This Wednesday, DiBella Entertainment will return to NYC’s famed B.B. King Blues Club & Grill for the latest edition of its Broadway Boxing series. Headlining the eight-bout card will be former WBC featherweight world champion Elio Rojas (23-2, 14KO’s). Ending nearly two-and-a-half years of ring inactivity, Rojas will square off against Robert Osiobe (14-9-4, 6KO’s) in an eight-round junior lightweight matchup.
In the co-feature bout of the evening, DBE’s middleweight contender Lamar Russ (14-1, 7KO’s) will face the always-dangerous Derrick Findley (20-13-1, 13KO’s) in an eight-round middleweight showdown. In December of last year, Russ stepped way up in competition, taking on the three-time middleweight world title challenger Matthew Macklin in a bout that aired live on HBO. Russ, who took the fight on short notice, got off to a good start, but ultimately dropped a competitive 10-round unanimous decision. Russ returned in March of this year, but his bout against Tony Hirsch was stopped in the very first round after an accidental clash of heads caused a cut over Hirsch’s eye. Russ is raring to get back to his winning ways and impress fight fans and pundits alike when he vies against the heavy-handed Findley.
Competing in an eight-round super bantamweight contest will be Brooklyn’s world-rated contender Rafael Vazquez (11-1, 9KO’s), as hemixes it up withDerrick Wilson (10-6-2, 3KO’s). The heavy-handed WBA #7-rated super bantamweight contender Vazquez got a late start to his professional career, but he burst onto the scene last year with an upset ninth-round KO victory over Leon Moore (30-2) to win the vacant WBA Fedelatin super bantamweight crown and propel himself into the WBA’s top ten ratings. Vazquez is resolvedto fight his way into title contention, but he must first get by the dangerous Wilson, who holds four victories over previously undefeated opponents.
Returning to the ring for the sixth time in just his ninth month as a pro, Brooklyn’s 18-year-old phenom Junior Younan (5-0, 4KO’s) will be looking to make it a perfect 6-0 when he battles Marlon Farr in their four-round super middleweight matchup. Younan was a star as an amateur, and, since turning pro last November, has thus far lived up to the hype. All four of Younan’s knockouts have come before the two-minute mark in the very first round. In Younan’s latest outing, he showed flawless boxing and defensive ability to go along with his lightning quick hands and devastating one-punch knockout power. Younan is one of the brightest young stars in all of boxing and truly one to watch.
After turning pro in December 2012, Westchester County’s Bryant “Peewee” Cruz (11-0, 6KO’s) has quickly developed into one of the most popular figures in the NY boxing scene, and his legion of adoring fans continues to grow with each outing. The popular prospect, who signed an exclusive co-promotional contract with DBE and New Legend Boxing earlier this year, will challenge Jose Morales (7-5, 2KO’s) in their six-round junior lightweight matchup.
Making his much-anticipated pro debut will be DBE’s newly signed and highly regarded 2012 Olympian Jonathan Alonso. Born in the Dominican Republic, Alonso moved to Spain when he was seven years old and took up boxing just nine years later. After representing Spain at the 2012 Olympics, Alonso was one of the most sought after amateur boxers ever to come out of the country. With tremendous speed and power, a very bright future is expected for the talented 23-year-old prospect. He is scheduled to make his debut against Jose Gomez in a four-round junior welterweight matchup.
Fellow DBE-promoted New York Golden Gloves champions Travis Peterkin (11-0, 5KO’s) and Louis Cruz (8-0, 4KO’s) are also set to see action in separate six-round bouts, with Peterkin facing off against Lamont Williams in a light heavyweight matchup and Cruz fighting the upset-minded Cameron Kreal in a junior welterweight contest.
Brooklyn’s Peterkin has already picked up one win thus far in 2014. He was scheduled to fight back in May, but was forced to withdraw from the bout after coming down with the flu shortly before fight night. Peterkin will be focused on getting his career back on track when he boxes the California-native Williams.
Following a second-place finish at the 2011 National Golden Gloves, the 23-year-old Cruz competed in the 2012 US Olympic Trials before turning pro later that same year. He won all four of his fights in 2013 and has already picked up three victories this year. The Bronx-native will be determined to stay on course when he swaps leather with the tough Kreal. However, Kreal, who is coming off back-to-back victories over previously undefeated opponents, would love to make it three in a row next Wednesday night.
The event on August 13 is sponsored by Manfredi Auto Group and Everlast. Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $125, $100, $75 and $55. Tables are also available for purchase for this event, with VIP tables going for $1,000 per table (5 seats at $200 per seat), Ringside tables for $500 (5 seats at $100), and $375 tables (5 seats at $75). Tickets are available for purchase by calling the DiBella Entertainment office at (212) 947-2577. Doors open at 6:30pm with the first bout scheduled for 7:00pm.
