Golden Boy Promotions has signed super welterweight contender Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez (29-5-1, 27 KOs) of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico and undefeated middleweight boxing legacy Bastie Samir (14-0-1, 14 KOs) of Accra, Ghana.
A dangerously aggressive super welterweight, Melendez has repeatedly proved to audiences he is one to watch, most recently with a first-round technical knockout victory over Antonio Rodriguez in June 2015. After a stellar amateur career in Ghana that included qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, winning the 2007 African Championship in the welterweight division and leading Ghana’s national team, Samir relocated to the U.S. to pursue his professional career and has quickly captivated fans with an impressive 14 wins and his undefeated status.
“First of all, I would like to thank Golden Boy Promotions for the trust placed on me,” said Melendez. “Also, I would like to thank my team for always working hard for my best interest. It’s a pleasure and honor to be part of an experienced and respectable team like Golden Boy, and I will continue to proudly represent my island of Puerto Rico. All of the 154 and 160 pounders out there better be ready now that we will be having great wars in the big venues. The DESTROYER is back!!”
“I look forward to continuing the legacy of boxing that has been in my family for decades,” said Bastie Samir. “I will be a force to be watched this coming year and thank Golden Boy for the opportunity to continue my boxing career in the ring. I couldn’t ask for a better support team than my family, management team, and trainer Kenny Adams to keep me ready.”
“Golden Boy’s roster showcases the best upcoming and experienced fighters and the addition of Jorge and Bastie only furthers our mission of bringing the best talent aboard our team,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Jorge and Bastie are fighters to be feared in the ring, we are excited to be with them as they continue their paths to becoming champions.”
As an amateur, Melendez impressed fans amassing a record of 48 wins and only five losses, as well as representing Puerto Rico twice in international tournaments. In 2007, Melendez made his professional debut against Juan Aguirre, resulting in a draw, and quickly followed up with a nine win streak from 2007 to 2009. In December 2010, Melendez defeated William Correa to clench the vacant WBA Fedecaribe super welterweight title, and successfully defended the title against Chad Greenleaf in April 2011. Continuing his winning streak, he claimed the interim WBO Latino super welterweight title, battling Eric Mitchell in October 2011 and later defeated challenger Marcus Willis in April 2012 to stay the titleholder. In March 2014, Melendez was awarded the vacant WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) super welterweight title when he defeated Richard Gutierrez in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Melendez started 2015 off on shaky ground with a tough loss to Ievgen Khytrov at the MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom in Las Vegas in March, but quickly rebounded with an impressive first-round victory over Antonio Rodriguez in June in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Hailing from Accra, Ghana, Bastie Samir accumulated an impressive amateur record of 96-7, a number four world ranking and qualification in the light heavyweight division for the 2008 Olympics for Ghana. He captained Ghana’s national team and won the African Championship in the welterweight division in May 2007. Now living and training in Las Vegas, Samir relocated to the U.S. to pursue a professional career and made his pro debut defeating Marvin Blair in November 2008 at the Valenica Ballroom in York, Pennsylvania. He has followed up his first triumph with wins in both the U.S. and his home country, amassing a 14-bout winning streak, featuring impressive victories over Billy Cunningham in November 2010 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Eddie Hunter in February 2011 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, and most recently, Marciano Commey in November 2013 at the Will Power Boxing Complex in Accra, Ghana.
