It was controversial, and it did not end the way he wanted it to end, but Carlos Adames(23-1, 18 KOs) retained his Interim WBC Middleweight Title with a ninth-round stoppage of former unified 154-pound champion Julian Williams(23-4-1, 16 KOs) in the main event Saturday night from The Armory in Minneapolis(SHOWTIME).
In that ninth round, Adames clearly had Williams hurt and had the Philadelphia native on the run. Williams blocked some of Adames’ onslaught and threw punches back, but referee Mark Nelson saw enough and stopped the fight with 2:45 in Round 9.
Esther Lin/Showtime
At the time of the stoppage, Adames led on all three cards(80-72, 78-74, and 77-74).
After the fight, the 33-year-old Williams and his trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, were not very happy. Edwards was seen yelling at Nelson following the stoppage.
“I think it was a terrible stoppage, but what can I do?” Williams said after the loss. “I’m healthy, and I feel fine. I thought it was pretty much even, and I was taking over while he was getting tired. Of course, I want a rematch. It’s not his fault that the ref jumped in early. It looked corny. It looked bad. It was a great fight, I thought it was an even fight, and he jumps in and stops it because I got a little bit buzzed. It’s boxing.”
Edwards added: “He was hurt. I’m not saying he wasn’t hurt. At least let the fight go.”
Adames thinks Williams would have gotten hurt if the fight had continued.
“When I came with those two rights, that’s when the referee stopped it,” said Adames. “If I would’ve hit him with another one, he probably would’ve gotten really hurt.”
It was a bad stoppage. However, the 29-year-old Adames would have probably won this fight, whether by stoppage or decision, but it’s boxing, so anything could have happened.
Jermall Charlo holds the WBC 160-pound title but has been inactive for over two years. Adames hopes to get a fight with Charlo, but that might not be possible as Charlo could be in line to fight Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds, which could mean Adames gets the WBC strap.
We’ll see how that plays out, but it’s clear Adames is one of the best at 160 pounds.
Lubin stops Arias
The last time we saw Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs), he lost in a Fight of the Year candidate to Sebastian Fundora in 2022. On Saturday night, in the co-main event of Adames-Williams, Lubin returned with a dominant performance as he stopped Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-4-1, 9 KOs) in the fifth round of their scheduled 10-round showdown.
Like the main event, there was some controversy surrounding the fight’s ending.
In the fifth round, Lubin dropped Arias with a right hand. Arias appeared to stand up before referee Zac Young’s count, hit 10, but Young disagreed and waived the fight off 2:11 into the round.
This was Arias’ first stoppage loss; according to him, Young’s count was off.
“That was definitely a bad count,” said Arias. “I need to go back and look at it and see if it was 10. That’s just part of the game. It was loud, [the referee] saw us taking some shots, both of us and he did, and what he had to do, but I felt like it wasn’t a fair count. And like I said, I’ll be back. My career has always been about reviving myself, fighting the best.”
Lubin says he would have worked hard to stop Arias if the fight continued.
“I know that if they were going to let him keep fighting, I was going to attack him and try to get him out anyways,” Lubin said. “I knew he was hurt, I hurt him with a body shot earlier in the round, and he started to slow down a little bit, and then the headshot just took him down.”
The 27-year-old called out Adames, who defeated Williams in the main event.
“That Fundora fight just motivated me,” said Lubin. “We got Fight of the Year last year, and I just came back strong. It just motivated me, man. I’m ready for the fights at 154, and I’m ready for the winner of this main event.”
Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames and former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams traded barbs at Thursday’s final press conference before they trade blows in the SHOWTIME main event this Saturday, June 24 in a Premier Boxing Champions event at The Armory in Minneapolis.
Thursday’s press conference also featured fighters competing on the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® undercard including super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias, who meets Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 10-round co-main event, plus super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez and unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea, who battle for Martinez’s IBF world title in the telecast opener.
Here is what Adames and Williams had to say Thursday from Minneapolis:
CARLOS ADAMES
Photos: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
“I’ve been in the gym training hard with a spectacular team. Williams is bait on a hook ready to get devoured by the big fish. He should know that he’s in a bad spot right now.
