Custio Clayton returns to the ring next weekend as a late replacement against Russia’s Sergey Lipinets for the interim IBF welterweight title.
The 33-year-old North Preston boxer, unbeaten in 18 pro bouts, will face Lipinets (16-1), a former world champion who’s two years younger than Clayton, in the 12-round headliner next Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Each fighter has scored 12 knockouts apiece.
Lipinets’ original opponent Kudratillo Abdukakhorov of Uzbekistan withdrew due to visa issues which kept him from entering the United States.
“I’m very happy to have this opportunity,” Clayton, who’s based out of Montreal, said in a news release. “This is exactly the type of fight me and my team have been asking for. My preparation has been very good. This might seem like it’s last-minute, but I am more than ready for whatever Lipinets brings on Oct. 24.”
Clayton’s last bout was an eighth-round knockout of Diego (El Chacarero) Ramirez in a four-fight pro card in Toronto on Jan. 28.
The 2012 Olympian and six-time Canadian amateur champion is the No. 1 welterweight contender in Canada. He’s the fourth-ranked WBO welterweight contender, No. 5 in the IBF rankings and is 10th among WBA contenders.
Lipinets is unbeaten since moving up to the welterweight ranks nearly three years ago, putting together three straight victories since losing the 140-pound title to Mikey Garcia in March 2018.
The Oct. 24 Showtime boxing telecast will begin at 10 p.m. AT. Undefeated contender Xavier Martinez will face Claudio Marrero in a 12-round WBA super featherweight title eliminator in the co-main event.
