A heavyweight clash between Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-5, 27 KOs) and Malik “King” Scott (37-2-1, 13 KOs) will headline Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) – The Next Round on Bounce TV and BounceTV.com on Friday, October 30 from The Venue at UCF, located behind the CFE Arena in Orlando, Fla.
The 10-round heavyweight battle will anchor televised coverage also streamed live beginning at 9 p.m. ET and is the third installment of PBC – The Next Round on Bounce TV. The first two PBC on Bounce TV fight cards, held on August 2 and September 18 respectively in nearby Winter Park, Fla.
In the co-main event, undefeated super lightweights Lydell Rhodes (23-0-1, 11 KOs) and Sergey Lipinets (7-0, 6 KOs) will meet in a 10-round bout. Televised coverage begins with more undefeated prospects as Javontae Starks (13-0, 7 KOs) and Samuel “El Macho” Figueroa (9-0, 4 KOs) square off in eight rounds of welterweight action.
“It’s great to be fighting on PBC on Bounce in a heavyweight fight like this,” said Thompson. “I’m not looking past Malik Scott because he’s an experienced and crafty fighter. I think most fighters will stay away from a style like Malik’s but everyone knows I will fight anyone. I’ll be looking to make a statement against him by pressing the action and keeping him out of his comfort zone.”
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity and ready to put on a great performance,” said Scott. “It was exactly one year ago on this date, October 30, that I went to Australia and beat Alex Leapai and I look forward to getting in the ring and putting on a show against Tony Thompson. Tony is a world-class fighter and a victory over him will lead to bigger and better things for me.”
One of the most experienced fighters in the heavyweight division, Thompson, has twice challenged Wladimir Klitschko in his 15-year career. Born in Silver Spring, Maryland but fighting out of Washington, D.C., Thompson comes off of a victory over Odlanier Solis in February, his second over the heavyweight contender since 2014. He also owns a pair of victories over heralded heavyweight David Price, whom he stopped twice fighting in his opponent’s home country.
An accomplished heavyweight from Philadelphia, Scott has also fought professionally since 2000 and reeled off 35-straight wins to start his professional career. His most recent victory was perhaps his most impressive as he traveled to Australia and defeated Alex Lepeai. The 34-year-old also owns a final-round stoppage of Bowie Tupou in 2012 and fought undefeated Vyacheslav Glazkov to a draw in 2013.
A multi-sport athlete who has competed in both boxing and mixed martial arts professionally, Oklahoma City’s Rhodes looks to remain unbeaten on October 30. The 27-year-old is coming off of a competitive split-draw with Jared Robinson in June. Before that fight, Rhodes recorded four victories in 2014 including triumphs over Miguel Angel Huerta and John Nater.
An accomplished amateur who was born in Kazakhstan but fights out of Russia, Lipinets turned pro in April of last year with a decision victory over Franklin Varela. The 26-year-old has recorded six-straight knockouts since then, with his most recent victories coming over veterans Kendal Mena and Cosme Rivera. Lipinets will fight in the U.S. for the fourth time on October 30.
Fighting out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Starks racked up an impressive 98-16 amateur record before turning pro in 2009. The 26-year-old has ramped up the activity since 2014, recording seven victories including wins over Carlos Galvan and Jeremiah Wiggins in 2015.
Fresh off a September victory over previously unbeaten Fernando Paliza, the 24-year-old Figueroa makes a quick return to the ring looking to build off of that success. The Puerto Rican-born fighter turned pro in 2011 and recorded stoppage wins in four of his first six fights.
