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Jose Pedraza vs. Richard Commey & Jared Anderson vs.
Miljan Rovcanin Co-Feature Set For Aug. 27
Two former world champions are set for an Oklahoma showdown,
as Jose “Sniper” Pedraza will battle Richard “RC” Commey in
the 10-round junior welterweight main event Saturday, Aug.
27, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
In the 10-round heavyweight co-feature, the fighting pride
of Toledo, Ohio, undefeated puncher Jared “The Real Big
Baby” Anderson, returns to action against veteran Miljan
Rovcanin.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with DiBella
Entertainment, Pedraza-Commey and Anderson-Rovcanin will be
broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10:30
p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
“The junior welterweight division is talent-rich, and the
winner of Pedraza-Commey is in line for a massive fight,”
said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “We are thrilled to see
Jared Anderson back in action. He is the world’s best young
heavyweight, and fans will have another opportunity to see a
future superstar.”
Pedraza (29-4, 14 KOs), from Cidra, Puerto Rico, is a
two-weight world champion who has fought many of this
generation’s top fighters since capturing the IBF junior
lightweight crown in June 2015. He moved up to the junior
welterweight ranks in 2019, rebounding from a loss to Jose
Zepeda to author victories over Mikkel LesPierre, 2008 U.S.
Olympian Javier Molina, and the previously unbeaten Julian
Rodriguez. Pedraza’s momentum was halted in March when he
dropped a tightly contested decision to former unified world
champion Jose Ramirez.
Pedraza said, "August 27 will definitely be a high-stakes
battle between two world-class fighters. We are both coming
to get back on the winning path. That's the perfect recipe
for a great fight. I know that a convincing victory against
an opponent of Commey's caliber will put me back in
contention to capture that coveted world title opportunity.
Despite what happened in my last fight, I still have my
sights set on being crowned world champion at 140 pounds.
I'm still chasing my goal of becoming a three-division world
champion.”
Commey (30-4, 27 KOs), one of Ghana’s most accomplished
fighters, captured the IBF lightweight world title in
February 2019 with a second-round stoppage over Isa Chaniev.
Since losing his title to Teofimo Lopez that December,
Commey knocked out Jackson Marinez in six rounds and lost a
decision to pound-for-pound legend Vasiliy “Loma”
Lomachenko. After 34 fights campaigning as a lightweight,
Commey now moves up to 140 pounds in hopes of winning a
second world title.
“I am grateful to DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank to be
fighting on ESPN as I begin my quest to become a two-weight
world champion,” Commey said. “Pedraza is a gentleman and a
great champion, and I will have to be at my best to earn the
victory.”
Anderson (11-0, 11 KOs) had a breakthrough 2021, securing
four devastating knockouts culminating in December’s
second-round blitzing of Oleksandr Teslenko. He suffered a
hand injury in training, which postponed his 2022 debut.
Anderson, a 6’4, 240-pound former U.S. amateur champion,
hopes to continue his knockout momentum against Rovcanin
(24-2, 16 KOs). The Serbian veteran has won five consecutive
bouts since a stoppage loss to undefeated contender Agit
Kabayel.
Anderson said, “I am 100 percent healthy and more than ready
to get back in the ring. I’m creating a legacy for my last
name and growing as a fighter with every fight. Tune in on
August 27 because ‘The Real Big Baby’ is back!”
The undercard — streaming exclusively on ESPN+ — is
scheduled to include the return of heavyweight puncher Efe
Ajagba (15-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-rounder against Hungary’s
Jozsef Darmos (14-4-3, 10 KOs). