WBO Inter-Continental Clash: Fowler Takes On Rose In Domestic Middleweight Battle

The soccer field will become a fistic battleground Saturday, August 17, as WBO junior featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will make the second defense of his title against the undefeated Francisco “Panchito” De Vaca.

Navarrete-De Vaca will headline the inaugural fight card at the year-old stadium and will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Iron Boy Promotions, tickets priced at $100, $80, $70, $60, $45 and $25 (not including applicable fees) go on sale Tuesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and in person at the Banc of California Stadium box office.

Navarrete (27-1, 23 KOs) has won 22 consecutive bouts dating back to 2012, but his breakthrough came last December when he upset Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe via unanimous decision to win the WBO junior featherweight title. Five months later, in Tucson, Arizona, he repeated the deed, this time knocking out Dogboe in the 12th round. A native of San Juan Zitlaltepec, Mexico, Navarrete had a reported 108-7 record in the amateur ranks and comes from a family of fighters. His uncle, Pedro Navarrete Sr., and two of his cousins, Pedro Navarrete Jr. and Johnny Navarrete, fought as professionals.

De Vaca (20-0, 6 KOs) was born in Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, as a small child. All but one of De Vaca’s pro fights have taken place in the Phoenix area, where he has developed into one of the region’s most popular attractions. The 24-year-old boxer-puncher made his Top Rank debut last August in Glendale, Arizona, outlasting Jesus Serrano by unanimous decision in a crowd-pleasing brawl. He last fought in February at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, where he shut out Ernesto Guerrero over eight rounds.

“This is a great opportunity to defend my title against an exciting fighter like De Vaca,” Navarrete said. “I’ve worked hard to prove myself as a true champion, and I won’t let anyone take that away from me. It’s going to be a great night outside in Los Angeles, and whenever you have two Mexicans in the ring, you can expect a battle.”

“This is the fight of my life,” De Vaca said. “I am going to show my Mexican heart and prove to the world that I belong on the world stage. I’m not going to talk any trash. I have a lot of respect for Emanuel Navarrete, but his reign will end on August 17.”

ANTHONY YARDE WILL challenge long-standing world champion Sergey Kovalev for his WBO World Light Heavyweight championship in Chelyabinsk, Russia on August 24. The fight will be broadcast live and exclusive in the UK on BT Sport.

Yarde, 18-0 with 17 Kos, has again accepted the delayed mission of heading into the home nation of the world champion known as Krusher in order to fulfill the first part of his dream of holding multiple world title belts and ruling the division for years to come.

The 27-year-old now gets the opportunity to take on the most experienced and formidable of the current world champions, with the 36-year-old having clocked up 28 Kos from his 33 wins. Kovalev has operated in world title competition since parting Nathan Cleverly from his WBO belt in August 2013 in Cardiff.

“This is my time now and I am going to show the world what I am all about,” said the challenger, the self-styled Beast from the East of London. “Waiting for my time to come around could have been a frustration but we turned it into a positive and I am even more ready to seize the moment.

“Everything has fallen perfectly into place for me, this will be my coronation as world champion and I am going to realize my dream by beating the most decorated of the current world title holders.

“I am more than happy to achieve my goal in Russia and I think it is only right that a great world champion such as Kovalev is given the opportunity to defend in his home country. He has earned that right.

“What I know is that on August 24 another world title belt will be under British ownership and I will have done it the hard way, one that nobody will be able to question.

“My promoter and my manager have made all the right moves to get me into this position and I thank Frank Warren and Tunde Ajayi for creating this opportunity for me. They have done their part and it is now up to me to deliver.”

Frank Warren said the self-belief of his light heavyweight star was the key to accepting a mandatory challenge on away territory.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for Anthony and he has earned his shot by working his way to the No.1 spot in the rankings,” said the promoter. “He has showed what he is all about by being prepared to go into Kovalev’s back yard and it demonstrates the confidence he has in his own ability.

“Everybody knows Kovalev is a tremendous puncher and a fearsome presence in the ring. It is something we first saw over here when he fought Nathan Cleverly and he has continued to operate at the very highest level.