“I can feel him shaking. If you’re hesitant, it’s because you don’t know what you’re getting into. I want him to tell us how he really feels.
“I’m here to give a great fight to the fans of Minneapolis. I’m very thankful to be fighting here and to be embraced by the city.
“If you’ve seen me hurt, that’s because you have bad eyesight. I’m right here and I’m gonna be at my best on Saturday night“If you like this back and forth, you’ll love the fight. I’m glad this was fun, but I want everyone to know that I’m bringing my best. Julian has no idea what he’s getting into. I’m gonna overwhelm him.
“I’m going to have to be steady in the ring and work a lot, especially early. I’m going to be patient, follow my game plan and the win is going to come because of how steady I am in the ring.
“Even though the fans in the Dominican Republic are far away, they motivate me to win not just for myself, but for all of them.
“It was great to meet Pablo Lopez at the Twins game. Baseball has always been part of my life, and to be embraced for my accomplishments at the highest level of boxing by a first-class franchise like the Twins meant a lot to me. Minneapolis is a great sports town, and I hope Twins fans come out to enjoy a great fight on Saturday night as well.”
JULIAN WILLIAMS
“I’ve watched tape on him and he’s not unbeatable. He’s a good fighter, but I’ve seen him down, I’ve seen him tired and I’ve seen him hurt. He’s no boogeyman.
“This fight can definitely rejuvenate my career. I don’t think people fear him yet. He only hit the scene last year. All that about him being avoided is just talk.
“I’m not letting Adames know anything and I don’t have to say anything. We’re gonna show up and settle it in the ring like men on Saturday night.
“This dude is a bully. I don’t have to go back and forth with him and argue about what we’re gonna do. I’m gonna show up on Saturday night. Believe it.
“I’m locked in. I know what this is and I know what he is. It’s gonna show up in the fight. I’m a man and you cannot scare me.
“I’m going to deliver a spectacular performance on Saturday night. The fans can definitely expect that. I’m getting my hand raised.
Top middleweight Carlos Adames will aim to make his case as the sport’s best middleweight when he defends his Interim WBC Middleweight Title against former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams this Saturday, June 24 live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from The Armory in Minneapolis headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
“My time will come where I will show the world that I’m the best middleweight,” said Adames. “A dominant victory on Saturday night will ensure me a fight with Jermall Charlo to see who the real WBC middleweight champion is. It’s been very difficult to get the big names in the ring with me, but I just have to keep winning.”
The 29-year-old Adames (22-1,17 KOs) has been on a tear since moving up to middleweight in 2021, including a close but decisive decision over Sergiy Derevyanchenko and most recently a third-round KO of Juan Macias Montiel in October. The Dominican fighter now training in Las Vegas has thrived in another training camp under top trainer Bob Santos.
“I had an incredible training camp in Las Vegas with my coach Bob Santos,” said Adames. “We put in a lot of hard work and got some excellent sparring with some very good fighters. My road work was taken to the next level, with a lot of running in high elevation. I’m eating the best foods and feeling great.”
Saturday night will see Adames battle perhaps his most accomplished opponent to date in the former unified 154-pound Williams, a Philadelphia-native who defeated Jarrett Hurd in one of 2019’s best fights to capture WBA and IBF titles. Although Williams only made his middleweight debut in November with a unanimous decision over Rolando Mansilla, Adames knows the danger that Williams presents.
“I see Williams as a dangerous opponent,” said Adames. “He’s a former world champion who has a lot of experience and he has nothing to lose at this point in his career. I’m expecting a tough fight, but I feel I’m the better fighter in every aspect. I feel I can break him down and end the fight in the middle to late rounds.”
Since losing a 154-pound title fight in 2019, Adames has worked his way up the 160-pound division and will now step into the ring for his first SHOWTIME main event on Saturday night, with the goal of closing the show early and in dominant fashion.
“This is another great opportunity to showcase my talent on the big stage,” said Adames. “SHOWTIME is where the stars are born. I can’t wait to show my people back in the Dominican Republic, and here in the U.S., all the hard work that we put into this camp. This is my first main event on SHOWTIME and I’m going to take full advantage of the situation. My goal is to win by spectacular knockout.”
