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Live Boxing Is Back: Shakur Stevenson &
Jessie Magdaleno To Headline June Cards
It can all be summarized in three long-awaited words: boxing
is back.
Top Rank on ESPN returns Tuesday, June 9, as WBO
featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson will take on
Puerto Rican contender Felix “La Sombra” Caraballo in a
10-round super featherweight bout. Stevenson-Caraballo will
kick off a blockbuster June boxing lineup, which will
include multiple cards each week on the ESPN family of
networks. Specifics on ESPN platforms and tune-in times to
be announced soon.
Stevenson-Caraballo will be the first of multiple June
events to take place at the MGM Grand Conference Center
Grand Ballroom. The action will continue Thursday, June 11
when former junior featherweight world champion and top
featherweight contender Jessie Magdaleno faces Dominican
puncher Yenifel Vicente in a 10-rounder.
These events will be closed to both the public and the
media, as only essential fight camp members and event staff
will be permitted on site.
“I would like to thank MGM Resorts and the Nevada State
Athletic Commission for their assistance in helping to bring
back world-class boxing,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“We are all looking forward to a spectacular summer of live
boxing across ESPN platforms. Shakur is among the best young
talents I’ve ever promoted, and he is going to put on a show
on June 9.”
ESPN’s Top Rank play-by-play commentator, Joe Tessitore,
will be calling the action from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn.,
studios. Andre Ward (analyst), former #1 pound-for-pound
two-division world titleholder and 2004 Olympic gold
medalist, Tim Bradley (analyst), former two-division world
titleholder and boxing insider Mark Kriegel, will join from
their home studios. Boxing reporter Bernardo Osuna will be
on-location in Las Vegas.
June 9
MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom
Main Event
Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) vs. Felix Caraballo (13-1-2,
9 KOs)
10 rounds, Super Featherweight
2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Stevenson, the pride of
Newark, New Jersey, is testing the waters at super
featherweight following his featherweight title-winning
effort over Joet Gonzalez last October. He went 4-0 in 2019,
flashing the skills and athleticism that have many experts
pegging him as a future pound-for-pound superstar. Caraballo
has won five fights in a row and will be fighting for the
first time away from Puerto Rico.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring and return live boxing
to ESPN,” Stevenson said. “I was really disappointed when my
fight got canceled in March, and I said then that I wanted
to be one of the first fights back. I stayed in shape so
when that call came, I was ready. The atmosphere might be
different on June 9, but I’ve fought in unique situations
all over the world before so it won’t affect me. Regardless
of who’s in the building, you’ll see another great
performance, and I’ll remind everyone why I’m the best young
fighter in boxing.”
Co-Feature
Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) vs. Helen Joseph (17-4-2, 10
KOs)
10 rounds, Super Featherweight
Mayer, Stevenson’s 2016 Olympic teammate, has in short order
become one of the faces of female boxing. The Los Angeles
native is on track for a world title shot this year, but she
must first defeat Joseph, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, who is
coming off a competitive decision loss to former lightweight
queen Delfine Persoon.
“I'm incredibly grateful and excited to be fighting on the
first boxing card since the pandemic shutdown,” Mayer said.
“I was set to travel to New York City for a fight March 17,
but the quarantine went into effect the day before I was
supposed to fly out. So, despite having a long, hard 10-week
camp, I was unable to perform and showcase the work I had
put in. I feel like I’ve leveled up my skill set, and I'm
eager to show that on June 9 and capture my 13th win. It’s
also great to see ESPN and Top Rank having a woman headline
their first card back. I have been in camp with Shakur, and
we’re ready to bring boxing back to television with exciting
wins.”
Undercard
Undefeated heavyweight knockout artists Jared “The Real Big
Baby” Anderson (3-0, 3 KOs), from Toledo, Ohio, will face
Johnnie Langston (8-2, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder. Anderson
recently served as Tyson Fury’s chief sparring partner for
the Deontay Wilder rematch.
Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (6-0, 6 KOs), a 2016 Italian
Olympian, will fight Don Haynesworth (16-3-1, 14 KOs) in a
six-rounder at heavyweight.
Robeisy Ramirez (2-1, 2 KOs), the two-time Olympic gold
medalist from Cuba who bested Stevenson in the 2016 gold
medal match, will seek his third straight win as a pro in a
six-round featherweight bout against Yeuri Andujar (5-3, 3
KOs).
In a middleweight tilt set for six or four rounds, Calvin
Metcalf (10-3-1, 3 KOs) will face Atlanta native Quatavious
Cash (11-2, 7 KOs).
June 11
MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom
Main Event
Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) vs. Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2,
28 KOs)
10 rounds, Featherweight
Top-ranked featherweight contender Magdaleno has defeated
veterans Rafael Rivera and Rico Ramos since moving up from
the junior featherweight ranks. The Las Vegas native will be
fighting in his hometown for the first time since he
dethroned four-weight kingpin Nonito Donaire in November
2016. Vicente, the author of numerous highlight-reel
knockouts, is 11-1 with 11 knockouts in his last 12 fights.
“It feels great to be one of the first fighters back,”
Magdaleno said. “I’m excited to get back in the ring,
especially after my last fight was canceled. I didn’t get
discouraged. I am even more ready now. I can’t wait to
showcase my talent to the ESPN audience. What better way to
show that the champ is back?”
Co-Feature
Adam Lopez (13-2, 6 KOs) vs. Louie Coria (12-2, 7 KOs)
10 rounds, vacant NABF Featherweight title
Lopez, a native of Glendale, California, is back following
his seesaw throwdown against Oscar Valdez last November, a
bout he took on a day’s notice after Valdez’s original
opponent missed weight. Despite a 3.5-pound weight
disadvantage, he knocked down Valdez in the second round
before being stopped in the seventh. The “Glendale Gatti”
will have a tough task in Coria, a Robert Garcia-trained
fighter who has won three straight since a split decision
loss at super featherweight.
“I will put a show on for all the fight fans around the
world and show them what I’m made of,” Lopez said. “The
Valdez fight was an incredible experience. I’m ready to get
what’s left of 2020 going and move toward a title shot. The
whole team is working hard and preparing well. Tune in. I’m
going to put on a show.”
Undercard
Bryan Lua (5-0, 2 KOs), from California’s Central Valley,
will return following a more than two-year layoff against
Dan Murray (5-3, 0 KOs) in a six-rounder at lightweight.
Bantamweight prospect Gabriel Muratalla (2-0, 2 KOs) will
make his 2020 debut in a four-rounder versus Fernando Robles
(2-2, 0 KOs).
In a battle of unbeaten California-based lightweights
scheduled for six or four rounds, Eric Mondragon (3-0, 2
KOs) will face Mike Sanchez (6-0, 2 KOs).
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