Sensational 18-year-old welterweight prospect Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin (4-0, 4 KOs) and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Yudel Jhonson (14-1, 9 KOs) will provide chief support this Friday evening, April 18, in separate bouts on “Pittsburgh Power,” presented by Iron Mike Productions (IMP), at Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pa.
Lubin, arguably the best teenage professional boxer in the world, was considered Team USA’s No. 1 overall prospect for the 2016 Olympics prior to him signing a promotional contract with Iron Mike Productions last October 1 on his 18th birthday. The multi-talented southpaw, who was the 2012 National PAL Champion, has knocked out all four of his opponents as a professional. He faces the toughest test of his young pro career in his first scheduled six-round fight against Mexican invader Jovan “Negrito” Ramirez (3-1, 1 KO). In his last fight, Ramirez suffered the first loss of his career to former world light middleweight champion Joachim Alcine.
Cuban-born Jhonson, fighting out of Miami, squares-off against Lenwood Dozier (9-5-1, 4 KOs), of Glen Burnie, Maryland, in an eight-round junior middleweight fight that has future world title fight implications for the gifted Cuban.
Another highly decorated amateur in the IMP stable, undefeated super featherweight Albert “Prince” Bell (3-0, 1 KO) will seeks revenge against Micah Branch (2-9-1) in a four-round match. Branch defeated Ohio native Bell, who now lives in Miami, as an amateur.
Also fighting on the undercard in a four-round bout is local favorite junior middleweight Andreas Kamouyerov, of Vemetia, Pa., versus New Jersey junior middleweight Malik Jackson (0-2-2).
Another heralded, undefeated prospect in action will be Cleveland lightweight Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. an opponent to be determined in another four-rounder. Martin is promoted by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s SMS Promotions. 50 Cent is expected to be in attendance.
Explosive Cuban southpaw Alexei “The Hurricane” Collado (18-0, 16 KOs), of Miami, Fla., by way Cork, Ireland, and Havana, Cuba, faces Pittsburgh-area crowd favorite “Lightning” Rod Salka (18-3, 3 KOs), of Bunola, Pa., in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Interim FECARBOX title.
Slick southpaw and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (14-0, 8 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic meets Emmanuel Lartey (15-1-1, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Ghana, in an eight-round co-feature for the vacant WBC FECARBOX welterweight championship.
Local favorite and Iraq War veteran Sammy Vasquez, Jr. (13-0, 9 KOs), of Monesson, Pa., makes his IMP debut against fellow unbeaten Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez, Jr. (11-0, 5 KOs), of Union City, N.J., in an eight-round welterweight bout opening the broadcast.
