Undefeated rising super featherweight contender Mario Barrios (15-0, 8 KOs) will take on former title challenger Devis Boschiero (39-4-1, 21 KOs) in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN & ESPN Deportes Saturday, July 9 from Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features an exciting battle of undefeated super lightweight prospects as Los Angeles-native Kevin Watts (11-0, 4 KOs) takes on Chicago’s Eddie Ramirez (13-0, 9 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
“This will be a great opportunity to showcase my talent to the world on ESPN,” said Barrios. “The time is now to take the super featherweight division by storm. A victory will put me one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a world champion. I will not be denied.”
“I look forward to making my American debut on July 9 in New Jersey,” said Boschiero. “I know a win over Barrios will take me towards a world title shot. I plan on coming to America and putting on a great performance and bringing a great victory back to Italy.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $75, $55, $39 and $24, not including applicable fees, and are on sale tomorrow, June 15 at 12 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased HERE, at the Sun National Bank Center box office or by calling 609-656-3234
“This will be another exciting night in Trenton,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “Barrios is one of the best prospects around and it will be interesting to see how he deals with a veteran like Boschiero. The co-feature will pit two undefeated fighters in Watts and Ramirez against each other and the winner will be looked upon as a serious contender.”
A tall super featherweight at more than six feet, the 21-year-old Barrios picked up seven victories in a jam-packed 2015 in which he stopped five opponents inside the distance, including an uppercut left hook combo that ended the night for Manuel Vides in December. The San Antonio-native turned pro in 2013 and is on the fast track towards a world title shot as he made his 2016 debut with a dominant victory over Edgar Gabejean.
An experienced fighter out of Veneto, Italy, Boschiero challenged for a world title in 2011 and won his last two fights by knockout heading into this July 9 clash. He was unbeaten in his first 34 pro fights before challenging Takahiro Ao for the 130-pound world title in a bout that he dropped via split decision. Previously he had won an Italian title with a knockout of Ivan Fiorletta and a European title by defeating Jesus Garcia Escalona. His main event showdown on July 9 will be his first pro bout in the U.S.
Born in Lancaster, California but fighting out of Los Angeles, Watts turned pro in 2013 and has been unblemished since. The 24-year-old defeated previously unbeaten Maximilliano Becerra in April 2015 and in his last two outings he took down once-beaten fighters Michal Chudecki and Manuel Damairias Lopez. He makes his first start outside the state of California on July 9.
A Chicago Golden Gloves champion, Ramirez knocked out seven of his first nine professional opponents and picked up five victories in 2015 including a decision over former world champion Cristobal Cruz. The 23-year-old debuted in 2016 with a second round stoppage of Osumanu Akaba in April.