Hard-hitting Interim WBC Middleweight Champion Carlos Adames will battle former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams in the 12-round main event of action live on SHOWTIME Saturday, June 24 from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and featured top super welterweight contenders Erickson “Hammer” Lubin and Luis “Cuba” Arias squaring off in the 10-round co-main event. Super flyweight world champion Fernando “Pumita” Martinez will put his IBF title on the line against unbeaten Filipino contender Jade Bornea in the telecast opener.
Adames (22-1, 17 KOs) has become a force in the middleweight division as he nears a chance to earn a world title opportunity at 160 pounds. Adames scored a career-best victory by overcoming top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in December 2021 and followed that up by knocking out Juan Macias Montiel in the third round to capture his interim belt last October. The 29-year-old Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic and now lives in Washington Heights, New York. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.
“I’ve trained hard for this fight and I’m ready to defend my interim WBC middleweight title against Julian Williams, who we all know is a very tough fighter,” said Adames. “I’ve worked tirelessly to earn my way in the sport and I’m ready to prove I belong at the top of the middleweight division. I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills on SHOWTIME, and I’m determined to put on a great performance for the fans. On June 24 The Armory in Minneapolis will be electrifying. I’m coming to win.”
Philadelphia’s Williams (29-3-1, 16 KOs) became a unified world champion at 154-pounds in May 2019 when he upset Jarrett Hurd in one of the year’s best fights, winning a close-quarters brawl by unanimous decision. The 33-year-old dropped the titles in his first defense, losing to Jeison Rosario in January 2020, before coming up on the short end of a narrow decision to Vladimir Hernandez in October 2021. He most recently returned to his winning ways last November, dominating Rolando Mansilla at The Armory on his way to a unanimous decision.
“Training has been going great and I’m extremely well-prepared for this fight,” said Williams. “I’ve just been grinding and making the best of everything that I have. I haven’t seen that much of him, so I’m preparing for anything Adames can bring. A win on June 24 would mean everything. This is what I strive for. It’s been a little choppy, but I’m just looking forward to a tough fight in Minneapolis.”
The 27-year-old Lubin (24-2, 17 KOs) will return to the ring after going toe-to-toe in one of 2022’s best fights, which saw him trade knockdowns with fellow contender Sebastian Fundora on SHOWTIME in April 2022. Heading into the Fundora fight, Lubin had put together an impressive six-bout winning streak since a loss to unified 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in 2017, a run that included triumphs over Jeison Rosario, Terrell Gausha and Ishe Smith. A native of Orlando, Fla., Lubin turned pro at 18 years old in 2013 and became one of the youngest prospects to ever appear on the developmental series SHOBOX: The New Generation and soon after was named “Prospect Of The Year” by ESPN and Ring Magazine in 2016.
“I’m looking forward to making my return on SHOWTIME,” said Lubin. “Every fight is important and I treat them all the same. This one is no different because I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder. I’m planning to dominate Luis Arias so I can get my rematches with Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora. I want to avenge my defeats and that starts with a big performance on June 24. It’s ‘Hammer’ time on SHOWTIME.”
A native of Milwaukee who now trains out of Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions’ Arias (20-3-1, 9 KOs) most recently dominated Jimmy Williams in May 2022 on his way to a unanimous decision. Arias had scored a career-best victory in June 2021, as he earned a decision over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME PPV undercard. Arias has also battled former champion Daniel Jacobs and owns a draw against veteran contender Gabriel Rosado.
“I’m back on the big stage and this time I’m staying here for the long haul,” said Arias. “I’m planning on bringing an all-out war as soon as the bell rings. June 24 has a great lineup, but this fight will definitely steal the show. I want to thank Floyd Mayweather and the Mayweather Promotions team for getting me this opportunity. I’m coming to make the most of it. War is coming!”
The unbeaten Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) became the first world champion promoted by his countryman, former two-division world champion Marcos Maidana, with a scintillating victory over Ancajas on SHOWTIME in February 2022. The 31-year-old from Avellaneda, Argentina made the most of the opportunity, landing a division record 421 power shots of the 427 total punches landed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Ancajas. They rematched in October 2022, with Martinez putting on an even more convincing performance to retain his title via unanimous decision.
