The non-televised undercard of Luis Ortiz vs. Tony Thompson will feature exciting top prospects from the East Coast for an exciting night of boxing on March 5, live from the DC Armory.
First off, undefeated lightweight, Lamont Roach Jr. (9-0, 3 KOs) of Washington, D.C. will participate in a six-round fight and new Golden Boy Promotions fighter Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (14-0, 11 KO) from Lynn, Mass. will fight in an eight-round welterweight bout.
Also on the card, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard (11-0,7 KOs) from Temple Hills, Md. is scheduled for a six-round middleweight brawl and stable mate Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers (12-1, 9 KOs) is committed to a six-round featherweight battle.
Two spectacular undefeated super lightweights, Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (13-0, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Philly native Damon Allen (8-0, 3 KOs) will both fight in respective six-round bouts. Opening up the night, Todd Unthank-May (8-0, 3 KOs) also of Philadelphia, will fight in a six-round light heavyweights bout. Opponents will be announced shortly.
The event on March 5, is headlined by the WBA Interim Heavyweight World Championship Title showdown between Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) and Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KO’s). Number one WBO Welterweight Contender, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) will face former world champion and number four WBO Welterweight Contender, Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO Welterweight World Championship. Both fights will be televised live on HBO ® Boxing After Dark beginning at 10 pm ET/PT.
Washington, D.C.’s Lamont Roach Jr. has been active fighter since his professional debut in 2014. In 2015, Lamont Jr. nearly doubled his professional experience with four victories against Herbert “Sensational” Quartey, Jose Miguel Castro, Christian Santibanez, and Jose “Flash” Bustos. The 20-year-old super featherweight prospect is a fighter to watch in 2016.
A swift and ferocious striker, the undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis has repeatedly showcased his skills to audiences, most recently with a fourth-round technical knockout victory in Puerto Rico over Victor “Pambele” Gonzalez in March 2015 to claim the vacant WBA Fedecentro and the WBC Interim Latin Welterweight titles. Ellis won his three previous fights via technical knockout, defeating Joseph De los Santos and Joananthony Vazquez in Puerto Rico and Jose Martinez in the Dominican Republic. Later in 2015, Ellis played a key part in the training camp of Golden Boy Promotions fighter and now WBC, RING Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez. The 22-year-old Ellis trained with Canelo Alvarez as a sparring partner in preparation for Alvarez’s November 21 super fight against Miguel Cotto.
A professional since 2013, D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard has quickly risen the ranks in the light heavyweight division. 2015 was a pivotal year for Maryland’s super middleweight for “Big Meech” as he passed every test with flying colors, showing that he could box as well as bang in decision victories over Josue “Chiquilin” Ovando, Juan Carlos “Chiflado” Rojas and Fabiano “Pit Bull” Pena in 2015.
Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers, Jr. of Cheverly, Maryland is eager to get back in the ring after his first career loss. The fighter has been steadily moving up the ranks accumulating wins over other stand-out prospects, Xavier Montelongo and Karl Garcia in 2014. In early 2015, the 25-year-old had impressive technical knockout victories over Stephon McIntyre and Luis “Lichito” Ruiz Lizarraga Jr. Now “K-Smoove” will be looking for victory in his fight of 2016.
After winning the first nine fights of his professional career on the east coast, Brooklyn’s Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa took his show on the road in 2015 and he continued to show off the skills that have made him a top prospect as he picked up four wins, including a big victory in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles over Moises Rios, David Rodela and Alejandro “Soma” Rodriguez. Now the 23-year-old will look to continue the winning streak when he returns to the east coast for his first fight of 2016.
A professional since 2013, standout lightweight Damon Allen, has had victories over tough opposition in Hector Marengo, Tony “Sugar Boy” Walker and Travis “El Animal” Thompson. The 23-year-old Philadelphian stepped through the ropes twice in 2015, stopping Luis “Yeye” Rodriguez in three rounds at home in Philly before making his Los Angeles debut in November with a decision victory over Oscar Santana.
Returning to the ring for the first time since November of 2013, Philadelphia light heavyweight Todd Unthank-May is eager to pick up where he left off and build on his impressive unbeaten record. A versatile competitor who can do it all in the ring, the 27-year-old is coming off an impressive second-round technical knockout victory over Kentrell Clairborne in his most recent bout two years ago.
