Main Events brings boxing fans a tidal wave of action over the next month with three rapid-fire promotions scheduled for national television audiences. However, merely keeping boxing lovers busy was not the goal of Main Events head Kathy Duva. Committed to making matches that really count, Duva stacked all three shows with appealing fights that really matter in boxing’s big picture.
Kathy Duva said, “It has been a long time since we had such a busy month. There is a lot of excitement in the air at Main Events, lately, and, as a fan, I can’t wait to watch each one of these bouts.”
So get ready for both quality and quantity over the next month.
First up is a card at the Pharr, Texas Convention Center to be televised by Univision on May 19th. Headlining the show is Texas featherweight, Jerry Belmontes, known as “The Corpus Christi Kid”, puts his undefeated, 15-0, 5 KOs, record on the line against Dominican trial horse Ramesis Gil, 7-3-5, 5 KOs. It will be Belmontes’ first time in the ring since last June, and he’ll be hoping a win over Gil will be his ticket to a successful and more active future. The loyal fan base Belmontes built as an all-star amateur, will no doubt be in the house to cheer him on.
Also on the card, is an important heavyweight bout between Odlanier Solis, 17-1, 12 KOs, and Konstantin Airich, 23-5-2, 17 KOs, for the IBF Intercontinental Title. Cuban-born Solis will try to bounce back from his bizarre 2011 loss to WBC champ Vitali Klitschko, and to do so, will have to will have to get past the German-based Airich, who is currently on a six-bout winning streak, the last three by knockout.
Two weeks later, Main Events returns with the latest installment of NBC Sports Network’s “Fight Night” series in partnership with Russell Peltz of Peltz Boxing. Topping the show at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA, is rising junior middleweight Gabriel Rosado of Philadelphia, 19-5, 11 KOs. This will be a command performance for Rosado, who so impressed the NBC Sports Network execs in January with his disposal of Jesus Soto Karass on the very first edition of “Fight Night”, that they ordered an extra show in the series just for him.
Rosado faces two-time world title challenger Sechew Powell in a 12-round bout for the WBO Intercontinental Jr. Middleweight belt. Powell brings a seasoned 26-4, 15 KOs record, as well as a tricky southpaw style into the fight. Rosado will have his hands full, but another impressive win may position the Philadelphian for a big fight. He is currently ranked #5 by the IBF and #9 by the WBC. Powell is the IBF’s 9th-ranked junior middleweight.
Supporting Rosado-Powell is a 12-round bout between Bethlehem’s Ronald Cruz, 16-0, 12 KOs, and Prenice Brewer, 16-1-1, 6 KOs, of Cleveland. The fight will be for the Vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship. The winner of the bout takes home his first piece of hardware as a professional. Clearly Cruz will have the hometown advantage, but Brewer brings a wealth of top-level amateur experience in with him.
Two weeks after this show, Main Events snaps right back with another “Fight Night” installment, nationally televised by NBC Sports Network. On June 16, “Heavyweights Collide” when Tomasz Adamek, 45-2, 28 KOs, takes on Eddie Chambers, 36-2, 18 KOs, in a significant match of top big men for the IBF North American Heavyweight belt. Both fighters have fought for the world heavyweight title, and are raring to get back to the big show. Each stands in the other’s way. Adamek and Chambers are well-conditioned, quick-fisted, highly regarded talents in the sport.
Their pairing is a natural and should make for a great fight. Chambers will have to contend with Adamek’s massive fan base, which will surely pack the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. But the fact that Chambers’ Philadelphia home base is not so far from Newark, means he too will have serious support for the fight. Clearly the atmosphere for this one should be electric.
Adding to the excitement on June 16th will be another key heavyweight match up when breakout star, Bryant Jennings, 13-0, 6 KOs, meets Steve Collins, 25-1-1, 18 KOs, of Houston, TX, in a 10-rounder for the Vacant USBA Heavyweight Title. This will be Jennings’ third appearance on the NBC Sports Network “Fight Night” series. His last bout was an overwhelming TKO of former champion Sergei Liakhovich in March. Collins will try to stop Jennings’ star-making streak in its tracks with his superior punching power. Main Events is promoting this show in partnership with Ziggy Promotions and Goossen Tutor Promotions.
After these three consecutive shows, Main Events will take the briefest of breathers before returning with more world class boxing.
