Tag Archives: WBO

WBO light flyweight champion Tito Acosta to showcase skills & build his legacy vs. Carlos Buitrago

       
La Batalla
TITO ACOSTA vs. CARLOS BUITRAGO
WBO World Light Flyweight Championship

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
Coliseo de Puerto Rico * Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

LIVE ON PPV – 9
pm ET / 6 pm PT
La Batalla, June 16
Live on PPV from Puerto Rico

Tito Acosta (R) puts his opponents to sleep

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (May 10, 2018) – World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will showcase his vast skills June 16 in his first title defense against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago in the “La Batalla” 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

 

 

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

Integrated Sports Media will distribute theLa Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

Building his own legacy in a traditionally rich, hot-bed for boxing like Puerto Rico, Acosta (17-1, 17 KOs) captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out Juan Alejo (24-4-1), of Mexico, in the 10th round.

An outstanding amateur boxer with more than 180 matches, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games,), the San Juan-based fighter has defeated 22-5Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), and 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).

“My goal is to be the best,” Acosta said. “I grew-up watching Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, who are my favorite fighters. I will work as hard as I can to give the best to my family, as well as make my island proud. I will win on June 16th and let the world know that I am the best 108-pound boxer in the world.”

Having a future Hall of Famer such as Cotto as his promoter is a tremendous advantage, in and out of the ring, for Acosta. “It means a lot and is an honor for me to have a living legend like Miguel Cotto as my promoter,” Acosta explained. “He has guided my career the best way. He also gets involved in my camp and wants me to get better and better every fight.”

“Tito Acosta is a really good fighter,” Cotto commented about his protégé. “He is World Champion for a reason. We will work to give him the best opportunities. Tito has an opportunity to show the world on June 16th what he is made of and who he is. As World Champion, he needs to be at the highest level to have a brilliant performance each fight, because the better performances and victories, the bigger name he will build.”

“It is important for a fighter to do his job in the ring because every performance is a unique opportunity to show the world who you are and at what level you belong. People in Puerto Rico love boxing, and its fighters.”

WBA #2-rated Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs) will be fighting in his fifth world title fight, after losing three times with one draw. He was stopped for the first time in his last fight this past December, by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0), in the eighth round of their title fight in Japan.

All three of Buitrago’s career losses have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) in 2016 and 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then-WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Philippines.

“Chris Buitrago is a great fighter and tough challenger, who has the highest level of experience, and that motivates me,” Acosta spoke about his Nicaraguan opponent. “People want to watch a toe-to-toe brawl and he brings that style. I think he will brawl with me, but I’ll be ready for any style he brings June 16th.

“I work for the KO (he has 17 knockouts in his 17 wins) because that’s what fans like. I work for that every fight and I will win June 16th by knockout!”

Additional June 16th PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

PROMO VIDEO:

ENGLISH:

 

SPANISH:

 

INFORMATION:

www.promocionesmiguelcottowww.integratedsportsnet.comwww.directvpr.comwww.fite.tv

Twitter: @CottoPromotions, @Directvpr, @IntegratedPPV, @FiteTV

Germany, United States and Latvia Play Host to WBO Bouts

 

 

 

The World Boxing Organization (WBO), chaired by Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, will celebrate five interesting title fights; two of which are for world championships. The bouts will take place this Saturday, May 12.

 

 

 

Brooklyn native Saddam “World Kid” Ali (26-1, 14 KO’s), coming off the most important victory of his career against legendary Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto, makes the first defense of his WBO junior middleweight world title, when he faces the dangerous Mexican Jaime Munguía (28-0, 24 KO’s). The fight will take place at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. The fight will be televised live on HBO at 10:00 p.m. ET.

 

 

 

“We will have a lot of activity this Saturday from the WBO. You have to pay close attention to the performance of the huge puncher Jaime Munguía, who will face a good attacker like Ali. It’s going to be a classic fight of puncher against a boxer. If Munguía wins, he would be placed on a select list of great Mexican boxers who have been world champions at or before 21 years of age”, said Valcárcel.

 

 

 

In Augsburg, Germany, women’s boxing takes the stage when the popular former world champion Nikki Adler (16-1, 9 KO’s) of Germany and the world contender Femke Hermans (6-1, 3 KO’s) of Belgium, face each other for the vacant WBO world belt of the super middleweight division. The fight will be in the Eisstadion in Augsburg.

