The IBF’s No. 3 and No. 4 ranked junior welterweights will clash Friday, July 29 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com for the right to meet newly crowned IBF junior welterweight champion Amir Khan.
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at The Cosmopolitan Ballroom when Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (26-1, 17 KOs, IBF #3) meets Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs IBF #4) in a 12-round eliminator on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra. The card is presented by Warriors Boxing/Bluwave Entertainment.
The Dominican Republic’s Cayo is coming off a first-round knockout win over Javier Gomez. Cayo said of Friday’s fight, “Lamont Peterson is a great boxer, great fighter – he’s a professional. He’s a very smart fighter, but he’s not focused on winning the fight – he’s more focused on giving a good show and that will hurt him.”
Washington D.C.’s Peterson, a former junior welterweight world title challenger, is coming off a December 10-round draw against Victor Ortiz. “Cayo is a very good fighter. He has the height, reach, good speed, he has decent power,” Peterson said. “He avoids punches very well, but he keeps his hands really low. A lot of times, when people keep their hands low, it’s easy to catch them. But at the same time, with their hands low, it’s hard to see their punches – they’re coming from his waist. I just make sure I pay attention to that.”
Friday’s card will also feature Yordanis “King Caney” Despaigne (8-1, 4 KOs) against former super middleweight world-title challenger Edison “Pantera” Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs). Miami’s Despaigne is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Ismayl Sillakh, while Florida’s Miranda is coming off an eight-round decision win over Rayco Saunders.
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In conjunction with Warriors Boxing Promotions and Blue Wave Group, “Fight Nights at The Cosmopolitan” combines the mystique and excitement of legendary Las Vegas boxing matches with a new and socially dynamic experience. Tickets are on sale now and priced at $250 for VIP tables, $150 for ringside seats, $100 for floor seats, $50 for grandstand seating and $20 for general admission tickets and are available for purchase by calling 877-551-7778 or at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com.
Topping the all-action undercard will be Miami, Florida, via Cuba’s undefeated knockout artist Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy 12-0 (10 KO’s) in an eight-round super featherweight matchup against Kansas City’s Gerardo Robles (14-9, 6 KO`s).
In a 10-round battle with a touch of international flavor, Chelyabwsk, Russia’s undefeated Sergey Kovalev (15-0, 13 KO`s) will face Nairobi, Kenya’s Douglas Otieno (23-6, 12 KO`s) for the NABA Light Heavyweight Championship.
Also featured is a six-round light heavyweight scrap between Las Vegas’ (via Sweden) Badou Jack “The Ripper” (6-0, 5 KO`s) and Athens, Georgia’s Timothy Hall Jr. (6-11, 4 KO`s); and in a four-round lightweight attraction, popular Las Vegas fighter Cameron Kreal will make his highly anticipated pro debut against fellow Las Vegas resident Franky Martinez (0-3).
