Philadelphia’s biggest name fighters and future stars will fill a loaded boxing card that takes place on Saturday, April 27 at Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University(BLK Prime).
In the main event, Andrew Tabiti and Junior Wright will fight in a ten-round heavyweight bout.
Andrew “Beast” Tabiti (20-2, 16 KOs), former world title challenger, is Chicago born and now resides in Las Vegas, NV. The 34-year-old made his Pro debut in 2012 and won his first ten fights by knockout. In his thirteenth fight, on May 13, 2016, he won the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) cruiserweight title, then added the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight title on August 26, 2017. He fought for the IBF world title in 2019.
“I’m Excited to Fight in Philly, where there’s big boxing community and where legends made,” said Tabiti. “I know the show will have a lot of fans and it’ll be a great night of boxing. My opponent has some decent competition, but I will show I’m on another level . He has no business being in that ring with me.”
Junior Anthony “Hurricane” Wright (20-5, 17 KOs) born and raised in Evanston, IL, is thirty-seven-years-old and made his pro debut in 2011. He won his first seven bouts by knockout and has fought for titles on three separate occasions, the last being in Riyadh in October when he succumbed to the undefeated NABF and World Boxing Association (WBA) Inter-Continental champion Arslanbek Makhmudov.
In the co-main, Nikita Ababiy and Cleotis Pendarvis will battle in an eight-round middleweight bout, with the winner looking to get a title shot.
Nikitia “White Chocolate” Ababy (12-0, 6 KOs) was born in Richmond, VA and now resides in Brooklyn, NY. Born in 1998, Ababy made his pro debut two weeks prior to his twentieth birthday, winning by first round knockout. He is coming off a win over a fourteen win and one loss opponent, his toughest opponent to date.
Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis (22-20, 9 KOs) from Lancaster, CA, is in his twentieth year in professional boxing. He is former World Boxing Foundation Intercontinental Welterweight Champion, IBF USBA Super Lightweight Champion and WBC USA Super Lightweight Champion.
The winner will be on the cusp of a title opportunity.
Jesse “Hard Work” Hart (30-3, 24 KOs) was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and has been boxing professionally since 2012. Jesse won the NABF super middleweight title in 2014 and a year later added the IBF USBA and WBO NABO super middleweight titles with a knockout win against an undefeated Mike Jimenez. “Hard Work” made four successful defenses of the IBF and WBO titles which set him up for his first world title shot, which he lost by razor thin decision. Three wins later Hart fought for a world title once again, this time losing by another razor thin decision against WBO champion Zurdo Ramirez. Hart is currently on a four bout win streak, last three by knockout.
“Hank” Lundy (31-14, 14 KOs) was born and raised in Philadelphia and wears that Philly tough guy brashness on his sleeve. He is a former Universal Boxing Federation World Lightweight Champion and a two-time WBO NABO Lightweight Champion. He is also a former NABF Lightweight and NABF Super Lightweight Champion, WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Champion. He also fought pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford for his WBO World welterweight title. Hank will fight Juan De La Cruz (11-22-1, 7 KOs) from Front Royal, Virginia
Dylan Price (17-0, 11 KOs) was born in Philadelphia and now resides just over the Walt Whitman bridge in Sicklerville, NJ. The twenty-five-year-old made his pro debut in 2017. He became the NABF Bantamweight Champion with a unanimous decision victory a year ago February and successfully defended that title in his last bout in January at Boardwalk Hall. He will battle Argentinean Ernesto Sebastian “Tito” Franzolini (19-14-2, 1 KO) in an eight-round bantamweight bout.
“I’m super excited about fighting in Philly,” said Price. “I know my opponent is tough, but nowhere near my level. I can’t see this fight going the distance, and yes, I’m going to knock him out.”
Frankie Lynn (3-0, 3 KOs), a Chester, PA native, will fight in a four-round welterweight bout, anticipating that he adds to his perfect record.
Nineteen-year-old Philadelphian Richard Johnson (1-0, 1 KO), who made his professional boxing debut on February 17 with a first round knockout, will battle Deron Eillis, making his pro debut, in a four-round super welterweight bout.
Philadelphian Shamsuddeen Justice (2-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring after multi-year layoff to fight in a four-round super lightweight bout against Puerto Rican Kelvin Diaz.
Seifullah Jihad Wise (4-8, 1 KO), born and raised in Philadelphia, will fight in a four-round super lightweight bout against Atlantic City native Aaron Newsome (2-4).
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