 

 

 

“We remain committed and supportive of women’s boxing. Germany is no exception. This great fight has the community looking on because there is a world title at stake and the fight will be liked by the public”, said Valcárcel.

 

In Latvia, three WBO International titles will be in play in 12-round duels in an evening at the Riga Arena. For the vacant International junior middleweight belt, the 13th ranked Ismail Iliev (10-0-1, 3 KO’s) of Nazran, Russia will face Konstantin Ponomarev (33-0, 13 KO’s) of Miass, Russia.

 

 

 

Also, the WBO International Lightweight Champion and 5th ranked Isa Chaniev (12-1, 6 KO’s) of Nazran, Russia, will defend his title against the strong Venezuelan puncher, Ismael Barroso (20-1-2, 19 KO’s).

 

 

 

For the vacant middleweight WBO International belt, Artur Akavov (18-2, 12 KO’s) from Russia, will face against Argentina’s Gonzalo Coria (12-1, 5 KO’s).

 

 

 

“We are making a presence in eastern Europe. This time, it was Latvia’s turn to have boxers who are already ranked in the top positions of the WBO and for the rest of the year, could be fighting for world titles”, expressed Varcárcel.

 

WBO light flyweight champion Tito Acosta to make 1st title defense vs. Carlos Buitrago

       
La Batalla
TITO ACOSTA vs. CARLOS BUITRAGO
WBO World Light Flyweight Championship

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2018
Coliseo de Puerto Rico * Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

LIVE ON PPV – 9
pm ET / 6 pm PT
 
La Batalla, June 16
Live on PPV from Puerto Rico

(L-R) – Eduardo Cajina (Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center), WBO light flyweight world champion
Tito Acosta, and promoter Miguel Cotto

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (April 30, 2018) — Miguel Cotto Promotions hosted a press conference earlier today to announce World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will make his first title defense at home on June 16 against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago in the “La Batalla” 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

 

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

 

 

 

“Tito Acosta is that fighter you can’t blink your eyes,” promoter Miguel Cotto said. “He brings excitement to every fight and power to finish in any second. This fight against Carlos Buitrago will be fireworks from the opening bell.”

 

 

 

 

Acosta (17-1, 17 KOs), fighting out of San Juan, Puerto Rico., captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out his Mexican challenger, Juan Alejo (24-4-1), in the 10th round.

 

 

 

 

A standout amateur boxer with more than 180 matches, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games, is a past WBO Latino and World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion. His most notable victories have been against 22-5 Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), and 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).

 

 

 

“Buitrago says that his dream is to become the world champion, to that I say, keep on dreaming,” Acosta said.  “I’m not underestimating him, but this will be my night, not his.”

 

 

 

Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs), 26, is currently world rated at No. 12 by the WBO. The Managua-native will be fighting in his fifth world title fight having lost three times with one draw. In his last match this past December, he was stopped for the first time in the eighth round by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0) in Japan.

 

 

 

In fact, all three of Buitrago’s career losses as a professional have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) in 2016 and 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Philippines.

 

 

 

“I will enter the ring in the best shape of my life with one objective in sight: to fulfill my dream of becoming the world champion and give my country a historic win,” Buitrago commented.  “The battle is on and I hope to come out victorious.”

 

 

 

Additional June 16th PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

 

www.promocionesmiguelcottowww.integratedsportsnet.comwww.directvpr.comwww.fite.tv

 

 

 

Twitter: @CottoPromotions, @Directvpr, @IntegratedPPV, @FiteTV

Lenin Castillo grabs WBO Gold in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Ponce, Puerto Rico – Former Dominican Olympian Lenin Castillo (18-1-1, 13 KO’s) won the WBO/NABO vacant light heavyweight title in impressive fashion. Castillo defeated Aaron “Homicide” Mitchell (27-3-1, 21 KO’s) of Florida by way of technical knockout in the 10th and final round.

 

 

 

 

As a result of the victory, Castillo will now be ranked among the best 175 pound fighters in the WBO.

 

 

 

 

The fight was televised by DIRECTV PR as part of a card promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions at the Complejo Ferial, Ponce, PR.

 

 

 

 

“I am very grateful to my manager Raúl Pastrana from Spartan Boxing Club, Miguel Cotto Promotions and the WBO for making this fight possible with an important title at stake that will place me among the best fighters of my weight,” said Castillo, “This victory is for my Dominican people, my dad, my mom and also for the Puerto Ricans who made me feel at home since I arrived on the island for the fight”.

