Super middleweight contender J’Leon Love (19-1, 10 KOs) returns to the ring to face New Jersey’s Jason Escalera (15-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight bout as part of a full day of action Sunday, June 21 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The undercard will complement the Premier Boxing Champions on CBS show beginning at 4 p.m. with the welterweight clash between Sammy Vasquez and Wale Omotoso followed by the showdown between former world champions Rances Barthelemy and Antonio DeMarco.
Also entering the ring is undefeated contender Lydell Rhodes (23-0, 11 KOs) who will take on Jared Robinson (15-2, 7 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight bout
Further action features undefeated knockout artist Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti (9-0, 9 KOs) against Thomas Hanshaw (6-5, 4 KOs) in an eight-round cruiserweight fight, Ronald “The Thrill” Gavril (12-1, 9 KOs) taking on Jessie Nicklow (24-6-3, 8 KOs) in eight rounds of super middleweight action and Lanell “KO” Bellows (12-1-1, 7 KOs) squaring off against Marcus Upshaw (16-13-4, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight attraction.
Rounding out the day of fights are Juan Heraldez (7-0, 5 KOs) and Charvis Holifield (2-1, 1 KO) in separate bouts.
A once-beaten contender at 168-pounds, the 27-year-old Love will make his second start of 2015 on June 21. He bounced back from his lone defeat to dominate Scott Sigmon in March. The Inkster, Michigan native owns wins over Marco Antonio Periban, Derrick Findley and Lajuan Simon. He will face the 30-year-old Escalera from Hoboken, New Jersey.
A multi-sport athlete growing up who has competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally Oklahoma City’s Rhodes looks to remain unbeaten on June 21. The 27-year-old is fighting for the second time in Las Vegas and the first time in 2015. He last fought in Nov. 2014 when he won a unanimous decision over Miguel Huerta. He takes on 32-year- Robinson out of Sumter, South Carolina.
Born in Chicago but fighting out of Las Vegas, Tabiti has a perfect knockout percentage as a pro and is looking for his third knockout at MGM Grand. The 25-year-old last fought in Dec. 2014 and will face the 30-year-old Ashland, Kentucky-born Hanshaw.
A 28-year-old Romanian fighting out of Las Vegas, Gavril bounced back from his first defeat by out-boxing previously unbeaten Oscar Riojas in April. He will square off against the experienced 28-year-old Nicklow from Baltimore.
Nicknamed “KO” because of his considerable power, the 29-year-old Bellows looks to build on his six fight winning streak on June 21. The Las Vegas-native takes on the 34-year-old Upshaw out of Jacksonville.
