The June 14 edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature undefeated Bantamweights Juan Carlos “Baby Pacquiao” Payano (13-0, 7 KOs) and Jundy Maraon (15-0-1, 12 KOs) in the 12-round main event for the vacant WBA Interim Title. Friday’s show from Richard J. Codey Arena in West Orange, N.J., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Main Event:
Miami’s Payano, a 2004 and 2008 Dominican Republic Olympian, is coming off a second-round TKO win over Jhon Molina.
Payano said through an interpreter, “My style is similar to Manny Pacquiao – that’s why I’m ‘Baby Pacquiao.’ But I feel like I’m a little more organized with my punches, have better technique and better fighting ability. I think Maraon is a great fighter. He’s very strong and technically very sound. But I feel that he’s a one-way fighter, always looking for the knockout. He hasn’t really fought my caliber, so the knockouts have come easy. I consider myself a great fighter, as well – it will be two good fighters facing each other on June 14th, and I’ll be prepared.”
California’s Maraon is looking to continue his winning ways after a third-round knockout win over Ernest Marquez in his last fight.
“He’s quick and fast. He’s strong – Jundy [Maraon] doesn’t hit like a bantam, he hits hard,” trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. said. “I watched video of Payano. He’s good, but he doesn’t have the punching power like Jundy. I think this is going to be a good fight. Payano is not just like ‘any opponent’ – he’s a good fighter, too.”
Co-Feature:
Friday’s 10-round co-feature will pit Junior Featherweights Yenifel “El Rayo” Vicente (24-1-2, 16 KOs) of Miami against New Jersey’s Jorge “King” Diaz (17-1, 10 KOs). Vicente scored a second-round TKO win over Aneudy Mesa in his last fight, while Diaz will look to build momentum following a six-round unanimous decision win over Victor Sanchez.