 

 

 

 

“I prepared myself to the max and these are the results of working hard in the gym. Since I landed a good shot at Mitchell, he decided to survive the whole fight and did not let me use everything I had saved for him. But the important thing was that we won all the rounds without losing concentration”, expressed Castillo, who was training in Florida under the supervision of Maury Ramos of KMJ with the assistance of Chiro Pérez from 5th St Gym.

Former Olympian Lenin Castillo inks with Spartan Boxing Club

Former Olympian Lenin Castillo (17-1-1, 12 KO’s) from the Dominican Republic has signed with new Puerto Rican management company, Spartan Boxing Club, on his mission to be part of the big stages in boxing.

 

 

 

 

Spartan Boxing Club President Raul Pastrana stated that “We are already planning to put Castillo on April 7 card in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Angel Acosta will defend his WBO world title, and we are currently in the process of looking for a quality opponent together with a regional title to rank Castillo in the top positions in order to get a greater fight by the end of the year”.

 

 

 

 

“I signed with Spartan Boxing because they have an incredible platform and a work plan that I understand will be effective for my long-term career. I’m crazy to get back the ring to show that I deserve to be on the big stages and what better way to start this new path in front of my dear Puerto Rican people whom make me feel at home every time I go there” said Castillo who at the amateur boxing level won gold medals at the Jr. Pan American Games and José ‘Cheo’ Aponte International Tournament, and competed at the Olympic Games at welterweight category in Beijing, China.

 

 

 

 

In his last fight, held in the month of November at the Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo, Castillo defeated by brutal knockout in the first round over power puncher, Andy Perez (20-7, 19 KO’s).

 

 

 

 

Spartan Boxing Club is composed of the decorated fighters: Super Bantamweight Yenifel Vicente (31-3-2, 23 KO) of the Dominican Republic who is ranked in the WBO & WBC, former members of the Puerto Rican National Amateur Boxing Team: Bernard ‘Bimbo’ Lebrón (9-0, 4KO’s), John ‘La Bestia’ Correa (3-0, 3KO’s) and Wilfredo ‘Bimbito’ Méndez (9-0, 4KO’s), among others boxers.

COMBATE AMERICAS SIGNS FIRST-EVER, FIVE-DIVISION WORLD BOXING CHAMPION AMANDA SERRANO

Five-division world boxing champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano has signed an exclusive, multi-year promotional agreement with Combate Americas, and is slated to make her MMA debut in March.

  

Pound-for-pound boxing phenom set to make her much-anticipated
MMA debut for world’s premier Hispanic MMA sports franchise

 

 

NEW YORK – January 11, 2018  – Combate Americas today announced the signing of five-division world boxing champion, including reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight (118 pounds) champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (Boxing: 34-1-1, 26 KO’s; MMA: 0-0) to an exclusive, multi-year promotional agreement.

 

 

The only female fighter in history as well as the only Puerto Rican competitor ever to win five world titles in five different weight divisions, the 29-year-old Serrano who was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico and fights out of Brooklyn, N.Y., will make her Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) debut in La Jaula, the Combate Americas cage, on a March date to be announced soon.

 

 

“We are excited to bring Amanda Serrano, one of boxing’s most exciting superstars into the Combate Americas familia, and look forward to placing her on a global stage that is the premier sports property in 21 Spanish speaking countries worldwide,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.

 

 

Serrano, a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter, will continue her burgeoning boxing career under the promotion of DiBella Entertainment, and attempt to become the first athlete in history to simultaneously hold world titles in MMA and boxing.

 

 

Serrano captured her first major world title, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight crown, at just 22 years old, with a brutal, second-round knockout of Kimberly Connor on September 10, 2011.

 

 

She has since torn through the ranks of fighters in four other weight divisions, ranging from bantamweight to lightweight (135 pounds), and most recently scored a first round TKO on Marilyn Hernandez on November 4, 2017.

 

 

Serrano was inspired to cross over to the world of MMA by retired world champion Miesha Tate, who has since become Serrano’s co-manager.

 

 

Combate Americas is coming off a banner year, producing remarkable television ratings in the U.S., Mexico and Spain, including the first two Telemundo MMA events in history that generated the highest ratings of any Spanish language MMA shows in the U.S. in the summer and fall of 2017, and as many as 6.9 million viewers for one episode of its weekly television series on TV Azteca in Mexico.

