HARTFORD (Tej zaum 11, 2015) – Rising junior featherweight star Luis “KO King” Rosa (19-0, 9 Kos) plans to graduate from top prospect to legitimate contender no hnub Friday (Tej zaum 15) rau ESPN FridayHmo ntuj Fights, presented by 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions thiab DiBella Lom ze, nyob rau hauv lub koom haum nrog 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 av nplaum (36-4, 22 Kos) nyob rau hauv lub 10-round ntsiab kev tshwm sim.

 

Live coverage will begin at 9 p.m. THIAB on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, ntsiav tshuaj, Amazon Hluav Taws TV thiab hluav taws TV Nrua, Kua TV, Chromecast, Xyoo, Xbox 360 thiab Xbox Ib ntawm ib tug koom tes video mob. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, ESPN’ Hmo ntuj Fights will carry the fights live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.

 

The popular Rosa, who is world rated at No. 15 los ntawm lub ntiaj teb Boxing Association (WBA) thiab tsis. 16 los ntawm lub ntiaj teb Boxing Council (Qhov), has prepared for a breakout performance in front of a large ESPN Friday Night Fights viewing audience.

 

“Qhov no yog ib tug lossis loj kev sib ntaus rau kuv,” 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 on Friday hmo ntuj.

 

“It’s always great fighting in my home state and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fans there. Nyob rau ntawm lub kawg ntawm lub hnub, tab sis yog, 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, tau yeej 14 ntawm nws lub xeem 15 xaus. The battle-tested Colombian has fought the likes of world champions Cristian Mijares, Hlob Abner mares, Jose Lopez, Martin Castillo, Eric Ortiz thiab Raul Martinez, as well a world title challenger Jesus Jimenez.

 

“Perez is a veteran with 44 pro sib ntaus,” 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, heev, and the better all-around fighter. I’ll be ready for whatever he brings.”

Live coverage will begin at 9 p.m. THIAB on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, ntsiav tshuaj, Amazon Hluav Taws TV thiab hluav taws TV Nrua, Kua TV, Chromecast, Xyoo, Xbox 360 thiab Xbox Ib ntawm ib tug koom tes video mob. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, ESPN’ Hmo ntuj Fights 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), sib ntaus sib tua tawm ntawm Brooklyn, meets fellow Ukrainian Kostyantyn Rovenskyy (18-1-2, 5 Kos) nyob rau hauv ib tug rau-round sib ntau sib tw. Kazakh super middleweightDauren Yeleussinov (1-0), also living in Brooklyn, raws li 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, tus nrog sib ntaus 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, I, junior welterweight Jair Ramos (3-2-1, 2 Kos) vs. Harlem lub Curtis Morton (3-4-2), Miami lightweight Alberto Candeleria (4-2-1, 3 Kos) vs. Brooklyn lub 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 thiab $35 (ntxiv uas siv se). Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (860) 728-2624 los yog 1 (203) 627-7472. Qhov rooj qhib rau ntawm 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m. THIAB.