By Jim Dower: Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Jan Zaveck (31-2, 18 KO’s) will be fighting for the first time since being stopped in the 5th round by Andre Berto when he steps into the ring to face #7 WBO ranked welterweight contender Bethuel Ushona (25-1-1, 8 KO’s) on March 24th for the WBO Inter-Continental title in Manibor, Slovenia.

Zaveck, 35, wants to pick up this minor strap before reloading for another world title shot. Zaveck was stopped on a bad cut a swollen right eye in his bout with Berto last September. Zaveck took punishment in the first three rounds from the ex-WBC welterweight champion Berto, but then came on in the 4th and 5th rounds and appeared to be taking command of the fight when the fight was halted in between rounds after the 5th.

It was a disappointing stoppage, to be sure, but a smart one because Zaveck’s right eye was closed and he couldn’t see clearly out of his left eye due to the large cut above it.

Ushona, from Nambia, has only limited experience against quality opposition. He was beaten by British domestic level fighter Denon Vassell by a 12 round unanimous decision last March, which should give you a pretty good indication about Ushona’s limitations as a fighter.

Zaveck should win this fight as long as he doesn’t suffer any bad cuts like he did in his last fight or have another eye closed. When you get cuts like the one that Zaveck suffered sometimes they have a tendency to leave a lot of scar tissue that can be compromised in future bouts. I just don’t know if Ushona is the one that can take advantage of this. It seems like a fairly safe fight for Zaveck, but you never know. He’s getting up there in age at 35, and could fall apart if Ushona can land a lot of shots to get the blood flowing and the eye closing.