“This is going to be my first time fighting in Minneapolis and I hope the fans know that I’m coming to put on a show for them,” said Martinez. “My goal isn’t just to win, it’s to show that I’m getting better and that I’m on my way to my goal of unifying the titles.”
Fighting out of General Santos City in the Philippines, Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs) will fight in the U.S. for the second time on June 24 after earning a decision over Ernesto Delgadillo in their January 2020 clash. Since then the 27-year-old has added three victories, including a pair of 2022 triumphs that saw him best Mohammed Obbadi in January and Ivan Meneses in August. A pro since October 2014, Bornea is part of a boxing family as his twin brother Jake also fights professionally.
“I have been waiting for this opportunity ever since I turned pro,” said Bornea. “I have watched Martinez twice fight against my friend and countryman Jerwin Ancajas, so I know his style well. On June 24, I am going to win that title and bring it back to the Philippines where it belongs. I’m thankful to my whole team for this opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it.”
Exciting middleweight contender Carlos Adames shared insight into his training camp before he battles Mexico’s Juan Macias Montiel for the Interim WBC Middleweight Title this Saturday, October 8 in the co-main event of action live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
After coming up just short of winning a 154-pound world title in 2019, the Dominican Republic’s Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) moved up to the full middleweight limit in December 2021 as he scored an impressive decision victory over top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Now he looks to move one step closer to a middleweight world championship against the rugged power-puncher Montiel.
Here is what Adames had to say about his training camp in Las Vegas, facing Montiel and more:
On his upcoming matchup with Montiel:
“This is not an easy fight because I know Montiel is a proven veteran who has fought at the championship level. He’s gone twelve rounds with Jermall Charlo, so I know he’s tough. I’m expecting Montiel to come into this fight very determined, so I must be ready for anything he brings. I’m the hungriest I’ve ever been going into a fight. My plan is to knock him out and leave no doubt who the winner is.”
On his recent training camp:
“This camp has been challenging because of all the hard work I’ve put in each day. I’m going hard daily with my strength and conditioning, and the sparring I’ve been getting has been with elite fighters, so it’s been a grueling training camp, but one that has me in the best shape of my life. Bob Santos is my head coach, and we did most of our training in Las Vegas before finishing off in Mexico City at [WBC Featherweight World Champion] Rey Vargas’ gym. On fight night, all the fans are going to see an explosive version of me. I’m ready to go!”
On what a win will do for his career:
“This fight is for the interim title, so a victory puts me in position to fight for the championship in my next fight. Everything is on the line in this fight and I’m not going to let this opportunity pass me by. I have one thing on my mind and that is to come out victorious by any means necessary. I will become the new king at middleweight soon.”
On being motivated by fellow Dominican countrymen, WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Alberto Puello and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Héctor García, winning world titles:
“Hector Garcia and Alberto Puello are my brothers, I love them very much, and for the first time in the history of boxing, the Dominican Republic has more current world champions than Cuba and Puerto Rico. Them both winning world titles on the same night was a great moment for our country. My motivation to become a world champion is burning in my heart and is the reason I’ve taken my training to the next level. I’m going to follow in their footsteps and together we will make history.”
On fighting in co-main event on SHOWTIME:
“Fighting on this stage is every fighter’s dream, and I’m going to bring a great performance to all the fans tuning in. I want all those watching to realize that I’m not a boring fighter that just likes to win on points. I’m coming to make a statement with a vicious knockout, putting the entire middleweight division on notice. Everyone watching this fight is going to love my style, because I bring excitement to the ring.”
Unbeaten super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno’’ Fundora will seek to continue his dominance and demonstrate why he’s one of the most feared fighters in boxing when he defends his Interim WBC Super Welterweight Title against former title challenger Carlos Ocampo live on SHOWTIME on Saturday, October 8 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will see top middleweights Carlos Adames and Juan Macias Montiel square off for the Interim WBC Middleweight Title in the co-main event, while IBF Junior Bantamweight World Champion Fernando Martinez meets former champion Jerwin Ancajas in a highly-anticipated 12-round rematch to open the telecast at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) has rocketed to the top of the super welterweight division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring. At 6-foot-6, the unbeaten 24-year-old southpaw from Coachella, Calif., towers over his opponents, but has displayed an appetite for toe-to-toe combat from short range. Fundora showed his mettle in his last fight, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in an instant 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round.
