Mihai Nistor, a famous conqueror of Anthony Joshua in the amateur ranks, will make his first appearance for Zuffa Boxing.
Nistor will return this weekend on the latest bill by Dana White’s start-up promotion at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York this weekend.
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Nistor will make his Zuffa Boxing debut, a return as a pro for the first time since April 2024Credit: Getty
The Romanian heavyweight is notorious within the world of boxing, after claiming a famous scalp during his stint in the unpaid ranks.
He famously handed Joshua the only stoppage defeat of his amateur career in 2011 when the pair met, one year before AJ secured an Olympic gold medal.
Now the 35-year-old will make his 9th professional bow and turn over a new leaf after signing for White’s promotion.
He will take on unbeaten American KO artist Kashaun Davis, who will be searching for his 12th consecutive stoppage win.
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The bout will land on the preliminary card of the event which will be topped by Edgar Berlanga’s return against Stephen Butler.
Nistor will hope to halt his rival’s ruthless start to life as a pro, and continue his own unbeaten stretch.
It is almost certain he will be the more experienced, having won 138 amateur fights, and even duelled with modern era great Oleksandr Usyk and Filip Hrgovic.
What happened when Nistor KO’d Joshua?
Irrespective of what he does next as a pro, Nistor will always hold the tag of being one of an elite group to send Joshua to the canvas.
In 2011 the pair met in the European Championships in Ankara, Turkey, with Nistor deemed the underdog.
But his growing experience on the amateur circuit proved too much for the young British star who was rising through the ranks.
Joshua was caught with a booming left hook in the third round of their contest, which turned his legs to jelly underneath him.
He was held up by the ropes but after the former Olympian struggled through a standing count, the referee waved off the contest.
It was a big statement, and he joins just Andy Ruiz Jr and Daniel Dubois who have stopped Joshua since on the paid circuit.
Nistor has spoken openly about his determination to put his profile into lights as a pro, and earn a rematch with Joshua.
He said previously: “I’d love to box again with my former rivals.
“If I could box against Joshua and Usyk again, that would be my goal.
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“I was held back for about two years because of the pandemic.
“I am confident and convinced that I will make it to the level of Joshua and Usyk.”