The next big matchup is set: on May 8th, 2025, at “BAZARA 0 Fight Club II”, Latvian boxer Francis Rozentāls will trade leather with Juris Zundovskis under the promotion’s unique “Fist Bout” rules using 4-ounce gloves.
Insider info reveals Kristaps Zutis had been offered to face Rozentāls after a midgame altercation during the fightball show in January:
However, Zutis declined due to a fresh long-term King of Kings contract. So instead, fate paired Rozentāls with the very man that outpointed Zutis via unanimous decision in February to claim the KOK Latvian Champion title — Juris Zundovskis.
Coincidence or not, this fight is actually a rematch nearly three years in the making. Rozentāls and Zundovskis first met back in May of 2022, where the nearly 10 years younger Rozentāls emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
But a lot has changed since. Francis, now 24, has been itching to return after a hiatus, while the soon-to-be 33-year-old Zundovskis is riding new momentum. With 4-ounce gloves now in play and a caged battleground, their old result will be tested under new circumstances.
Tickets for “BAZARA 0 Fight Club II” are on sale in limited supply. For those who can’t make it, the event will be livestreamed for free on SlotsFighter.com.
The Return of Francis Rozentāls
Rozentāls enters this fight carrying an undefeated pro record of 8–0–1 with 2 knockouts.
He built his perfect record between 2019 and 2022 on the local circuit, often handing more experienced opponents their first taste of defeat. In only his second pro fight, the (then) 19-year-old shocked Aleksejs Aboltins, who was 6–0–1 at the time, earning a victory that halted Aboltins’ unbeaten run. He later did the same to Finland’s 4–0 prospect Topias Lepo, outboxing him over the distance.
These wins made Rozentāls a prospect to watch. Over nine pro bouts, Rozentāls developed his rep as a technical and tactical boxer. Only 25% of his wins have come by KO, but he makes up for it with hand speed, and solid fundamentals.
The lone blemish on his ledger is a single draw against Mikhail Kozletinov in early 2022. Notably, Rozentāls rebounded from that draw by defeating Juris Zundovskis just a few months later in their 2022 encounter, winning a clear decision over 4 rounds.
Afterwards, Rozentāls stepped away from competition completely due to an elbow injury. Now, after almost three years out of the ring, he’s back — with a loud return at the Latvian Boxing Championship and the upcoming Liepāja Fight Night 5 lined up before his challenge against Zundovskis.
At 24, Francis is entering his physical prime. He has stayed active throughout his hiatus and is hungrier than ever to show his evolution. We may see new wrinkles in his game, perhaps more power or aggression, now that he’s had time to develop his strength.
A Career Resurgence for Juris Zundovskis
Across the cage will be Juris Zundovskis, who enters “Bazara 0 Fight Club II” as a KOK Latvian champion with a professional boxing record of 8–8–0.
Don’t let the .500 record fool you — those eight defeats on his ledger are a “who’s who?” of tough opponents. Zundovskis has power in both hands, securing 5 of his 8 wins by KO. At one point, his KO ratio stood above 80%, meaning that whenever he lands clean, he can put people to sleep. It’s also what makes him such a compelling wildcard under the 4-ounce glove rules.
Now in the last throes of being 32, he turned pro back in 2014 and really picked up steam after 2019. He’s faced unbeaten prospects in hostile territory — indeed, sometimes falling short, but sometimes playing spoiler. In 2022, for example, Zundovskis traveled to the famed York Hall in London and upset England’s Joe Giles, dropping the 3–0 Brit en route to a victory.
That win abroad proved Zundovskis isn’t intimidated by home advantage. However, consistency eluded him as he often took on very challenging fights back-to-back. A string of losses in 2022–2023 against high-level competition (including bouts in Germany, England, Poland, and a tough outing against Milans Volkovs in Riga) left his record at 6–8 by the end of 2023.
Many fighters would lose confidence after a skid like that, but Zundovskis did the opposite. In late 2024, Juris began a career resurgence. He notched a unanimous decision win at KOK 122 in October 2024, and then the big one: this past February at KOK 125, he stepped into “Xiaomi Arena” and defeated Kristaps Zutis.
That win earned Zundovskis the KOK Latvian title belt and, perhaps more importantly, bragging rights over one of Latvia’s biggest combat sports personalities. It was a grueling fight, but Zundovskis showed discipline and improved cardio, keeping his output high.
After years of being seen as an underdog, Zundovskis suddenly finds himself on a 3-fight win streak. With more experience under his belt now, he’s certainly studying the mistakes from his first loss against Rozentāls. Evening the score is something that will be on his mind; as the older fighter, Zundovskis knows this is possibly his last chance to do so.
Crucially, the custom BAZARA 0 “Fist Bout” ruleset could tilt certain advantages towards Zundovskis. These 4-ounce gloves are vastly smaller and lighter than standard boxing gloves. Defensive guarding becomes less reliable — a disciplined jab and tight guard, staples of Rozentāls’ game, won’t guarantee safety. Conversely, Zundovskis’ power, which already earns him a higher KO rate, now carries more weight.
On May 8th, something has to give. We have an undefeated technician versus a hard-hitting veteran, meeting under rules that push both out of their comfort zones. On paper, Rozentāls’ prior win and cleaner record would make him a favorite, but under these conditions, it’s closer between the two of them than ever.
