can get the chance to challenge Ramirez.”
And when Baranchyk steps into the ring on Saturday night, it’s safe to say he’ll have a large number of fans cheering him on from Southwest Missouri and Northeastern Oklahoma.
CONWELL TO FIGHT ON SHOWTIME
Another former member of the Four State Franchise also has a big fight coming up.
Undefeated former Olympian Charles Conwell is in the main event of a Showtime card on Wednesday in Connecticut.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Conwell (12-0) fights Wendy Toussaint (12-0) in a 10-round middleweight clash during ShoBox: The New Generation at Mohegan Sun Casino.
Holden Productions and DiBella Entertainment are co-promoting the event.
“I am happy to be back on ShoBox, and I am going to put in a good performance and do what I do best,” Conwell told Showtime. “My opponent is undefeated, and he will come to win, but I think that I am just better overall and all-around. I am a very smart boxer with fast hands and power. When people see me, they will see Aaron Pryor, Mike Tyson and Andre Ward rolled up into one! I am happy to be headlining ShoBox and being able to show my talent to the whole world.”
Conwell made his pro debut at Buffalo Run on April 21, 2017. He fought at Buffalo Run three times overall and is now ranked ninth at 154 pounds by the IBF.
Final thoughts
It will be interesting to see what happens for both Baranchyk and Conwell.
And of course, it’s just great these high-profile events are taking place, even without fans in attendance.