“Anthony possesses tremendous self-belief and we back him to come away with the spoils but, whatever does happen in the fight, it is one that he will take a lot of valuable experience from.”

Yarde’s trainer-manager Tunde Ajayi added: “We’re here now! It’s been stage by stage, it’s been calculated and everything is timing, which I have said from the start.

“The time is now and we are about to shock the world. I cannot remember a fighter with so little experience going over to another man’s back yard to take on a great champion, so I don’t want to hear any excuses when Anthony knocks him out.

“I know that is going to happen.”

Fiesta de Campeones: Orgullo Boricua!

Como es de costumbre cada 4 de julio, la Organización Mundial de Boxeo, junto con el ex campeón mundial Samuel ‘El Torbellino’ Serrano, reunen a varios ex campeones mundiales puertorriqueños junto con boxeadores de la actualidad para disfrutar de un hermoso día en la casa de Serrano, situada en el pueblo de Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Junto con el presidente de la OMB el Lcdo. Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel estuvieron presentes los ex Campeones Mundiales: Alfredo ‘El Salsero’ Escalera, Juan Laporte, Orlando Fernández, Josué ‘Dickie’ Camacho, Alex ‘El Nene’ Sánchez, John John Molina, Rafael del Valle, Iván Calderón, Daniel ‘La Cobra’ Jiménez, Nelson Dieppa, José ‘Caguitas’ De Jesús, Samuel ‘El Torbellino’ Serrano, el tres veces contendor al título mundial Wilfredo Rivera, el campeón Latino OMB de las 140 libras y clasificado número seis por el organismo Jean Carlos ‘Lobo’ Torres y el prospecto Carlos Arrieta.

De la actividad también participaron: los entrenadores Jesús Ortíz, Yoel González, Félix Pagán Pintor, Margaro Cruz. Los árbitros José Hiram Rivera, Melba Santos y Janny Guzmán y el manejador Peter Rivera.

Por la OMB participó el Director del Comité de Clasificaciones el Lcdo. Edgardo López Sasso, el asesor legal y miembro del ‘Comité de Títulos Regionales’ el Lcdo. Gustavo Olivieri, el Vicedirector del Comité de Campeonatos el Lcdo. Enrique Mendoza, Miembro Directivo Joe Hernández, Félix Clovis Zabala, de All Star Boxing, y otras personalidades del deporte estuvieron compartiendo en la actividad.

Vacant WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Welterweight Championship title Zhankosh Turarov vs. Mauro Godoy

MTK Boxing card from Kazakhstan on July 6 live on ESPN+

Kazakhstan boxing is readying itself for a night that will go down in its illustrious history and broadcast around the world – Saturday’s world title #MTKFightNight in Nur-Sultan.

Now, thanks to the support and encouragement of Nurali Aliyev, a name synonymous with boxing in Kazakhstan, they’re all coming home to show their progress to fanatical compatriots on a bill topped by Turarov’s (23-0, 16 KOs) WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Welterweight collision with high-class Argentinian Mauro Godoy (31-4-1, 16 KOs).

Turarov turned pro more than a decade ago in Kazakhstan and will be fighting for the second time in as many months since signing with MTK Global. He knocked out Richmond Djarbeng in two rounds last month in Cardiff, Wales, in a fight that streamed on ESPN+. Godoy, from Argentina, is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision victory March 15 in his home nation. He is a former South American super lightweight champion who has gone 10 or more rounds seven times.

The landmark event will take place at the colossal Barys Arena in the Kazakh capital of Nur-Sultan on the Day of the Capital City with 13,000 set to attend and witness boxing history.

ESPN, the biggest sports broadcaster in the world will broadcast the event to their 100 million subscribers across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico with iFL TV also on-hand to ensure viewership across the rest of the world.

“There are few nations developing as much great young talent as Kazakhstan,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “July 6 in Nur-Sultan – live on ESPN+ – is the start of something special for Kazakhstan boxing, and Top Rank is proud to be working with MTK Global on this exciting venture.”

Head of MTK Kazakhstan Askar Salikbayev said: “This is phenomenal news for everyone – for the country of Kazakhstan, for MTK Global, for the fighters and for the fans.

