Wikipedia

Al Siesta

Al Siesta
Born
Albert Khachaturov

Bishkek, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union (present-day Kyrgyzstan)
Occupations
  • Boxing promoter
  • matchmaker
  • sports executive
Years active2014–present
EmployerIBA Pro
Known forPromoting Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev
SpouseAisha Hussein (m. 2003)
Children2

Albert "Al Siesta" Khachaturov is a British-based boxing promoter, matchmaker and sports executive. He is the founder of Skyboxing Limited (formerly Siesta Boxing) and has served as Director General of IBA Pro, the professional boxing division of the International Boxing Association, since 2024.[1] Fighters he has promoted include former World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight world champion Mairis Briedis and World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Khachaturov was born in Bishkek, in present-day Kyrgyzstan, and was raised primarily in Moscow, Russia.[1][3] He attended the Moscow Academy of Contemporary Music before relocating to the United Kingdom in 1996 to pursue a career in music, working as an artist, singer, arranger and composer.[3] He adopted the professional name "Al Siesta" during his music career and retained it when transitioning into boxing.[3][4]

Boxing career

[edit]

Early matchmaking

[edit]

Khachaturov began working in professional boxing in the mid-2010s as a freelance matchmaker, collaborating with Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy and World of Boxing.[3] During this period, he worked with Armenian-born welterweight David Avanesyan, guiding him to the interim WBA welterweight title in 2015.[5]

Work with Mairis Briedis

[edit]

In 2015, Khachaturov began working with Latvian cruiserweight Mairis Briedis as his manager and promoter.[6] Under the newly formed Siesta Boxing promotional outfit, he staged events in Riga, Latvia, including Briedis's victory over South African Danie Venter for the IBF Inter-Continental cruiserweight title in February 2016, and his defeat of Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola for the WBC Silver cruiserweight title in May 2016.[7]

In April 2017, Briedis defeated Marco Huck in Dortmund to win the WBC cruiserweight world title, becoming the first Latvian boxer to hold a major world championship.[8] Briedis subsequently competed in the World Boxing Super Series, reaching the semi-finals where he lost to Oleksandr Usyk.[9][10]

IBA Pro and Dubai 2025

[edit]

In early 2024, Khachaturov was appointed Director General of IBA Pro, the professional boxing division of the International Boxing Association (IBA).[1][11] In this role, he has overseen professional boxing activities including international event sanctioning and strategic partnerships.[12]

On 12 December 2025, Khachaturov served as lead promoter for the WBA heavyweight championship fight between Kubrat Pulev and Murat Gassiev at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, as part of the IBA Pro 13 event.[13][14] The bout was the first heavyweight world title fight held in the UAE.[15] Gassiev won by sixth-round knockout to claim the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title.[16]

Other fighters

[edit]

Khachaturov has also managed and promoted other fighters including WBO Global welterweight champion Luther Clay and IBF super bantamweight champion Ludumo Lamati.[10][17]

Business interests

[edit]

Khachaturov operates Skyboxing Limited (formerly Siesta Boxing), a boxing promotional company registered in the United Kingdom.[18] As an advisor, he has worked with promotional outfits including Matchroom Boxing, World Boxing Super Series, RCC Boxing Promotions, Ringstar (France), and OPI Since 82 (Italy).[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Khachaturov resides in Southampton, England.[13] He married Aisha Hussein in 2003 and the couple have two sons.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Hammond, Joseph (16 June 2025). "IBA Pro Seeks To Change Boxing's Landscape, Fighter Careers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Moses Itauma is a heavyweight 'Golden Boy' but he is yet to accept a Murat Gassiev fight, says promoter Al Siesta". Sky Sports. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Boxing from the inside: Albert Siesta". Ultimatum Boxing (in Russian). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  4. ^ "From Russia With Love". Boxing Social. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Welterweight David Avanesyan dominated Chris Eubank Jnr in sparring according to Russian's manager". Boxing News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  6. ^ Jay, Phil (15 August 2016). "Exclusive: Briedis manager explains Bellew undercard situation, future depends on Haye". World Boxing News. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: Briedis manager says Vallily can spy for Bellew, be the guinea pig". World Boxing News. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  8. ^ Pradarics, Tamas (21 February 2018). "Briedis' Manager: In a Rematch, My Fighter Will Beat Usyk!". BoxingScene. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  9. ^ Eliņš, Rolands (10 May 2018). "Briedis' manager: "Mairis vs. Gasiyev in the Super Series final? It won't happen"". Sportacentrs (in Latvian). Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Luther Clay's promoter states he wants to bring world title fight to Bracknell for Clay". Bracknell News. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Al Siesta In-Depth On New Role As IBA Pro CEO". Boxing News. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "The future is here: IBA Pro's launch marks a new era in professional boxing". International Boxing Association. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  13. ^ a b Dixon, Tris (12 December 2025). "Al Siesta says fight between Kubrat Pulev and Murat Gassiev is 'humongous'". BoxingScene. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Pulev-Gassiev Weights From Dubai". FightNews. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Pulev and Gassiev Face-Off Ahead of Blockbuster WBA World Heavyweight Title Showdown in Dubai". International Boxing Association. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Murat Gassiev Irons Out Kubrat Pulev To Claim WBA Heavyweight Title In Dramatic Dubai Shootout". International Boxing Association. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  17. ^ ""AL SIESTA HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!" LUTHER CLAY REACTS TO WIN OVER FREDDY KIWITT & POTENTIAL CONOR BENN". Boxing Social. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "SKY BOXING LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Carl Froch meets Al Siesta: What Is IBA Pro?". Froch On Fighting. 8 December 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2026 – via YouTube.
[edit]