The full undercard has been announced for May 18th’s Atlantic City event headlined by Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse, and featuring Devon Alexander vs. Lee Purdy. The explosive May 18 match-up between unbeaten contenders Shawn Porter and Phil Lo Greco at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey will air as part of the event’s SHOWTIME EXTREME® telecast live at 7 p.m. ET/PT . 2012 British Olympic Bronze Medalist Anthony Ogogo will also participate one of the featured undercard bouts.
With both Porter and Lo Greco currently ranked in the top 15 (Porter #5 by the WBO and Lo Greco #12 by the WBA and #13 by the WBO), the stakes have never been higher for these fighters who will look to not only ignite the crowd at Boardwalk Hall, but also move further up the welterweight ladder to challenge the division’s elite as they square off in a 10-round 150 lb. catch-weight bout.
The evening of fights is headlined by IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson facing Argentinian power-puncher and WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse and IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defending his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy of England. The undercard will also feature Lamont Peterson’s brother and lightweight contender Anthony Peterson, Washington, D.C. rising star Thomas Williams, Puerto Rico’s Cesar Seda, Amir Khan’s younger brother Haroon Khan, 2012 U.S. Olympians Rau’shee Warren and Jamel Herring as well as undefeated prospect Robert Easter Jr.
Akron, Ohio’s Shawn “Showtime” Porter (20-0-1, 14 KO’s), one of the United States’ top amateurs for years, is on his way to even greater success as a professional. Unbeaten in 21 bouts, the aggressive 25-year-old scored the biggest win of his career last July when he defeated Alfonso Gomez for the NABO welterweight title. After battling to an exciting draw against Julio Diaz last December, he will look to turn back fellow undefeated contender Lo Greco and move a step closer to his first world title shot.
An international star that is now making a name for himself in the United States, Toronto’s Phil “The Italian Sensation” Lo Greco (25-0, 14 KO’s) made his return to the ring after nearly a year off in 2012, thrilling fans in Atlantic City and Las Vegas with his victories over Hector Orozco, Brandon Hoskins and Daniel Sostre. On May 18, Lo Greco will make his Boardwalk Hall return in pursuit of victory against Shawn Porter.
In the SHOWTIME EXTREME opening bout, Lowestoft, England’s Anthony Ogogo (1-0, 1 KO) makes his Untied States debut in a six-round middleweight bout against Edgar Perez (5-4, 3 KO’s) of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The 24-year-old Ogogo took home a Bronze Medal in the 2012 London Olympics and on April 27 he made a spectacular pro debut, stopping Kieron Gray in two rounds on the Amir Khan vs. Julio Diaz undercard in Sheffield, England. Perez will look to regain his winning ways after losing on points on April 27 to hot prospect Boyd Melson at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
22-year-old Bolton, England native Haroon Khan (1-0) will meet Riverside, California’s Vicente Medellin (0-5) in a four-round bantamweight bout which will air on SHOWTIME EXTREME, time permitting. The brother of British superstar Amir Khan, Haroon is a former amateur star who got his pro career off to a rousing start on April 27 when he won a four- round decision over Brett Fidoe on his big brother’s undercard in Sheffield.
Competing in an intriguing 10-round light heavyweight bout will be Washington, D.C. prospect Thomas Williams (13-0, 10 KO’s) and veteran Otis Griffin (24-12-2, 10 KO’s) of Sacramento, California. The 25-year-old Williams is already 2-0 in 2013, stopping 8-1 Jason Smith and 20-7 Kevin Engel in three rounds each. The winner of the reality program “The Next Great Champ,” Griffin is a former USBA Light Heavyweight Champion looking to get back on track after some tough recent outings.
The blockbuster undercard will also see the return of Anthony Peterson (31-1, 20 KO’s) after a 17-month layoff. The talented Washington, D.C. product, who owns wins over Javier Jauregui, Daniel Attah, and Luis Arceo, with his only loss a controversial disqualification against Brandon Rios, will meet Rialto, California’s Dominic Salcido (18-4, 9 KO’s) in a 10-round lightweight contest. A slick boxer who isn’t afraid of standing toe-to-toe and trading punches, the flashy Salcido always puts on a show when he steps between the ropes.
Fresh off of their stint at the 2012 Olympics, United States team members Rau’shee Warren (3-0, 1 KO) of Cincinnati and Jamel Herring (2-0, 1 KO) of Rockville Centre, New York continue their pro careers in Atlantic City this weekend. Bantamweight Warren will face Chicago’s Angel Carvajal (2-1) and lightweight Herring meets San Juan’s Victor Galindo (1-1), both in bouts scheduled for four rounds.
In an eight-round bantamweight fight, Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico’s Cesar Seda (24-1, 17 KO’s) will face off against Ciudad Obregon’s Miguel Tamayo (13-5-2, 11 KO’s) with the undercard being rounded out by a four-round lightweight match between Toledo, Ohio’s Robert Easter Jr. (3-0, 3 KO’s) against Antoine Knight (2-3) of Merrillville, Ind.