Jeyvier Cintron vs. Koki Eto Rematch Eyed For August 2, Florida

This past Monday in Tokyo, Shirai & Gushiken Sports Club of Tokyo announced in due form that WBO #2 ranked Koki Eto (24-4-1, 19 KOs will once again face WBO #5 Jeyvier “Perro” Cintron (10-1, 5KOs) on August 2 at Osceola Heritage Center, Kissimmee, Florida.

The fight will be a 10-round eliminator to become the mandatory challenger to the WBO super flyweight world champion, Kazuto Ioka.

The bout will be a tiebreaker for Eto and Cintron. Their first fight, which took place in May at the same Osceola Heritage Center in Kissimmee, Florida, was made a no-contest when they collided in an eliminator.

Initially, Eto was declared the winner by TKO at 2:37 of the very first round.

Shortly after spending two minutes boxing from the initial gong of the first round, the Puerto Rican boxer was knocked down surprisingly by what appeared to be a right hand to the face. Cintron tried to get up from the canvas with great difficulty and impatient with wobbly legs. Seeing the dangerous state of Cintron, Floridian referee Andrew Glenn stopped the fight to declare Eto the winner.

But, after 30 minutes, the fight was sanctioned as a no-contest after a video inspection by the Florida Boxing Commission to find out exactly what was going on in the ring at the very moment Cintron was knocked down.

After a review of the video, the verdict was overturned after it was shown that Cintron had been dropped as the result of a head clash and not a right hand. The right hand slightly grazed the face of Cintron.

Via Hisao Adachi / BoxingScene.com

Carolina, Puerto Rico – In a crowded and festive activity the World Boxing Organization (WBO), chaired by Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel, Esq., awarded Unified WBO Heavyweight Champion Andy Ruiz Jr. a commemorative belt in honor of his historic victory over Anthony Joshua to become the first Mexican world heavyweight champion.

Former WBO Super Champions Miguel Cotto, and Iván Calderón handed the special belt to Andy Ruiz Jr.

“We are here to pay a well-deserved tribute to Andy Ruiz, Jr. When he fought in Macao, I remember that I saw him chubby and I told that to his promoter at that time Bob Arum and he told me that Andy moves like a featherweight. That fight Andy won in 3 or 4 rounds and after the fight, Andy was very happy in the dressing room with our WBO NABO title. That was the first title he won in professional boxing. Andy always told me with great confidence that he was going to be WBO champion. I noticed that in the fight against Joshua, Andy was very calm and relaxed in his dressing room. He had incredible confidence until he finally won. I was very happy for his victory because he finally made history. Andy is a wonderful person. He has a wonderful personal story that we have been part of and we thank you for that because they are things that only happen once. I think that if someone deserved to be the first Mexican world heavyweight champion, that’s you for the quality of person you have. You are great motivation for many people “, stated WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel, Esq.

ANDY RUIZ JR:
“Thank you very much to everyone who is supporting me and they came here to support me. Thanks to the WBO for a very wonderful belt, very nice. I battled a lot since I was little kid and to be world champion also with a lot of sacrifice, a lot of training. Many think that I don’t train hard enough, but I train very hard. I’m very happy. Making history for being the first Mexican heavyweight world champion It’s a dream I’ve always wanted since I was a child and now I’ve achieved everything. I’m blessed, thank God for everything and now we are on vacation here in Puerto Rico, thanks to Paco (Valcárcel) and now spending time with the family, and then be ready for the rematch with Joshua. I’m still hungry to have those belts with me. All this is a dream and thanks to all the Latinos who support me. Thank you all”.

One month ago, on June 1st, 2019, Ruiz Jr. defeated the now former WBO Unified Champion Anthony Joshua by 7th-round TKO at New York’s Madison Square Garden to become the first Mexican world heavyweight champion.

