By Alexey Sukachev

WBO #12 welterweight Victor Plotnikov (31-2, 15 KOs) of Ukraine will clash horns with British contender Denton Vassell (21-2, 11 KOs) on February 28 At Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the vacant IBF I/C welterweight title. The fight will serve as the leading bout of the supporting undercard to the IBF super bantamweight championship between Carl Frampton and Chris Avalos.

Plotnikov, 37, is on a hot run recently, getting a career-boosting win against teammate Valery Brazhnik (30-0-1 at the time) with an unexpected first-round TKO in December 2013. Vassell scored a TKO win over Craig Kelly in January after back-to-back stoppage losses to Frankie Gavin and Sam Eggington.