Best Of 154-Pound Division Takes Center Stage As Erislandy Lara & Vanes Martirosyan Meet In World Championship Rematch
Ntau! Unbeaten World Champion Jermall Charlo Defends Against Former Champion Austin Trout & Twin Brother Jermell Charlo Vies For Vacant Belt Against Hard-Hitting John Jackson
Saturday, Tej zaum 21 From The Chelsea Inside
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Live On SHOWTIME
Daim pib Nyob muag khoom Friday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15 ntawm 10 a.m. PT
Las Vegas (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 13, 2016) – The 154-pound division will take center stage on Saturday, Tej zaum 21 in a stacked tripleheader featuring three world title fights in the same division. Five of the division’s top-six fighters* will square off live on SHOWTIME from Lub Chelsea, a one-of-a-kind 40,000-square-foot venue, hauv Lub Cosmopolitan ntawm Las Vegas.
Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, Cuban nov ntawm nqaij tawv Erislandy “American npau suav” Lara will defend his WBA Super Welterweight World Championship against U.S. Olympian and top contender Vanes “Lub Npau suav phem” Martirosyan nyob rau hauv ib tug rematch ntawm lawv 2012 bout that ended in a technical draw.
Brothers Jermall thiab Jermell Charlo will look to make history in co-featured bouts as the first twins to hold world titles in the same division. Unbeaten IBF Super Welterweight World Champion Jermall faces his toughest test when he makes the second defense of his belt against former world championAustin “Tsis muaj ntseeg” Trout. Jermell will take on exciting contender John Jackson in a bout for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship.
Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions, venue pre-sale tickets will go on-saleThursday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 14 ntawm 10 a.m. PT. Tickets for the general public will go on-sale Friday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15 ntawm 10 a.m. PT. Daim pib nqi pib ntawm $39, thiab yog muaj nyob online ntawm www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 thiab www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors to The Chelsea will open at 3 p.m. PT with SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING action beginning at 9 p.m. THIAB / 6 p.m. PT. The versatile yet intimate space inside The Chelsea will create an unparalleled experience for viewers and boxing fans alike.
“I’m looking forward and I’m excited to be making my 2016 debut in the boxing capitol of Las Vegas come May 21,” hais tias Lara. “I can’t wait to get in the ring as I have unfinished business to take care of with Vanes. I’m the champion and will remain the champion. I will leave no doubt who the better fighter is and will show the world that I’m the best fighter in the 154-pound division. I am dedicating this fight to a great man and boxing idol Gilberto Mendoza Sr. May he rest in peace and enjoy this display of master boxing from heaven, that I will put on for him when I step in the ring on fight night.”
“Erislandy Lara and I have unfinished business from our first fight,” Hais Martirosyan. “I had him beat that night and I’ll beat him on May 21. My time is now and I know I will be the new champion of the world on Tej zaum 21.”
The 25-year-old Charlos are aiming for history against stiff opposition from a former champion in Trout and the Olympian from the Virgin Islands in Jackson.
“This will be a history-making, record-breaking night for the Charlo twins,” said Jermall Charlo. “It means everything to us to be able to fight in two championship fights on the same card. This is everything we’ve ever dreamed of. This is going to be a great night of boxing and I’m preparing myself for war. Austin Trout is a seasoned vet. He’s fought world champions and has beaten future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto. This is one of my biggest fights to date, but I’m preparing the same way I always do. I’m going to be on my ‘A’ game. I’m ready to make history.”
“I’m extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to fight for the world title on Tej zaum 21,” hais tias trout. “It’s a twice-in-a-lifetime chance for a second world title and I’m going to take full advantage of it. I’m working hard and have already been in training camp in D.C. and ready to take full advantage of the moment. I’ve sat at the champions’ table before and am ready to go back again and eat from it again. Destiny brought me here not to lose, tab sis los yeej. I’m going to show up and show out and this world title.”
“Qhov no yog ib tug lossis loj kev sib ntaus rau kuv,” said Jermell Charlo. “It’s my first opportunity to fight for a title and my brother is on the same card defending his belt. There has never been identical twin brothers that are both world champions in the same weight class. We’re going to go out there and make history and send a message to the whole division. I’m excited to get in the ring and I know John Jackson is too. This is an important time in my career and I will be well prepared. Let the best man win.”