Participating in the event were former 4-division world champion Miguel Cotto, former 2-division WBO World Champions Iván Calderón and Juanma López, former world champions Alex Sánchez, Juan Laporte and Samuel Serrano, former WBO Jr. Flyweight Champion Angel Acosta, interim Latino WBO Heavyweight champion Víctor Bisbal, WBO Latino Jr. Welterweight champion Jean Carlos “Lobo” Torres, WBO/NABO Jr. Flyweight champion Wilfredo “Bimbito” Méndez, WBO Latino Jr. Featherweight Champion Yenifel Vicente, WBO Jr. Bantamweight Champion Jeyvier Cintrón, WBO Latino Flyweight Champion McWilliams Arroyo, and WBO ranked #7 at 122 lbs Luis “Popeye” Lebrón. Other boxers who were present included Carlos Caraballo, Edwin Valentin, Bernard Lebrón, Víctor Santillán, Alfredo Cruz, Danielito Zorrilla, Carlos Arrieta, among others.

Photos and video by Victor Planas / WBO

Fernando Gaztambide
WBO Press Officer

With a ruthless attack to the head and body of Nicaraguan Julio Laguna, Puerto Rican Jean Carlos “Lobo” Torres scored a TKO victory in the third round in the main bout of “A Puño Limpio”, which took out before full house at the Ruben Zayas Montañez Coliseum in Trujillo Alto in a presentation of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) in association with Spartan Boxing.

Torres (16-0, 12 kos) defended his Interim WBO Latino Jr. Welterweight title at 140 pounds for the second time and scored his fifth straight knockout in his town of Trujillo Alto.

“I promised this victory to my Barrio La Gloria and I complied, the rival came well prepared and to fight, but as soon as I put good hands on the body I realized it was a matter of time to defeat him,” said Torres after his victory.

The fight began with Torres putting his hands to the face and body of Laguna (15-2, 10 kos), who responded successfully putting good punches to the Puerto Rican. In the second round both fighters were connected at times, but in the middle of third Torres shook Laguna with good combinations putting him in bad conditions and causing referee Luis Pabón to stop the action at 1:45 of the round.

On Saturday night, WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (27-0, 17 KOs) will make his second middleweight title defense against dangerous challenger Maciej Sulecki (28-1, 11 KOs) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and live exclusively on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Two-division world champion Andrade, 31, will fight for the first time as a professional in his hometown of Providence where he is largely considered the top amateur in Rhode Island history. The winner of Saturday night’s scrap on DAZN could catapult themselves into consideration for a huge middleweight title unification fight.

Andrade’s defense against Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of action as unbeaten Briton Kal Yafai defends his WBA Super Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian challenger Alex Leapai in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s press conference:

Demetrius Andrade

“It’s me again. Tall, black and handsome. On Saturday, I am going to do what I have been doing. No disrespect to Sulecki, he’s been in there with my boy Danny Jacobs and other guys I have fought. I heard Sulecki went into the hotel and put a drawing of me and it shows my head knocked off. But the last guy that did something like that, he got his ass whooped and he will get his ass whooped, too. Best of luck to all of the great fighters on the card this weekend. DAZN continues to do a great job keeping me active and getting these kids shine.

“I had my first few weeks of training out in California with Victor Conte. That went great. But hey, it’s me again and this is my show. Good luck to Sulecki, I hope he puts on a good performance then gets his ass whooped.”

Maciej Sulecki

“Thanks to Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, DAZN, my team, my trainer. Everyone who made this opportunity possible. It was a very good training camp. Three weeks in Poland and then seven more weeks in New York. I am ready for a very tough fight with Andrade. Before I came to the U.S., I had great respect for Andrade. But when I came here, I lost all respect for him. He just talks too much. He thinks he is as good as the other great fighters like GGG but he is not. I know one thing about him, and it’s that he doesn’t respect anyone. He is disrespectful.”

NIAGARA FALLS, ON– The fighting pride of Nova Scotia, Custio Clayton, will be waging the biggest battle of his professional career on June 29 at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, and fans in his home province will now be able to tune in live.

Lee Baxter Promotions and Eastlink have partnered to bring the June 29 event, featuring Clayton’s bout against Johan Perez for the vacant WBO International Welterweight Title to viewers across Nova Scotia. The telecast will begin at 9:00 PM ADT (8:00 PM ET) on Eastlink.