King’s Promotions signs former world title challenger José “Chelo” González to a promotional contract  

Reading, PA (December 27, 2017) – King’s Promotions is pleased to announce the signing of former world title challenger José “Chelo” González to a promotional contract.
González, 34 of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico has a record of 24-2 with 19 knockouts.
González won his first 19 bouts with wins over Osenohan Vázquez (1-0), Eric Cruz (5-1-2), Hector Marengo (5-0-4) & Edgardo Soto (12-2). 
On June 3, 2011, González won the WBO Latino Lightweight title with a 6th round stoppage over Gerardo Cuevas.
González made five successful defenses before challenging WBO Lightweight world champion Ricky Burns on May 11, 2013.
González was dominating that bout and well on his way to becoming a world champion before injuring his wrist and retiring from the bout after the 10th round.
González rebounded by re-winning the WBO Latino Lightweight title and defending it with a 5th round stoppage over Marvin Quintero (26-5).
González will be looking to come back after a two-and-a-half year layoff.
González stated: “I am very happy with this new chapter in my career.  I am returning to the ring with plenty of excitement and with the same dedication I have always had.  I thank Marshall and King’s Promotions for the opportunity and I have no doubt that together we will return to a world title.”
“We are excited to bring Jose into the fold.  He is a world championship caliber fighter, and is a terrific addition to King’s Promotions.  We are looking to make his debut in early March, and if he performs we can see very big opportunities in his future,” said King’s Promotions CEO Marshall Kauffman.
For more information and media credentials, Contact:

 Salita Promotions Signs Women’s Superstar Christina Hammer to Multi-Fight Promotional Contract

Promoter Dmitriy Salita proudly announces the signing of undefeated women’s unified world middleweight champion Christina Hammer to a multi-fight promotional contract.
Already a superstar in Europe, “Lady Hammer” (22-0, 10 KOs), from Dortmund, Germany, (via Novodolinka, Kazakhstan) is the current WBC and WBO Middleweight Champion. She has also previously held the WBF Middleweight, as well as WBO and WBF Super Middleweight Championships.
Under Salita’s promotional direction, Hammer will make her United States boxing debut on Friday, January 12, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, on the non-televised undercard of a ShoBox: The New Generation telecast (10 p.m. ET/PT), featuring unified Women’s Super Middleweight World Champion Claressa Shields’ WBC and IBF title defense against mandatory challenger Tori Nelson. Hammer is scheduled for a 10-round fight, highlights of which will be shown on SHOWTIME.
“I never had any doubt that my manager Harald Pia and I would reach an agreement,” said a happy Hammer of the signing. “I love the U.S.,” she continued. “If you are successful here, you will be successful everywhere. Since the beginning of my boxing career it has been a dream of mine to fight in the U.S.. I can’t wait for January 12.”
Hammer joins the Salita Promotions roster that also includes women’s superstar, unified super middleweight champion and two-time gold medalist Claressa Shields, as well as world, European (2X) and Russian (6X) amateur champion and 2012 Olympian, Elena Savelyeva.
“Christina has all the tools to become a star in the U.S.,” said Dmitriy Salita. “Her skills, personality and appeal outside the ring make Christina a unique and special fighter in the talent-filled middleweight division. I believe 2018 is going to be a historic year for women’s boxing all over the world.”
Hammer is a technically outstanding boxer, but her outstanding physical strength is what separates her from the rest of the world’s 160-pound fighters. She was voted WBF Female Fighter of the Year in 2011 and 2013; the WBO Female Fighter of the Year in 2013; the BDB Female Boxer of the Year in 2016; the HERQUL Female Boxer of the Year in 2017 and is the only woman in Europe to earn the Diamond Ring of the WBO.
“It is always a pleasure to work with highly professional partners,” said manager Pia of the deal. “I’m confident we have a contract that is good for all parties. Christina is very happy to be fighting in the U.S. It is a dream of hers to be successful over here and she can’t wait to show the U.S. public who Christina Hammer is!”
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are currently on sale for $75 for the first two rows of ringside, $65 for remaining ringside seats and all others priced at $49 and $37, plus any applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased in person or by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 800.771.7711 or online at Ticketmaster.
In the telecast opener Uzbekistan power-puncher Shohjahon Ergashev (11-0, 11 KOs) will face fellow undefeated and top-10 ranked Sonny Fredrickson (18-0, 12 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio. In the co-feature, Jesse Hernandez (10-1, 7 KOs) will take on Ernesto Garza (9-2, 5 KOs; 1-3 WSB) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout.

