CINCINNATI (Januari 24, 2017) -WBA Welterweight Champion David Avanesyan (22-1-1, 11 Kos) will defend his title against former two-time world champion Lamont Peterson (34-3-1, 17 Kos) in a 12-round matchup that serves as the co-main event of Showtime MÄSTERSKAP BOXNING Lördag, Februari 18 from the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Televised coverage on SHOWTIME begins at 9 p.m. OCH/6 p.m. PT with unbeaten light heavyweight contender “Sir” Marcus Browne (18-0, 13 Kos) meeting hard-hitting former title challenger Thomas “Högsta hönset” Williams Jr. (20-2, 14 Kos) in a 10-round showdown. The event is headlined by former four-division world champion Adrien Broner taking on hard-hitting contender Adrian Granados.

“It is a great pleasure for me to be defending my world title in the U.S. against a very good opponent in Lamont Peterson,” said Avanesyan. “I am the champion and come February 18 I will remain champion. This fight gives me a great opportunity to let the U.S. know what I’m about and put me in a position to fight the top fighters in the division. This will be a difficult defense but I am ready to show everyone how good I am.”

“I’m extremely excited about getting back in the ring and fighting on SHOWTIME again,” Said Peterson. “I’ve been working hard in the gym and I’m ready to give my fans the kind of show they deserve. I know this guy is coming in with a lot of confidence from that belt, but I believe I’m the better fighter and I’ll prove it on Februari 18.”

“I’m ready to go to work and fight,” Said Browne. “It doesn’t matter if I am the underdog; så var det. Let me be the underdog. I just want to beat this guy up. This is who I wanted to fight. I am fired up about this one and I can’t wait until Februari 18.”

“På Februari 18, I’m not leaving anything up to the judges,” sade Williams Jr. “I think Marcus has gotten some gifts in the past, so I’m not leaving this up to anyone but myself. I wanted to stay in the mix. I don’t need a tune-up. I’ve been fighting since I was five-years-old. I just need to get in there and fight. I think this is going to be a really good battle.”

Biljetter för live-event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with TGB Promotions and K1 Boxing, är prissatta på $250, $100, $75, $50 och $30, exklusive tillämpliga avgifter, och finns det erbjudanden nu. Biljetter kan köpas online på www.ticketmaster.com eller genom att ringa 1-800-745-3000.

Fighting out of Russia, Avanesyan defended his interim world title in his last outing when he defeated former three-division world champion Shane Mosley by unanimous decision last Maj. Den 28-year-old is undefeated in his last 22 pro fights since dropping a six-round decision in his second pro fight. Avanesyan picked up his interim belt with a ninth-round stoppage of Charlie Navarro in November of 2015.

Upptäcktes som ett barn med tränare Barry Hunter medan hemlösa på gatan med sin bror Anthony, Peterson har en av de bästa trasor till rikedom berättelser i sporten. En pro sedan 2004, han äger segrar över Victor Manuel Cayo, Kendall Holt och Dierry Jean förutom världsmästartiteln vinnande prestanda mot Amir Khan, som han framgångsrikt försvarade tre gånger. The Washington, D.C. native defeated previously unbeaten Felix Diaz in his last outing in October 2015.

The 29-year-old Williams returns to the ring after dropping an exciting contest to light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in July. Williams earned his title shot after dominant second-round stoppages of Umberto Savigne and former title challenger Edwin Rodriguez. Fort Washington, Maryland-native was introduced to boxing by his father, a former pro fighter and he will look to start his path back to world title contention with a win on Februari 18.

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