HARTFORD (Ka 11, 2015) – Rising junior featherweight star Luis “KO Morena” Rosa (19-0, 9 Kos) plans to graduate from top prospect to legitimate contender ena Labohlano (Ka 15) ka ESPN LabohlanoBosiu ho loana ka, presented by 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions le DiBella Entertainment, kamanong le Universal Promotions, close to his New Haven home at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

 

A native of Puerto Rico, the 24-year-old Rosa takes on Colombian veteran Jonathan “Popeye” Perez (33-10, 17 Kos) in the 8-round ESPN2 co-feature.

 

Headlining the card will be undefeated Puerto Rican lightweight Reynaldo Ojeda (16-0, 9 Kos) against longtime contender Monty Meza Clay (36-4, 22 Kos) ka 10 ho pota ka sehloohong ketsahalo.

 

Live coverage will begin at 9 p.m. LE on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, li-smartphone, matlapa a, Amazon Mollo TV le Mollo TV Stick, Mela TV, Chromecast, Selemo, Bauplatten 360 le Xbox e mong o hoketse ka affiliated mofani wa video ya. Holim'a moo, ESPN’ Bosiu ho loana ka will carry the fights live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.

 

The popular Rosa, who is world rated at No. 15 ke ea Lefatše Boxing Association (WBA) le Ha ho. 16 ke ea Lefatše Boxing Lekgotla la (WBC), has prepared for a breakout performance in front of a large ESPN Labohlano Night ho loana ka viewing audience.

 

“Sena ke e khōlō loanela 'na,” Rosa said. “It’s great fighting on ESPN and I’m going to show the nation what I’m all about. I’m prepared to put on an explosive show. I feel that I’m close to getting a title shot. I want to fight world-class opponents and I plan to prove I’m ready ka labohlano bosiu.

 

“It’s always great fighting in my home state and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fans there. Ha a le qetellong ea letsatsi le, leha ho le joalo, I’m going to get the job done and it doesn’t matter where the fight would be held.”

 

Perez, 28, a professional fighter since 2005, o hlōla 14 ea hae ea ho qetela 15 lipheletsong. The battle-tested Colombian has fought the likes of world champions Cristian Mijares, Abnere Mares, Jose Lopez, Martin Castillo, Eric Ortiz le Raul Martinez, as well a world title challenger Jesus Jimenez.

 

“Perez is a veteran with 44 lan lintoa,” said Rosa about Perez. “He’s fought a lot of world-class guys and champions. I know he’s coming to fight. He’s going to come forward and he wants to bang. He’s strong, I’m stronger. I’m faster, le eena o, and the better all-around fighter. I’ll be ready for whatever he brings.”

Live coverage will begin at 9 p.m. LE on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, li-smartphone, matlapa a, Amazon Mollo TV le Mollo TV Stick, Mela TV, Chromecast, Selemo, Bauplatten 360 le Xbox e mong o hoketse ka affiliated mofani wa video ya. Holim'a moo, ESPN’ Bosiu ho loana ka will carry the fights live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.

 

Fighting on the undercard are a pair of promising foreign boxers who are now living in the United States, as well as several New England and New York City favorites.

 

Undefeated Ukrainian middleweight Ivan Golub (7-0, 5 Kos), ho loantša ho tsoa Brooklyn, meets fellow Ukrainian Kostyantyn Rovenskyy (18-1-2, 5 Kos) a a tseletseng ho pota gia. Kazakh super middleweightDauren Yeleussinov (1-0), also living in Brooklyn, kopana le Jay “JD” Williams (3-6), of Louisiana, in a scheduled six-rounder.

 

Also slated to fight in six-round bouts on the undercard are unbeaten New Haven light heavyweightCharles Foster (7-0, 3 Kos) facing Woonsocket, RI, lireng Joe Gardner (11-7-1, 1 KO) and undefeated Bronx middleweight Chris Galeano (7-0) taking on Las Vegas’ upset-minded Yosmani Abreu (4-8-2).

 

Three four-round matches are also on tap with Waterbury, CT, boraro welterweight Jair Ramos (3-2-1, 2 Kos) vs.. Harlem ea Curtis Morton (3-4-2), Miami lightweight Alberto Candeleria (4-2-1, 3 Kos) vs.. Brooklyn ea Ian James (3-11-1, 1 KO), and New Haven junior lightweight William Foster III (1-0) vs.. TBA.

Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $100, $65 le $35 (garena ho tshwanetseng lekhetho). Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (860) 728-2624 kapa 1 (203) 627-7472. Mamati a butsweng ka 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m. LE.