LOS ANGELES (April 7) – The sure-fire ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate between former World Champions Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse and “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov, just got more exciting as world class prospects got added to the non-televised undercard of the split site doubleheader live on HBO Boxing After Dark ® on Saturday, April 18 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.
In the non-televised co-main event of the night, exciting undefeated Brazilian prospect Patrick Teixeira (24-0, 20 KOs) will compete in a 10-round super welterweight bout against the hard-punching contender Patrick Allotey (30-1, 24 KOs) of Accra, Ghana. Next, Tuapse, Russia’s Fedor “Knockout Man” Papazov (16-1-0, 10 KOs) will fight in an eight-round lightweight match. Washington, D.C.’s standout undefeated fighter, Lamont Roach Jr. (6-0, 3 KOs) is scheduled to fight in a six-round lightweight fight. Vitor Jones De Olivera (8-0, 5 KO’s) of Salvador, Brazil will face Guillermo Sanchez (15-14-1, 6 KOs) of Buffalo, New York in a six-round lightweight bout. Also, from New York, Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez (17-1, 10 KOs) of the Bronx, is scheduled for a 10-round super welterweight bout against Jonathan Batista (14-5, 7 KOs) of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Opening up the night, Vitaly Kopylenko(24-1-0, 14 KOs) of Kiev, Ukraine, will take on Lekan “Lucky 13” Byfield (6-7-2, 1 KOs) of Atlanta, Georgia, in an eight-round middleweight fight.
Due to the unprecedented demand to see this surefire “Fight of the Year” candidate ringside seats sold out in only 15 minutes – and the entire event is now near sellout with Turning Stone Resort Casino releasing the last group of tickets in the $35 and $25 price range. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Turning Stone Resort Box Office at 315-361-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.com.
A professional since 2009, the 24-year old Patrick Teixeira, wants to follow in the steps of the Brazilian three time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas and write his own story by conquering world titles in his career. Most recently, Teixeira beat Ulises David Lopez for the WBO Latino Super Welterweight title knocking Lopez down on the second round and winning the fight by knockout in the third round. In 2012, the young Brazilian star began to turn heads when he traveled to Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and defeated Omar Vasquez via eighth round technical knockout. Now, Teixeira is intent on conquering the super welterweight division and becoming a world champion.
Welterweight contender Patrick Allotey, of Accra, Ghana is a tough fighter who has kept his undefeated status since his professional debut in 2007 until his most recent bout against Charles Manyuchi in March 2014 for the WBC International Welterweight Title. Along his professional journey and his impressive record of 30-1, 24, the hard puncher has won and defended the WBC International Silver Welterweight Title and will be looking for redemption when he faces the tough Patrick Teixeira on April 18.
Tuapse, Russia’s Fedor “Knockout Man” Papazov, is looking to make an impression in his first fight of 2015 on April 18. An exciting fighter since his professional debut in 2009, Papazov had a five-year undefeated streak until he faced eventual Boxcino 2014 lightweight champion Petr Petrov in February of 2014. Since then the Russian fighter has had two straight wins, a technical knockout win over Miguel Angel Mendoza and a unanimous victory over Felix Lora.
Undefeated newcomer, Lamont Roach Jr. is quickly becoming an exciting one-to-watch in the boxing community. Hailing from Washington D.C., Roach Jr, scored a knockdown and dominating a four-round decision over Puerto Rico’s Alexander Charneco in his Dec 6. bout. In January 20, the east coast native started off the year with an exciting fourth round technical knockout win over Herbert Quartey. Now, the 19-year-old is looking to continue his winning streak when he fights on April 18.
Exciting newcomer, Vitor Jones De Olivera of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil has remained undefeated since his professional debut in 2012. He is the nephew of former five-time world champion and Brazilian legend, Acelino “Popo” Freitas. De Olivera will be making his second appearance at Turning Stone Resort Casino when he faces Guillermo Sanchez on April 18. De Olivera was last seen at the resort in January when he met Michael Doyle, winning the bout via first round knockout.
At just 26-years-old, Guillermo Sanchez has already accumulated a total of 30 fights in his short career. Turning professional in 2007 the fighter quickly made a name for himself in the sport, winning most of his bouts via knockout and keeping his undefeated status until 2009. 2015 has already turned into a busy year for the lightweight contender, facing Michael Doyle in January winning the bout via unanimous decision and winning his second fight of the year via first round knockout against Pablo Batres in February. The fighter will be looking to continue his winning streak onApril 18 when he goes up against the undefeated Vitor Jones De Olivera.
22-year-old Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez is a hungry fighter, eager to not just get the victory, but to do it in spectacular fashion. With a 17-1 record which includes victories over previously unbeaten Daquan Arnett, Terrell Gausham Luis Arias and Daquan Arnett. Most recently, Gomez faced James Winchester at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and won the bout via unanimous decision. Now the fighter is looking to continue his winning streak when he faces Jonathan Batista on April 18.
Dominican Republic native, Jonathan Batista has had an impressive career since he turned professional in 2010. Winning every bout from 2010 to 2013 the fighter is will be looking to add a victory when he faces Eddie Gomez at Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Vitaliy Kopylenko is an exciting fighter out of Kiev, Ukraine who has been making a name for himself in the middleweight division. He was undefeated from 2008 to 2014 and has held the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Middleweight Titile and the EBU-EE Middleweight Title. On April 18, Kopylenko returns to the resort for the second time since his loss to eventual Boxcino 2014 middleweight champion Willie Monroe Jr. and will be looking to impress fans and critics as he takes on Lekan Byfield. Kopylenko is coming off a 2nd round stoppage over Sherzod Rahimov onAugust 24.
Fighting out of Atlanta, Georgia, Lekan “Lucky 13” Byfield is a tough fighter known for going the distance in his bouts. On April 18 the relative newcomer will be returning to Turning Stone Resort Casino for the second time in his career. Byfield, most recently fought Brandon Adams at the resort in January and will be looking for redemption when he faces Vitaliy Kopylenko.
Matthysse vs. Provodnikov is a 12-round junior welterweight bout presented by Banner Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions and is sponsored by Corona Extra, Mexico, Live it To Believe It! and Khortytsa Vodka. Doors are currently scheduled to open at 6:00 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will being at9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