“Custio is one of the real sporting heroes in Nova Scotia. His fans back home haven’t always had an easily accessible way to watch him fight, so it was important to us to build a relationship with Eastlink in order to change that,” said Lee Baxter.

Clayton, a 2012 Olympian, has fought in Quebec and Ontario exclusively as a professional, compiling an undefeated record of 16-0, and rankings in some of the sport’s major sanctioning bodies. A win over Perez on this night would put him in a prime position for a potential shot at a world title.

“We take great pride in sharing locally meaningful and relevant content that showcases the people, places and events that shape our communities,” says Deborah Shaffner, Eastlink CEO. “Local sporting events and hometown heroes have always been an important part of community; they bring us together. There’s nothing more exciting and inspiring than watching a hometown favorite battle it out for top prize. We’re thrilled to provide a platform that enables Nova Scotian fans to support and cheer on Custio in his next pivotal match.”

In his most recent bout, Clayton dominated and stopped former world champion DeMarcus Corley, who has shared the ring with legends such as Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto. The 29-year old Dartmouth native hopes to land megafights of his own in the very near future—potentially on home soil.

“Our goal is to bring a world title fight to Nova Scotia,” said Baxter. “First Custio has to get past Perez, who is no pushover, but assuming he can do that, the wheels can be set in motion towards putting on the biggest night of boxing the province has ever seen.”

The June 29 telecast will be a three-fight broadcast, also including all-action warrior Samuel Vargas, who is fresh off an ESPN main event at Madison Square Garden against Luis Collazo, and top Irish prospect Lee Reeves, who was touted by heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as “Ireland’s next superstar.”

Fans across Atlantic Canada can tune in on Eastlink Community TV Channel 10 and 610. The broadcast will begin at 9:00 PM ADT (8:00 PM ET).

via https://www.canadianboxiana.org/2019/06/20/clayton-perez-to-air-across-atlantic-canada-exclusively-on-eastlink/

Live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes FRIDAY, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Pechanga Resort Casino, California

154-pound slugger Carlos Adames (17-0, 14 KOs) will defend his NABO belt in a 10-rounder versus upstart Patrick Day (17-2-1, 6 KOs).

At Wednesday’s final press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.

Carlos Adames

“I had a very good amateur record. I’m a very talented fighter, and so is Patrick Day, but there is no fighter alive that can defeat me in the ring.”

On training with Robert Garcia and adding a nutritionist to his camp

“They are a great team. I’ve been training hard with Robert and Perfecting Athletes on the nutritional part, but I also have a lot of confidence in my talent.”

“The Dominican Republic is known for having good baseball players, but I’m trying to make it known that the country has good boxers as well.”

Patrick Day

“My most recent success comes from within, my hunger, my desire. I just want to be great at something, not only in boxing but in life. And in life, I just happen to choose to box. That’s the avenue that I want to do. I’m not going to be mediocre. I suffered two defeats early in my career, so I had to {look within} and really evaluate myself.”

“This is a great opportunity. It’s an opportunity I’ve dreamed of – my opponent as well – and we’re both deserving of this opportunity. In my estimation, we are the two best 154-pounders in the world. These guys that have the belts, they’re good. It seems like Al Haymon really has his hands on the 154-pound division with all these prospects and champions, but these guys haven’t been tested yet. And they’re not the real deal. They talk big, they have the big ego and they’re really cocky, but what have they done? They’re not fighters like me and Carlos are. We’re going to set the tone, and we’re going to set an example for the 154-pound division.”

Photo: Mikey Williams

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO- El clasificado número uno de la OMB en las 105 libras, el puertorriqueño Wilfredo “Bimbito” Méndez, tendrá su ansiada oportunidad mundial el sábado, 24 de agosto, frente al filipino Vic Saludar, monarca de la OMB, en Puerto Rico en una presentación de PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP).

“Ya se llegó a un acuerdo y Vic Saludar vendrá a Puerto Rico a defender su título frente a Bimbito (Méndez), que es el retador mandatorio. Estamos trabajando en el escenario para este combate y estaremos anunciándolo próximamente junto a otros detalles de la cartelera”, expresó Peter Rivera, vicepresidente de PRBBP.