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to become a world champion,” hais tias Jackson. “I’ve been training very hard for the last two months for this fight and come Tej zaum 21 I will be victorious over Jermell Charlo and realize my lifelong dream of becoming a world champion, like my dad, the great Julian Jackson.”
“This is yet another example of SHOWTIME Sports’ commitment to delivering the best lineup in boxing,” hais tias Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice Thawj Tswj Hwm & General Manager, SHOWTIME kev ua si. “We’re featuring three important championship fights in one of boxing’s most intriguing young divisions – a tripleheader that will bring our 2016 tally of world title bouts to 14 – all free to SHOWTIME subscribers. We’re excited to offer this rare opportunity to see the top fighters in a division all on the same telecast.”
“Mayweather Promotions is thrilled to bring this fantastic tripleheader of super welterweight world champions to fight fans,” Hais Leonard Ellerbe, CEO ntawm Mayweather Promotions. “The best of the 154-pound division will be on display on Tej zaum 21 and we expect an action-packed night of drama.”
“We’re very excited to work with SHOWTIME on this action-packed tripleheader,” hais tias Tom Brown ntawm TGB Promotions. “Erislandy Lara and Vanes Martirosyan have a huge score to settle from their 2012 kawg, and Jermall and Jermell Charlo are in high-stakes matchups against Austin Trout and John Jackson, feem, in what promises to be a highly entertaining evening of boxing.”
The 32-year-old Lara is a slick boxer with the ability to deliver punishment while taking very little of it in return. Lara has notched victories over Alfredo Angulo, Austin trout, Ishe Smith and Freddy Hernandez. Raws li ib tug pib xyaum ua, Lara yeej heev heev lub npe nrog rau ib lub teb chaws championship ntawm welterweight thiab kuj tau koom nyob rau hauv lub 2007 Yias-Am ua si. Lub fighter Ameslikas los ntawm Guantanamo, Cuba dominated Delvin Rodriguez in June of last year and followed that up with a third-round stoppage of former champion Jan Zaveck.
Yug nyob rau hauv Armenia, tab sis sib ntaus sib tua tawm ntawm Glendale, California., Martirosyan sawv cev cov U.S. nyob rau ntawm lub 2004 Olympics. Raws li ib tug kws, he won his first 32 fights before fighting Lara to a draw in 2012. The 29-year-old suffered a narrow defeat by split decision in his first world title shot against Demetrius Andrade, but has rebounded with solid victories over Mario Lozano, Willie Nelson and most recently Ishe Smith.
A newly crowned champion at 25-years-old, Charlo grabbed his title with a dominant third-round stoppage of Cornelius Bundrage in September 2015. Nyob hauv Houston, Charlo ua li nws xav tau kev nyob rau hauv 2014 with dominant triumphs over Hector Munoz, Norberto Gonzale, Lenny Bottai and Michael Finney. Nyob rau hauv nws feem ntau tsis ntev los no kev mus ua si, he successfully defended his title with a fourth-round stoppage of Wilky Campfort in November.
Nyob rau hauv 2004, Trout won the U.S. Lub teb chaws Amateur welterweight championship thiab tom qab nce toj lub ibyam li ib tug neeg tseem ceeb pro boxer, nws yeej ib super welterweight ntiaj teb Championship nyob rau hauv 2011 los ntawm defeating Rigoberto Alvarez. He went on to make four successful defenses, including a career-best, dominant victory over Miguel Cotto in New York. He is currently on a four-fight win streak after knocking out Joey Hernandez in September to set up his world title opportunity.
Younger-by-one-minute than Jermall, Jermell Charlo is a highly ranked young fighter looking to get one step closer to a world title shot. Ib tug siab dav hlau tua rog rau nws faib, the 25-year-old earned his shot at a world title with victories over Gabriel Rosado, Charlie Ota and Mario Lozano in 2014 and Martirosyan and former world champion Joachim Alcine in 2015. He impressed last time out by disposing of Alcine in the sixth-round of their fight in Houston in October.
Since representing his native Virgin Islands in the 2008 Olympics, Jackson has put together an impressive pro career. Lub St. Thomas-born fighter won his initial 13 fights after making his debut in January 2009. The 27-year-old earned the No. 1 spot and the title shot with a shutout victory over Dennis Laurente in August. Jackson comes from a fighting family; his father Julian Jackson was a world champion and feared power-puncher while his brother, Julius, is a contender in the 168-pound weight class.
*via Transnational Boxing Rankings
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