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WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo Battles
Maciej Sulecki In Houston On June 18
Undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo
will hold a Juneteenth celebration in his hometown for the
second-straight year when he steps into the ring to face
tough former title challenger Maciej Sulecki on Saturday,
June 18 live on SHOWTIME from Toyota Center in Houston in an
event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and will see undefeated top super bantamweight
contender Ra’eese Aleem taking on Mike Plania in the
10-round co-main event, plus the Derrick James-trained
unbeaten lightweight contender Frank Martin battles Panama’s
power-punching Ricardo Núñez in the 10-round telecast
opener.
Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) returns to fight in his hometown of
Houston for the fifth time in his career, having most
recently earned an entertaining unanimous decision win there
over Juan Montiel last June on SHOWTIME. The 31-year-old
scored an impressive unanimous decision triumph over top
middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko in their
September 2020 showdown and owns a 7-0 record since moving
up to middleweight in 2017. A two-division world champion,
Charlo also strung together an impressive run at 154-pounds,
capturing the IBF title in 2015 and piling up victories over
champions Austin Trout, Cornelius Bundrage and Julian
Williams, whom he floored three times on his way to a
memorable fifth-round knockout.
“I’m excited to get back in the ring in front of my people
in Houston and put on a great show fighting on Juneteenth
weekend once again,” said Charlo. “I’m ready to handle my
business and give everyone what they’re coming out to see.
Sulecki is a tough fighter who’s going to come in hungry.
But I’m fighting for something bigger and I won’t be stopped
from delivering a special performance on June 18.”
A native of Warsaw, Poland, Sulecki (30-2, 11 KOs) trains in
Chicago, Ill. with his new co-trainer and longtime Polish
contender Andrzej Fonfara. He will look to earn his third
straight victory on June 18. The 32-year-old has never been
stopped and has won four of his last five fights, including
a unanimous decision over Gabriel Rosado that earned him the
title shot against Demetrius Andrade that he would
eventually lose by decision. Sulecki has fought
professionally since 2010 and has also scored notable
victories in defeating former titleholder Jack Culcay in
2017 and knocking out then undefeated Hugo Centeno Jr. in
2016.
“I’ve been training for a long time for this fight and I
feel strong and ready to get in the ring,” said Sulecki.
“Charlo is a great champion and I respect what he can do,
but I don’t think he’s any better than the best fighters
I’ve faced before. I think I am the stronger fighter
mentally and physically. I don’t think he’s a killer. He
hasn’t even been able to stop his last two opponents. I’ve
fought as the underdog in my opponent’s hometown, so I’m not
worried about fighting in Houston at all. We have a huge
community of Polish fans in the U.S. and I know they’ll be
there supporting me on June 18.”
Owning a top-10 ranking at 122-pounds from multiple
sanctioning bodies, Aleem (19-0, 12 KOs) put on the most
impressive performance of his career in January 2021 to
capture the interim WBA title on SHOWTIME. Aleem dominated
in a battle of unbeatens, dropping Victor Pasillas four
times before eventually stopping him in round 11. Raised in
Michigan and training out of Las Vegas, Nev., Aleem, 31, had
stopped his past seven opponents inside the distance before
most recently earning a decision victory over Eduardo Baez
in November 2021.
“The time is now to take that next step in my career toward
a world title shot and I know that a win against a tough
opponent like Mike Plania will put me in that position,”
said Aleem. “I’ve been waiting patiently for my opportunity
to show everyone why I’m the best super bantamweight in the
world. I’m grateful to my team for believing in me and my
ability to bring excitement on the big stage. I’m never in a
boring fight and you will see the best of me come June 18.
I’m going to let my hands fly and do the talking.”
The 25-year-old Plania (26-1, 13 KOs) dropped Joshua Greer
twice in their June 2020 clash on his way to a career-best
decision victory, which he followed up in April 2021 by
defeating Emmanuel Mogawa before stopping Ricardo Nunez in
November. A native of General Santos City in the
Philippines, Plania has put together a 11-fight winning
streak since a 2018 decision loss against former champion
Juan Carlos Payano. Plania has fought professionally since
2014, with five of his last six outings taking place
stateside.
“Ever since I beat Joshua Greer to put myself in the world
rankings, I have been looking for an opportunity to fight
the best at 122 pounds to secure a world title shot,” said
Plania. “June 18 is that time and by beating Ra’eese Aleem,
I will show everyone I deserve to fight for the title. I
want to thank my whole team for putting me in this position
and I can’t wait to get in there and show what I’m capable
of.”
The 27-year-old Martin (15-0, 11 KOs) rose up the
lightweight rankings in 2021 with a pair of impressive
victories before most recently delivering a New Year’s Day
KO over Romero Duno. In 2021, Martin knocked out the
previously unbeaten Jerry Perez in a dominating performance
in April, before earning a unanimous decision over Ryan
Kielczweski in August. Originally from Indianapolis, Martin
now trains in the Dallas-area under the guidance of top
trainer James alongside unified welterweight champion Errol
Spence Jr.
“I’ve been training hard in Dallas and I’m just excited and
ready to go,” said Martin. “Núñez is a boxer-puncher, so I
expect him to mix it up with some fast combinations and to
try and throw my movement off, but I’ll be ready for all of
that. Fight fans are going to enjoy an action fight with
this one. We’ve got the speed, power and athleticism to put
on an exciting show on June 18.”
Representing La Chorrera, Panama, Núñez (23-3, 21 KOs)
enters this fight with knockout victories in his last two
fights, including most recently stopping Richard Solano in
the first round in October 2021. The 28-year-old moved back
up to lightweight for those two victories after challenging
three-division champion Gervonta Davis in July 2019 for a
130-pound title. Núñez has fought professionally since 2010
and has a brother also named Ricardo who is a veteran pro
fighter in the featherweight division.
“I’m very happy to be back in a big fight on June 18,” said
Núñez. “You’re going to see a whole new fighter against
Martin. I’m coming to fight and impose my style on my
opponent. Martin is a good boxer who’s made it to a high
level, but he still has to show what he’s made of. I’m going
to give one hundred percent to stop his rise and be the
first person to beat him.”
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