LONDON (April 15) – BoxNation are delighted to announce another mega bill to its fantastic schedule with the addition of the stacked April 26th Golden Boy Promotions show featuring boxing’s biggest punchers in Keith Thurman, Lucas Matthysse and Omar Figueroa.
The card taking place at the StubHub Center in Carson, California is guaranteed to have fight fans on the edge of their seats with the three hitmen amassing a stunning 69 knockouts from 78 wins between them.
Headlined by rising welterweight star Thurman, who defends his interim WBA championship against the hardened Julio Diaz, who ran British ace Amir Khan very close last year, it offers the 25-year-old the chance to continue his march towards a shot at the world title. “
To headline a show like this against a former world champion is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and that day is here,” said Thurman. “I respect Julio Diaz and I will not underestimate him. He knows that this may be his last shot, and I expect the best from him, but I’ll be the one leaving with the victory.”
“This is a big opportunity for me to face a fighter that is feared by many, but not by me,” said Diaz. “I have been in the ring with far more dangerous and experienced fighters in the past, and everyone knows that I come to fight. My previous opponents Amir Khan and Shawn Porter will tell you that.”
Argentine assassin Matthysse will make his first appearance since his closely contested fight against light-welterweight kingpin Danny Garcia.
Having blasted his way past a host of top names including Lamont Peterson, Mike Dallas Jr and Humberto Soto, the feared puncher will go in against another hard-hitter in 31-year-old John Molina.
“Molina is the kind of fighter I respect and always want to compete against,” said Matthysse. “He shows up to fight and we’re going to give the fans the kind of show they want to see. I don’t think it will last long, but it will be something to see while it does.”
“I’m excited to showcase myself against someone that I consider to be one of the best fighters in the world at 140 pounds,” said Molina. “I am very well prepared to come in on fight night and do what I do best, and that is to be victorious.”
World title action is also set to take place on the card, with WBC lightweight champion Figueroa looking to continue his unbeaten run when he goes up against fellow Texan Jerry Belmontes.
“I am especially excited about this fight because I have wanted to get payback against Belmontes for longer than a decade,” said Figueroa. “I fought him in the amateurs and he always beat me because I was always shorter than him. Now I am taller, stronger and bigger than him and I am looking to beat him the way he beat me in the amateurs.”
“I beat Omar 5 times in the amateurs but it was just that, the amateurs, we were young,” said Belmontes. “We have taken different paths as professionals and finally they cross and we meet again…on April 26, he’ll be beaten…for the 6th time”.
Earlier that evening BoxNation will bring subscribers some top domestic action from Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield when undefeated heavyweight bruiser Lucas Browne looks to win the vacant Commonwealth title against Canadian Eric Martel Bahoeli.
With 23-year-old Hatton Promotions protégé Adam Etches also taking on Felipe De la Paz Teniente in a 10-round middleweight contest for the WBC Youth world title.
The two big bills join a mammoth lineup of fights on the channel which has exclusive UK rights to Floyd Mayweather’s crunch unification world title clash with Marcos Maidana, plus Bernard Hopkins April 19th fight with Beibut Shumenov and a host of other top world title bouts.
Further good news for BoxNation viewers is that ‘The Channel of Champions’ will also be the only place to see All Access: Mayweather vs. Maidana.
The hit behind-the-scenes show gives a unique insight into both camps as they prepare for the May 3rd bill at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The premiere of All Access: Mayweather vs. Maidana airs this Saturday April 19th at 7pm, with episode two on Sunday 27th April at 7pm and the finale on Saturday May 3rd at 7pm, all free-to-air to Sky TV customers.
BoxNation is available for only £12 a month (plus a one-off registration fee). Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.
