SAN ANTONIO (Desember 14, 2017) – Onoorwonne drie-afdeling wêreldkampioen Mikey Garcia will attempt to win a world title in a fourth weight class when he challenges unbeaten IBF 140-pound world champion Sergey Lipinets op Saterdag, Februarie 10 woon op Showtime. The matchup of top-5 ranked junior welterweights will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and is presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Twee-afdeling wêreldkampioen Rances Barthelemy sal in die gesig staar Kiryl Relikh in a rematch of their May showdown on SHOWTIME, hierdie tyd vir die vakante WBA 140-pond wêreldtitel. Die doubleheader van titel aanvalle in die wye oop 140-pond afdeling stel die stadium vir 'n potensiële eenwording wedstryd.

Kaartjies vir die geleentheid, wat bevorder word deur Ringstar Sport en TGB Promotions, word geprys teen $250, $75, $50 en $20. Tickets will go on sale next week and will be available at Ticketmaster.com.

Die 29-jarige Garcia (37-0, 30 Uitklophoue), uitdruklik teruggekeer na pond-vir-pond lyste in 2017 deur scoring 'n hoogtepunt reel uitklophou van Dejan Zlaticanin om die WBC liggewig Wêreldbeker te wen in Januarie en dan oorheers vier-afdeling kampioen Adrien Broner op sy pad na 'n eenparige besluit in Julie. Garcia is 'n lid van 'n bekende boks familie, en is bekend vir sy sportmangees en sy bevelvoerder teenwoordigheid in die ring, geslyp deur sy broer en bekroonde afrigter Robert Garcia.

Garcia, van Moreno Valley by wyse van Oxnard, Kalifornië., terug na die ring na 'n twee-en-half-jaar layoff in Julie 2016 sonder dat daar 'n klop deur te stop die voormalige kampioen, Elio Rojas. Garcia, wat wêreldtitels het gehou by 126, 130 en 135 pond, gestop 19 van sy laaste 22 teenstanders insluitend Romeinse “Rocky” Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez en Orlando Salido.

“It is a dream to have the opportunity to become a four-division worldchampion,” Garcia said. “San Antonio has some of the greatest boxing fans in the country, including some key supporters of my Robert Garcia Boxing Academy family. Since my last fight, I have stayed in the gym. I can’t wait to give the fans in Texas and those watching at home on SHOWTIME another great performance.”

Die onoorwonne Lipinets (13-0, 10 Uitklophoue) vasgevang n super liggewig wêreld titel in net sy 13^ste pro stryd deur die verslaan Akihiro Kondo via 'n eenparige besluit op November 4 op Showtime. Hy is oorspronklik van Namibia maar verskuif na Rusland toe hy ses jaar oud was. Hy woon tans in Beverly Hills, Kalifornië, Lipinets en is opgelei deur Buddy McGirt.

Die 28-jarige het die 140-pond ranglys met oorwinnings oor dan onoorwonne Haskell Rhodes, Levan Ghvamichava en Walter Castillo voor klop Leonardo Zappavigna in 'n wêreldtitel eliminator Desember verlede jaar. Lipinets will look to stamp his place as an elite fighter when he takes on the accomplished and dangerous Garcia on Februarie 10.

“Getting the title is one thing, but keeping the title is a more difficult task,” said Lipinets. “I’m not about to give it away to anybody. No disrespect to Mikey Garcia or anybody else out there, but I’m keeping my title. Beating Mikey Garcia will put me in the elite of boxing where I believe I belong. I’m happy my team was able to put this great fight together. I can promise you this won’t be a snoozer. It’s going to be an action-packed fight for sure.”

“We’re going to call it’ ‘Undefeated.’ That pretty much sums it up. Two undefeated fighters, champion versus champion,” said Richard Schaefer, Voorsitter & Uitvoerende hoof van Ringstar Sport. “It’s a big challenge for Mikey Garcia to win a championship belt in his fourth weight class. Lipinets never backs down and he’s out to show that’s he one of the biggest punchers in the division. A win for Lipinets is a game-changer for his family and his career. A win for Mikey is another feather in his cap and will help him be recognized as pound-for-pound best in the world. I’m happy to be back in San Antonio at the Alamodome. I’ve promoted some big fights there. San Antonio fight fans are in for a real treat seeing two of the best fighting each other. I’m sure the fans will embrace this fight.”

“We have another intriguing matchup of two young, hungry undefeated fighters who lay it on the line every time they step into the ring,” sê Tom Brown, President van TGB Promotions. “As talented as Mikey is, you can’t count Lipinets out. He’s one of the hardest hitters in the 140-pound division. He’s a tough competitor and there’s a reason why he’s a world champion. He knows this is a career-defining fight and he’s going to do everything he can to spoil the party for Garcia in San Antonio on Feb. 10.”

“In three consecutive fights on SHOWTIME since his return to the sport, Mikey Garcia has solidified his position on boxing’s pound-for-pound lists,” sê Stephen Espinoza, Uitvoerende vise-president en Algemene Bestuurder, Showtime Sport. “Mikey has proven he’s willing to take on the most avoided opponents in any division as he seeks out the biggest possible matchups in the sport. He’ll face yet another dangerous opponent in Sergey Lipinets, an undefeated champion in his own right, as he seeks to become a four-division world champion. On the heels of Errol Spence vs. Lamont Peterson on Januarie 20, a matchup of consensus top-10 welterweights, we’re proud to deliver this main event of top-5 ranked fighters to build on the momentum.”

Barthelemy (26-0, 13 Uitklophoue), who was born in Arroyo Naranjo, Cuba and now lives in Las Vegas, has won world titles at 130 en 135 pond. He defeated Relikh by unanimous decision in his debut at 140 pound in his last fight on Mei 20. If he defeats Relikh again, he will become the first Cuban boxer to win world championships in three different weight classes. He defeated Argenis Mendez by unanimous decision to win the 130-pound world title in 2014 and a year later scored a unanimous decision over Denis Shafikov for the 135-pound world title. Barthelemy, 31, has two brothers, Yan and Leduan, who are professional boxers who he trains alongside with under the tutelage of Ismael Salas.

Relikh (21-2, 19 Uitklophoue) believes that he won the first match with Barthelemy and that the scorecards did not reflect the competitive nature of the fight. The 28-year-old nearly had Barthelemy out after landing a barrage of punches that penned Barthelemy on the ropes, but he was only awarded a knockdown. In the eighth round, Barthelemy came back to drop Relikh with a body shot. Shortly after the Mei 20 title eliminator, the WBA ordered a rematch, this time to be contested for the vacant 140-pound title. This will be Relikh’s second world title shot after the fighter from Minsk, Belarus lost a unanimous decision to Ricky Burns in Glasgow, Scotland on Oct. 7, 2016.