“I’m very pleased and honored to be back in action on October 8,” said Fundora. “I’m excited to be back on a big PBC show at Dignity Health Sport Park and on SHOWTIME defending my WBC interim title against a quality ranked fighter like Carlos Ocampo. On top of things, my sister Gabriela Fundora will be performing on the same card, and we’re training hard to give everyone a great show.”
Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) is riding a 12-fight win streak dating back to his first and only career setback, a KO loss to current unified welterweight champion and pound-for-pound great Errol Spence, Jr. in 2016. During the 12-fight stretch, nine of the victories have come by stoppage. The 26-year-old from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico will have to be at his best if he wants to keep that streak alive against one of the hottest boxers in the super welterweight division in Fundora. In his last fight Ocampo scored a victory by first round KO over Vicente Martin Rodriguez on June 11, his first U.S. action since the Spence bout for his eighth stoppage in his last 10 bouts.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to be fighting on the big stage again and it’s even better that it is against a great fighter like Fundora,” said Ocampo. “I know that he is a warrior inside the ring, just like me. This is going to be a can’t-miss fight for the fans. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this fight, but especially my daughter, who is my inspiration every time I step into the ring.”
Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) is quickly becoming a force in the middleweight division as he nears his first world title opportunity at 160 pounds. He fought three times in 2021, scoring two KO victories and earning a majority decision over top contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in his last fight on December 5. The 28-year-old Adames was born in Comendador, Dominican Republic and now lives in Washington Heights, New York. He established himself as a contender with a slew of victories over the likes of former champion Carlos Molina, Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera, with his only defeat coming by narrow decision in a 2019 154-pound title fight against Patrick Teixeira.
“I’ve been waiting patiently to get back in the ring and bring the fans another war,” said Adames. “Being in a fight like this has me motivated like never before. A win against a tough fighter like Montiel will do wonders for my career. I’ve been eager to showcase what I’ve been working on and show the fans that I’m the next middleweight star. On October 8, I’m going to get one step closer to becoming the first Dominican middleweight world champion of all time.”
The 28-year-old Montiel (23-5-2, 23 KOs) showed his grit and determination in the ring as he battled for 12 grueling rounds against middleweight champion Jermall Charlo in June 2021. He slugged it out with Charlo and came up short in a unanimous decision loss to the world champion, but improved his stock as a contender. Fighting out of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico he bounced back six months later with a third round KO victory over Christian Soto Valvarde on December 22.
“I made the mistake not taking it up another level against Jermall Charlo,” said Montiel. “That will never happen again. I’m thankful to my team for another great opportunity and I’m going to make the most of it. This time when Carlos Adames is hurt, and he will be, he is going to sleep. I learned my lesson about letting opponents escape.”
The unbeaten Martinez (14-0, 8 KOs) became the first world champion promoted by his countryman, former two-division world champion Marcos Maidana, with a scintillating victory over Ancajas on SHOWTIME in February. The 31-year-old from Avellaneda, Argentina made the most of the opportunity, landing a division record 421 power shots of the 427 total punches landed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Ancajas. Now he will look to repeat that feat and establish himself as one of the division’s best.
“I’ve been having an excellent training camp ahead of this rematch,” said Martinez. “I proved that I was up to the challenge back in February, and now I am ready to defend my title with all of my heart. The fans are going to see an even better Fernando Martinez when I step into the ring on October 8.”
The 30-year-old Ancajas (32-2-2, 22 KOs) decided to exercise his right to a rematch against Martinez and will now get a chance to wrestle back a world title that he held for six years and defended nine times before the loss to Martinez. Fighting out of Panabo City, Davao Del Norte, Philippines, Ancajas won the title in a lopsided unanimous decision victory over McJoe Arroyo in 2016 where he dropped his opponent in the eighth round and cruised to victory.
“It’s very weird to be in the challenger position after holding the title for over six years,” said Ancajas. “This has motivated me to work even harder preparing for this fight. I’ve made some adjustments in my training and can assure everyone that I’m going to show that the first fight was a fluke. I’m going to win on October 8 and become a two-time world champion!”
