Matchroom Boxing have announced their USA return in unique fashion, taking to the streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 15 on DAZN.
The show, which will abide by social distancing and medical measures, as well as having no fans present marks Matchroom’s first USA card in almost six months, following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; their last being Mikey Garcia’s win over Jessie Vargas on February 29 in Texas.
WBC World Flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (16-1, 12 KOs) headlines the bill in a defence against number one rated contender, McWilliams Arroyo (20-4, 15 KOs) on 5th and S. Boston Ave, with 4th and 5th blocked off to stage the event.
Unbeaten Cecilia Brækhus (36-0, 9 KOs) will defend her undisputed Welterweight World championship against unified Super Lightweight titlist Jessica McCaskill (8-2, 3 KOs) in a rescheduled clash, whilst rising Uzbekistan star Shakhram Giyasov (9-0 7 KOs) puts his WBA International Super-Lightweight title on the line against Francisco Rojo (22-3 15 KOs).
Undefeated Middleweight Nikita Ababiy, (8-0, 6 KOs) Featherweight prospect Raymond Ford (5-0, 2 KOs) and debutant Marc Castro complete the card.
“We are taking elite World Championship boxing to the streets in Tulsa,” Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn said.
“For our return in the US we wanted to stage something as unique, ambitious and spectacular as we have with Fight Camp at Matchroom HQ in the UK, and I believe that’s exactly what we have in Oklahoma.
“We had so many options and offers on the table for our return on August 15 from coast-to-coast, but I’m just not a believer in boxing in a studio setting – the fighters and the sport deserve more than that.
“Tulsa shared our vision of wanting to create something special and I am thrilled to be working with the Mayor’s office, Joe Miller at the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission and Tony and Bryce Holden on bringing a thrilling fight night to the city.
“With explosive Mexican Martinez defending his World title against Puerto Rico’s Arroyo, the undisputed Welterweight battle between Braekhus and McCaskill, Uzbek star Giyasov and talents Ababiy, Ford and debutant Castro, this is a line-up that could stop traffic – so we’ve done exactly that!”
Hearn has already announced his UK return, with four successive shows in the garden of Matchroom HQ set to start on August 1, following an almost five month enforced break.
Doing things 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 🏟
With the ring placed in the middle of the street, August 15 sees our World championship double-header take place with downtown Tulsa as a spectacular backdrop on fight night 🏙#MartinezArroyo @DAZN_USA pic.twitter.com/yNNji0Up5B
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) July 15, 2020
The four events will culminate in Dillian Whyte’s WBC interim title defence against Alexander Povetkin on August 22.
