Gvozdyk ready for a nail biter!

World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk will make the first defense of his world title against Doudou Ngumbu on Saturday, March 30 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.

Gvozdyk-Ngumbu will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

“It was a long journey for me to become a world champion, and I plan to show everyone why I am the best light heavyweight in the world. Ngumbu is a tough fighter who I can`t underestimate , as my goal in 2019 is to unify with other champions, but before I can do that, I have to deal with my next business on March 30.”

“It’s a great opportunity to possibly face the best light heavyweight fighter in the world, after 12 years and 46 fights in my career. Now I`ve got my first chance to win an important world title,” Ngumbu said, prudently adding:  “Maximum respect for Oleksandr Gvozdyk, a great champion who won the WBC title in a war. It will not be easy, but I think I have much more experience as a professional and I intend to use all of that to my benefit.”

Gvozdyk (16-0, 13 KOs) captured an Olympic bronze medal for Ukraine in 2012. He climbed into the elite with dominant victories over Nadjib Mohammedi and Yunieski Gonzalez and won the interim light heavyweight title last March with a unanimous decision against Mehdi Amar. .

As a mandatory challenger, he traveled to Quebec City and defeated former champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson in round 11.

Ngumbu (38-8, 14 KOs) comes from scoring the most important triumph of his career, a 12-round majority decision over the previously unbeaten Yoann Kongolo in May of last year. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who now resides in France, Ngumbu will make his first attempt to conquer a world crown.