After he soundly defeated Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10 KOs) in a WBC title elimination bout this past Sunday, Carlos Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) now has his sights set on conquering Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs), in a winner takes all to fight for the WBC World tile against Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs).
Adames, who hails from the Dominican Republic, wants Munguia as soon as possible, and feels a clash with the Mexican star would be a huge fight, one the fans would love to see.
“I’m here to prove that I’m the best middleweight in the division,” said Adames, who trains in Las Vegas under the guidance of Ismael Salas. “I’m very thankful to the WBC for making my fight with Derevyanchenko a title elimination bout. Now that I’ve been victorious, I’m one step closer of my dream of becoming a world champion, and I want to fight Jaime Munguia next. Munguia has a fan friendly style like myself, and I know this is a fight the fans will want to witness.”
Adames has two fights under Ismael Salas, his new trainer, and feels all the pieces are in place for him to make a world title run.
“Since transitioning to Las Vegas to train under Ismael Salas, I’ve been able to get my career back on track,” Adames continued. “I feel I have a great team in place and I’m ready to challenge the biggest names in the sport. Jaime Munguia is the fight I want now!”
“I want to thank the PBC and Showtime for giving me the opportunity to fight on their platform,” concluded Adames. “Charlo is another name on my hit list, I’m coming for them all.”
Rising super welterweight star Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will square off against fellow unbeaten Sergio Garcia in a WBC Super Welterweight World Title Eliminator that serves as the co-main event of the Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz SHOWTIME PPV on Sunday, December 5 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
The pay-per-view will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also feature hard-hitting middleweight contenders Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Carlos Adames squaring off in a 10-round battle. Kicking off the pay-per-view, top featherweight contender Eduardo Ramirez faces former title challenger Miguel Marriaga for 10 rounds of action.
Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) continues to rise up the super welterweight ranks and recently delivered his most impressive victory to date by stopping Jorge Cota in four rounds in May. The six-foot-six brawler has reached this point by showing off the skills of a rugged boxer who is more comfortable fighting on the inside than most. Born in West Palm Beach, Fla. to his Mexican mother and Cuban father and trainer, Freddy – both boxers – the 23-year-old now lives and trains in Coachella, Calif.
“I’m super excited to be back in the ring,” said Fundora. “I haven’t stopped training since my fight against Cota and I’m always prepared for every opportunity that arises. I don’t know much about Garcia, but my promoter has told me for the past two years that he’s from Spain and he’s ranked number two in the WBC. So it only makes sense for me, being the number four-ranked fighter in the WBC, that we face each other. This is going to be an exciting fight on December 5.”
The 29-year-old Garcia (33-0, 14 KOs) will bring an edge in pro experience into his U.S. debut against Fundora on December 5. Fighting out of Torrelavega, Cantabria, Spain, Garcia has competed professionally since 2012. He ascended the rankings by traveling to the U.K. to defeat then unbeaten Ted Cheeseman on his home soil in 2019 and followed up with a triumph over veteran contender Sergey Rabchenko. Garcia has added three victories since then, including 2020 wins over Pablo Mendoza and Gregory Trenel.
“I want to thank my team for giving me this opportunity to show my boxing skills to the U.S. audience,” said Garcia. “I’m very excited to make the most of this chance that I have. After winning four European championships and other important titles, I feel that I’m ready to win a world title. I am only focused on Sebastian Fundora, but after this fight I want Jermell Charlo or Brian Castaño.”
A 2008 Olympian for his native Ukraine, Derevyanchenko (13-3, 10 KOs), will seek another opportunity at a middleweight world title. Known as “The Technician” and now training out of Brooklyn, Derevyanchenko is long established as a top middleweight contender, having faced the likes of Jermall Charlo, Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin. He owns victories over contenders including Tureano Johnson, Jack Culcay and Sam Soliman. .His most recent fight ended in a decision loss to Charlo in a SHOWTIME PPV headlining fight in September 2020.
“I’m excited to get back in the ring and continue my journey toward becoming world champion,” said Derevyanchenko. “Adames is a good fighter and I respect what he can do, but he’s standing in my way right now. I’m looking forward to this challenge and I can’t wait to give the fans another great fight.”
