Fresh off of its successful inaugural event, “Knockout Night at the D” returns Saturday night, May 21, as undefeated middleweight Arif “The Predator” Magomedov takes on upset-minded Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez in the 10-round main event, airing live on CBS Sports Network from under the neon lights at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) outdoor venue.
The “Knockout Night at the D” series, presented by the D Las Vegasand (DLVEC), is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions. The May 21st show is presented in association with Main Events and in association with Shamo Boxing Promotions.
“Our recent Knockout Night at the D event was a great success, so needless to say, we are excited for next month’s fights,” said Derek Stevens, CEO of the D Las Vegas and DLVEC. “Outdoor boxing is continuing to boom in Las Vegas and we look forward to watching this series grow and develop.”
“Both Roy and I were pleasantly surprised at the outcome from our April card,” commented Keith Veltre, CEO / Founder of Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions. “The support that Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions received from the boxing community superseded our expectations. Neon Star Media and the DLVEC went above and beyond to deliver an incredible show to Las Vegas. With the constant support from the community and a partner such as Derek Stevens, we know that we can make this series one of the best in boxing.”
Magomedov (17-0, 10 KOs), who is promoted by Main Events, is rated among the top 15 middleweights by the four major sanctioning bodies: WBC #2, WBO #3, WBA #5 and IBF #14. The gifted Russian captured his NABO title belt 10 months ago, winning a 10-round unanimous decision against previously undefeated Derrick Webster (19-0). Last December in his most recent action, Magomedov (pictured to right) stopped Jonathan Tavira in the seventh round.
Magomedov’s expansive display-case presently holds the NABO. WBO Youth, WBO Asia Pacific, WBA Inter-Continental, WBA Fedelatin, UBO Inter-Continental and Russian middleweight title belts.
The 30-year-old Hernandez, also known as “The Pride of Phoenix,” has pulled off his fair share of upsets. In 2015, Hernandez stopped 17-1 Jeff Page, Jr., whose only other loss was to 2-time Russian Olympian and current world light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev, in the 10th round of their UBF Inter-continental super middleweight title fight. Hernandez also upset 12-0 Jerry Odum last year at Madison Square Garden Theater.
In his last fight this past March, Hernandez won in Tacoma when veteran Dionisio Miranda (22-14-2) was unable to answer the bell for the 8th round.
In the 8-round co-feature, super middleweight John “The Phenom” Vera (12-0, 8 KOs), of Fort Worth, Texas, puts his unbeaten record and NABA-USA title belt on the line against Phoenix’ popular Joey “Boxer” Ruelas (10-1-1, 4 KOs).
Seventeen-year-old lightweight sensation Devin “The Dream” Haney (5-0, 3 KOs), of Las Vegas, is scheduled to open the televised portion of the card in a 4-round bout versus an opponent to be determined. A 7-time national amateur champion, Haney is recognized as one of the top teenage boxing prospects in the world.
Unbeaten Virginian Jerren “Hardknocks” Cochran (11-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on former WBC Youth International titlist, Dallas southpaw Tony Lopez (10-1, 3 KOs), in a 6-round featherweight match serving as a television “swing bout.”
Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in 4-round matches, versus opponents to be determined, are two of Las Vegas’ most promising prospects,- junior lightweight Randy Moreno (2-0, 1 KO), and welterweight Jeremy “J-Flash” Nichols (3-0, 2 KOs).
