Next Wednesday, DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing returns to NYC’s famed B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in midtown Manhattan for the latest installment of its popular series. Headlining the card will be undefeated prospect Louis Cruz (10-0, 4KO’s) as he makes his much anticipated return facing Ariel Vasquez in an eight-round super lightweight matchup.
The former NY Golden Gloves champion and National Golden Gloves runner-up Cruz competed at the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials before turning pro in July of that same year. Cruz quickly moved to a perfect 10-0, but upon a follow-up appointment with a hand specialist, it was revealed that Cruz needed surgery on his right hand to repair a nagging injury that had been bothering the young prospect for well over a year. After an extensive rehab, the 24-year-old is now looking to show that he is once again 100-percent healthy and ready to re-embark on his promising professional career.
Also set to make his grand return to the ring following a year-and-a-half layoff while he recovered from dental surgery will be former amateur star Shemuel Pagan (5-0, 2KO’s) as he takes on David Nelson in their four-round super lightweight contest. A 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, Pagan won the NY Golden Gloves five times before turning pro in 2010. After a two-and-a-half year hiatus following his second professional victory in 2011, Pagan signed with DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions quickly reeling off three consecutive wins. However, he was then forced to the sidelines as he underwent multiple dental surgeries. Now back and healthy, Pagan will be looking to once again show that he is one of the most promising young prospects in all of NYC.
Dominican amateur superstar Carlos Adames (3-0, 2KO’s) will be returning for the second time in two-and-a-half weeks and fourth time in less than three months when he squares off against fellow unbeaten Rudy Lozano (2-0-1) in their four-round welterweight contest. Adames had a superb amateur career that culminated with a trip to the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships, losing in the third round to eventual gold medalist Merey Akshalov. Now living in Brooklyn and training out of Gleason’s, Adames has been turning heads inside the famed gym. Adames recently sparred with 2014 ‘Fighter of the Year’ Terrance Crawford where an absolute war ensued. Although very young into his professional career, early indications have shown that Adames has what it takes to not only win a championship but also to develop into a superstar.
Seeing action on the card in separate eight-round bouts will be fast-rising and exciting undefeated Ukrainian prospects Ivan Golub (8-0, 6KO’s) and Ivan Baranchyk (8-0, 7KO’s). Golub will take on his toughest opponent to date when he challenges Kendal Mena (20-2, 11KO’s) in their super welterweight showdown, while Baranchyk competes against Gyorgy Mizsei Jr. (20-12, 11KO’s) in their super lightweight matchup. Both Golub and Baranchyk, stablemates to red-hot contenders Sergey Derevyanchenko and Ievgen Khytrov, have absolute dynamite in their fists. Baranchyk has scored six straight knockouts this year alone, all coming in three rounds or less, while Golub has stopped six of his last seven foes.
Brooklyn’s Mikkel LesPierre (10-0-1, 4KO’s) returns for the sixth time this year when he takes on Angel Figueroa (3-3-1) in an eight-round super lightweight matchup. LesPierre had a successful, albeit short amateur career that culminated with a trip to the 2012 Olympic Trials, before turning pro later that year.
Looking to impress in his first fight under the tutelage of world-renowned trainer Ronnie Shields will be former U.K. National Champion Steed Woodall (8-0-1, 5KO’s). Woodall puts his undefeated record on the line against Deferson LeGrand (3-3, 2KO’s) in their six-round super middleweight matchup.
Also appearing on the card will be Bronx’s Peter Dobson (5-0, 4KO’s) in a six-round welterweight matchup and Brooklyn’s Dushane Crooks (6-1, 4KO’s) in a four-round super welterweight matchup. Opponents for Dobson and Crooks will be announced shortly.
