Before the HBO cameras roll for the highly anticipated February 25″Arch Enemies” doubleheader featuring hometown hero Devon Alexander “The Great” against Marcos “El Chino” Maidana and the WBO Junior Lighweight Word Championship fight between Adrien “The Problem” Broner and Eloy “Prince” Perez, unbeatens Sharif “The Lion” Bogere, Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, Eddie Gomez, Keith Thurman and Christopher Pearson will head up a stacked eight-fight undercard that will keep fans at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center entertained all night long.
Heading up the non-televised portion of the Feb. 25 event is a 10-round junior welterweight battle between Sharif Bogere (21-0, 13 KO’s) and Huatabampo, Mexico’s Sergio Rivera (25-8-2, 16 KO’s). A native of Uganda now fighting out of Las Vegas, the 23-year-old Bogere had a big year in 2011, knocking out Shamir Reyes in a single round and then going on to score nationally televised wins over Raymundo Beltran and Francisco Contreras. In the 30-year old Rivera, Bogere will be facing a southpaw veteran and if the Mexican battler shows the form he did in defeating former World Champion Cesar Soto in 2010, “The Lion Warrior” may be in for the toughest test of his career.
One of the United States’ best hopefuls for a heavyweight world champion, 2008 Olympic Bronze medalist Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder has one of boxing’s best current records, as he’s won all 20 of his professional bouts by knockout with 13 of them in the first round. An imposing 6-foot-7, the 26-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama will Newark’s Marlon Hayes (23-10, 12 KO’s) in an eight round fight.
Already 7-0 with six knockouts as a professional in a career that began a little over a year ago, Eddie Gomez has lived up to all the hype surrounding him after a brilliant run as an amateur. Just 19-years-old, the Bronx, New York native will look to add the eighth victory to his record when he faces Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s Jose Ortiz (4-6-1, 1 KO) in a six round junior middleweight bout.
The owner of a record almost as intimidating as Wilder’s is 23-year-old junior middleweight Keith “One Time” Thurman, who currently boasts a 15-0 record with 14 KO’s. Hailing from Clearwater, Florida, Thurman has ripped through his opposition since turning professional in 2007 and after a layoff of over a year due to a hand injury, he will return to the ring on February 25 in an eight round battle against Utah veteran Chris Fernandez (19-14-1, 12 KO’s). The 36-year-old Fernandez, has tested the likes of former World Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and top contenders Danny “Swift” Garcia, Sharif “The Lion” Bogere and Gabriel Bracero.
A highly-decorated amateur who has fight game insiders buzzing about his professional potential, 21-year-old Christopher “Sweet” Pearson (2-0, 1 KO) is expected to use the stage he’s on in St. Louis to show even more of his substantial skill set. Opposing him will be Sidney, Ohio’s Jeremy Wood (1-4, 1 KO)in a four round middleweight fight.
Missouri’s finest will also be on hand on February 25, as Troy’s Brandon Baue (12-5, 10 KO’s) faces Fetus’ Robbie Cannon (12-6-2, 6 KO’s) in a six round welterweight matchup; in a battle for St. Louis bragging rights, junior welterweights Tyrone Chatman (8-1-1, 6 KO’s) and Marlon Smith (2-0, 1 KO) will do battle in a four round fight; and last, but not least, High Ridge’s Jose Ponce (2-0, 2 KO’s) and Greary, Kansas’ Jonathan Brown (0-1) will square off in a four round cruiserweight showdown.
“Arch Enemies: Alexander vs. Maidana,” a 10 round welterweight fight taking place on Saturday, February 25 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Also featured will be Adrien Broner vs. Eloy Perez in a 12 round fight for Broner’s WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark ® at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