Bimbito Méndez (13-1, 5 kos), de 22 años, viene de vencer por decisión unánime a su compatriota Janie “Pototo” Rivera el 24 de mayo para defender por primera vez su cetro NABO de la OMB en las 105 libras y ganarse el derecho de clasificarse primero y enfrentar a Saludar.

El oriental Saludar (19-3, 10 kos), por su parte, cuenta con 28 años y ganó su correa de la OMB en las 105 libras el 13 de julio de 2018 cuando derrotó al japonés Ryuya Yamanaka, defendiéndolo en una ocasión, el 26 de febrero de este año, al imponerse sobre el también japonés Masataka Taniguchi. Ambos pleitos fueron en Japón.

Demetrius Andrade believes he’s on the right path to prove he is the man at 160lbs as he defends his WBO crown against Maciej Sulecki on Saturday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Andrade (27-0 17 KOs) is chasing down an undisputed clash with Mexican ace Canelo Alvarez, while Kazakh ace Gennadiy Golovkin is also on the radar of the Providence star, who fights at home for the first time as a World champion.

Both Andrade and Sulecki (28-1 11 KOs) hold wins over Jack Culcay, while the Pole’s sole defeat came at the hands of former World ruler Daniel Jacobs, and he enters the bout after a gut-check win over Gabriel Rosado in March.

Andrade has seen off tough African and WBO #2 Walter Kautondokwa for the vacant strap in Boston in October and then defended the crown for the first time against rugged Russian Artur Akavov with a 12th round stoppage in New York in January, and the champion believes this run of tough clashes is priming him for the big showdowns he’s hunting.

“Maciej is a tough guy, a top ten guy and he’s only lost to Danny who’s faced GGG and Canelo,” said Andrade. “The boxing world knows that I am the baddest wolf out there because if I hadn’t, I would have faced Canelo and GGG already and would’ve taken my loss like a man and they would’ve captured my WBO title at two different weight classes. So that goes to show that I have control over myself and was right to have faith that I’m doing the right thing, so don’t give up as my time will come, you’re not going to just keep digging and digging and then just stop without knowing that that next dig is for all the diamonds.

“The Rosado fight was a grueling one for him, he fought Culcay and he gave him a tough fight too, so he must have skills to be where he is and fight the fighters he’s fought. So unlike GGG who just boxed Steve Rolls who was ranked about 81 in the world, I’m fighting real guys. We are fighting tough guys to get it on with Canelo and GGG whereas they have been cherry picking and they can do that with the profile they have, it’s just business. I’m not upset about it because my time will come when I walk in with one belt and walk out with four.

“Everyone has their own opinion about any fighter, I won’t know until I get in there. I am no fool, I know that I have to be on my game and not think about his other fights because everyone i different. Culcay did a great job against him, put him down, Rosado put him down, so they got to him by accumulating punches and letting their hands go. But that’s them, not me, I have a different IQ to them.”

Andrade’s clash with Sulecki is part of a huge night of World title action in Providence as unbeaten Briton Kal Yafai defends his WBA World Super-Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez.

Former Heavyweight World ruler Joseph Parker takes on Australian former World title challenger Alex Leapai, Boston’s Mark DeLuca faces Canadian Brandon Brewer over ten rounds at Super-Welterweight, young talents Alexis Espino and Raymond Ford taste their third action in the paid ranks, as does Otha Jones III fresh from his first round KO win in London.

Local favorite Anthony Marsella faces Jose Aubel, another unbeaten Providence fighter Anthony Concepcion takes on Yasmani Pedroso, former World title challenger and Providence native Shelley Vincent meets Simone Da Silva.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA

Demetrius Andrade believes his big homecoming night will be the perfect showcase to secure blockbuster fights as he defends his WBO World Middleweight title against Maciej Sulecki on Saturday June 29 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Andrade (27-0 17 KOs) fights at home for the first time as a World champion in the second defense of the 160lb crown he landed in Boston in October against Walter Kautondokwa and then stopped Artur Akavov in New York in January in his first defense.