A native of Comendador, Dominican Republic, Adames (20-1, 16 KOs) fights out of New York City as he seeks to earn a second shot at a world championship. The 27-year-old defeated a slew of contenders including Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley, Alejandro Barrera and former Champion Carlos Molina on his way to a 2019 title shot that he lost by narrow decision to Patrick Teixeira. In his most recent outing, Adames scored a third-round TKO over Alexis Salazar on the Davis vs. Barrios SHOWTIME PPV undercard in June.
“I am very happy to return to action on December 5,” said Adames. “I’m having an excellent and very demanding training camp, so my opponent better be 100% ready. It’s very exciting to be on the undercard of this huge event. My fans expect a great performance from me and I’m going to deliver it.”
Fighting out of Sinaloa, Mexico, Ramirez (25-2-3, 12 KOs) has risen up the featherweight rankings with three-straight sensational knockout victories. He stopped then-unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy in November 2019 before blasting out Miguel Flores in December 2020 and most recently dropping Isaac Avelar in May. The 28-year-old is currently riding wins in five of his last six fights since losing to then 126-pound champion Lee Selby in 2017. He’s won 16 of his last 19 fights overall, with his only other blemishes coming in a draw against Barthelemy that was later avenged, and a decision loss to Claudio Marrero.
“I can’t wait to be back on another big card against another very good fighter in Miguel Marriaga,” said Ramirez. “He’s very strong and he has good experience against top fighters. Vasyl Lomachenko is the only one to stop him, but I will be the second because I need to make a statement with this fight and show everyone that I’m ready to fight for the title.”
A former world title challenger at 130 and 126 pounds, Marriaga (30-4, 26 KOs) most recently stopped Jorge Garcia Jimenez in April to make it victories in five of his last six outings since 2018. The 35-year-old fights out of Arjona, Colombia and has fought professionally since 2009. Marriaga went the distance in a pair of featherweight title fights against Oscar Valdez and Nicholas Walters, in addition to losing a super featherweight title fight to Vasyl Lomachenko.
“I am training very hard for this fight as I always do,” said Marriaga. “I’m very happy with my All-Star Boxing team for getting me this fight. Winning on December 5 will propel me to another world title fight. My only goal is to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a world champion and I’m not going to let this opportunity slip by me.”
Super welterweight contender Carlos Adames will take on Mexico’s Alexis Salazar in a 10-round showdown on the SHOWTIME PPV undercard this Saturday, June 26 from the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Adames-Salazar replaces the previously scheduled Julian Williams vs. Brian Mendoza fight, after Williams was forced to withdraw because of an elbow injury.
The event is headlined by four-time world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis as he seeks a title in a third weight class against unbeaten WBA Super Lightweight Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in the main event of a SHOWTIME PPV telecast that begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
A native of Comendador, Dominican Republic, Adames (19-1, 15 KOs) fights out of New York City as he seeks to earn a second shot at a world championship. The 27-year-old defeated a slew of contenders on his way to a 2019 title shot that he lost by narrow decision to Patrick Teixeira. Adames defeated former champion Carlos Molina, and contenders Frank Galarza, Joshua Conley and Alejandro Barrera to earn that opportunity at a title.
The 25-year-old Salazar (23-3, 9 KOs) rides a 15-fight winning streak into this matchup. Most recently, Salazar earned a unanimous decision over Ruben Barajas in their December 2020 clash. Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and now fighting out of Norwalk, Calif., Salazar will fight in the U.S. for the sixth time Saturday night. His previous stateside outing saw him dominate Abraham Cordero to earn a unanimous decision in May 2019.
The non-televised undercard will feature Cuban contender Leduan Barthelemy (16-1-1, 8 KOs) meeting unbeaten Viktor Slavinsky (12-0-1, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super featherweight fight, former title challenger Andres Gutierrez (38-2-1, 25 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight attraction, unbeaten prospect Dalton Brodie (1-0, 1 KO) competing in a four-round super middleweight duel against fellow-unbeaten Trever Bradshaw (1-0) and undefeated Washington, D.C. born prospect Stacey Selby (2-0, 2 KOs) entering the ring in a four-round super lightweight bout.
