HARTFORD (Mai 11, 2015) – Rising junior featherweight star Luis “KO kong” Rosa (19-0, 9 KOs) plans to graduate from top prospect to legitimate contender denne fredagen (Mai 15) på ESPN FredagNight Fights, presented by 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions og DiBella Entertainment, i tilknytning 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) i 10-runde main event.

 

Live coverage will begin at 9 pm. OG on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tabletter, Amazon Brann TV og Brann TV Stick, Apple TV, Chrome, År, Xbox 360 og Xbox One via en tilknyttet videoleverandør. I tillegg, ESPN’ Night Fights will carry the fights live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.

 

The popular Rosa, who is world rated at No. 15 av World Boxing Association (WBA) og Nei. 16 av World Boxing Council (WBC), has prepared for a breakout performance in front of a large ESPN Friday Night Fights viewing audience.

 

“Dette er en stor kamp for meg,” 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 på fredag natt.

 

“It’s always great fighting in my home state and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fans there. På slutten av dagen, skjønt, 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, har vunnet 14 av hans siste 15 endene. The battle-tested Colombian has fought the likes of world champions Cristian Mijares, Abner Mares, Jose Lopez, Martin Castillo, Eric Ortiz og Raul Martinez, as well a world title challenger Jesus Jimenez.

 

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

Live coverage will begin at 9 pm. OG on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tabletter, Amazon Brann TV og Brann TV Stick, Apple TV, Chrome, År, Xbox 360 og Xbox One via en tilknyttet videoleverandør. I tillegg, ESPN’ Night 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), bekjempelse av Brooklyn, meets fellow Ukrainian Kostyantyn Rovenskyy (18-1-2, 5 KOs) i en seks-round bout. Kazakh super middleweightDauren Yeleussinov (1-0), also living in Brooklyn, oppfyller 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, motstander 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, junior weltervekt Jair Ramos (3-2-1, 2 KOs) vs. Harlems Curtis Morton (3-4-2), Miami lightweight Alberto Candeleria (4-2-1, 3 KOs) vs. Brooklyn 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 og $35 (pluss gjeldende avgifter). Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (860) 728-2624 eller 1 (203) 627-7472. Dørene åpner kl 6:30 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 pm. OG.