The two-weight World ruler now gets the chance to thrill his hometown fans against Sulecki (28-1 11 KOs), the Pole that landed the clash coming out on top of a rollercoaster clash with Gabriel Rosado in March – and believes that a stand-out performance as a hometown headliner will see him land the fights that he craves with Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin.

“Fighting at home is really exciting,” said Andrade. “In a way it’s more exciting for the fans in Providence as I’ve fought all over the world already. So, to give my hometown the chance to watch me display my skills, talent, work ethic is going to be great for them – they’re going to see greatness from one of their own. I’ve got two full passports from travelling the world and it’s a privilege to do that, to see the world and learn and gain experience, so to come home for such a big fight is great.

“I’m an Olympian and a two-weight World champion, but that’s not enough because there’s a lot of people that haven’t seen my talent displayed in the mainstream like some other fighters, like Canelo Alvarez, as Golden Boy did a great job moving him and GGG had great promotion too, but they’re not the greatest talents out there, they are just the most popular. It’s called prize fighting and I am looking to capitalize on that, with the capital.

“I’ve got air in me now. Should I have been the guy like Canelo with the machine behind him? Yeah, I could’ve been that, but it didn’t fall that way for me, but now I’m here. I kept my focus in mind, body and soul and continued to grind, because anyone else, this boxing game is hard and people give up, especially when there’s no money coming in as you have to pay the bills.

“I’ve been through the politics of boing and found my way out of it, just like I’ve found my way to win in every fight. Being who I am and having the team around me has got me to the point where I’m headlining the Dunk as an undefeated World champion.

“Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA have realized the talent and the character that I am, and DAZN are doing a great job too, giving the different characters in the sport the exposure so that people can tune in outside the people we already know. Through the obstacles I’ve been through, they tried to sweep me under the rug, I got back up, wiped off the dirt and it’s me again.

“To be the first Cape Verdean as an undisputed champion would be history and the same for New England, we’ve only really had Vinny Paz and that was 30 years ago. I’m continuing to catapult myself to be the best I can and set the bar high for others.”

Andrade’s clash with Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of World championship boxing as Briton’s Kal Yafai defends his WBA World Super-Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian former World title challenger Alex Leapai.

Boston’s Mark DeLuca faces Canadian Brandon Brewer over ten rounds at Super-Welterweight, young talents Alexis Espino and Raymond Ford taste their third action in the paid ranks, local favorite Anthony Marsella faces Jose Aubel, with another unbeaten Providence fighter Anthony Concepcion also featuring.

Tickets are on sale NOW – starting at just $28 (including fees) from https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/010056AAED7788D1?brand=dunkindonuts&camefrom=cfc_dd_center_boxing19_web

PHOTO VIA Matchroom Boxing

Dina Thorslund (14-0, 6 KOs) defended her WBO Female World Jr. Featherweight title with a dominant display against mandatory challenger April Adams (11-2-1, 4 KOs) last night at the Forum Horsens in Denmark.

The Danish champion showed her class, winning every round on all three of the judges’ scorecards. She also showed her compassion by sparing a visibly stunned Adams in the final seconds of the tenth round, stepping back with smile and allowing the Australian challenger to finish the fight on her feet.

“I feel like I was in control for the whole fight,” said Thorslund following her second successive World title defence. “There wasn’t one second where I felt in doubt. It was a hard physical battle. April is a tough girl. She came here to win. I feel good and I’m very happy to have defended my belt in such a good fight.”

After the bout, Thorslund and her promoter Nisse Sauerland discussed future plans for the Danish star, including a move up in weight with a fight against WBO World Featherweight Champion Heather Hardy topping their wish list.

“That was a fantastic performance from Dina,” said Sauerland. “She showed tonight why she is one of the most exciting female fighters in the world. There are a lot of big opportunities for her now including a move up to featherweight and a fight with Heather Hardy. That would be huge in Denmark or America.”

“I want to be the best and that involves moving up in weight and collecting more titles,” said Thorslund. “I am ready to face anyone and that includes Hardy.”

Photo by KGZ Fougstedt.jpg