Can Saunders Secure His Most Impressive Win to Date Over Lemieux?

Billy Joe Saunders will take to the ring on December 16 in Canada as the reigning and defending WBO middleweight champion, being the proud owner of a belt which he won way back in December 2015 when defeating fellow traveller Andy Lee. 

 

But since outpointing Irishman Lee with a majority decision success to become world champion at the Manchester Arena, Saunders has only defended it on two occasions, with unanimous decision triumphs over Artur Akavov and Willie Monroe Jr., more recently. 

 

Against game Russian Akavov, the undefeated world title holder was far from impressive and perhaps even lucky to get such a comfortable decision in the end at the Lagoon Leisure Centre on Scottish soil. The win over American challenger Monroe Jr was a lot better, having then undertaken Dominic Ingle as his newest coach. 

 

But the latter bout was still a drab affair and did nothing to further or boost Saunders’ appeal to a broader audience, as he outworked the New York-born southpaw quite comfortably. For most of the title defence, he was barely made to work at all, with Monroe having come in with a bizarrely inefficient gameplan. 

 

However, the 28-year-old will next face undoubtedly his toughest career test to date against former 160lbs champion David Lemieux, a far more serious challenge than an inexperienced and youthful Chris Eubank Jr, an indifferent Andy Lee and the far from threatening Willy Monroe Junior.

 

Hard-hitting Canadian Lemieux will enter the ring ropes as the evens outsider in the latest boxing odds to prevail on home territory, a promising price for a fighter on a strong surge of victories of late. Since being viciously stopped in a gallant showing against the division kingpin Gennady Golovkin in October 2015, the 28-year-old has earned four consecutive wins, including two big knockouts of Glen Tapia and Curtis Stevens. 


Of all the opponents Saunders has gone toe to toe with to date, none have possessed the punching power of Lemieux, and that could be a decisive factor come fight night. The latter home hope is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy, who are seemingly keen to match the Canadian up with main cash cow Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez next year, rather than throw him in with ‘GGG’ once again in a highly awaited rematch. 

 

Despite being the favourite to prevail and maintain his unbeaten record on what will be his maiden venture outside of the UK in his professional career, it seems the odds are actually stacked against Saunders for this latest encounter.

 

It has been evident, too, that Saunders doesn’t boast the massive power capable of keeping a fleet-footed Lemieux away from the danger areas throughout their match-up. Knockout artist Lemieux produced what could eventually be voted stoppage of the year back in March when he brutally put Stevens’ lights out in New York City.

 

Could another vicious stoppage success be on the cards on home soil? It’s up to Saunders and Ingle to execute their upcoming gameplan perfectly to secure what would be a highly impressive victory on the road, but it looks likely of being a truly testing night in Quebec. 

Potapov Ready for Battle Against Narvaez This Saturday in Argentina

WBO #2-ranked Russian bantamweight Nikolai Potapov is in Detroit, finalizing preparations for his long-awaited showdown with WBO #1-ranked Omar Narvaez of Argentina.
The pair will meet for a 12-round showdown this Saturday, October 14, at Estadio Obras Sanitarias in Buenos Aires and live on Argentina TyC Sports.
27-year-old Potapov (17-0, 8 KOs) hails from Podolsk, Russia, but travels to Detroit before fights, to work with well-respected trainer and nephew of Emanuel Steward, Javan SugarHill.
“I had an intense training camp in Detroit with Sugar Hill Stewart,” said Potapov. “This is our second camp together and I feel like I am getting better everyday.”
Defeating the former WBO World Flyweight and Super Flyweight Champion Narvaez (46-2-2, 24 KOs) will not be easy for Potapov. The tough southpaw won his first world championship 15 years ago and remains one of the world’s best. “I look forward to making a statement in the Narvaez fight and taking a step closer to a world title,” continued Potapov.

“Nikolai is one of the best bantamweights in the world,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “A win over a top fighter a former world champion like Narvaez will put the division on notice.  Nikolai is coming to make a name for himself on October 14.”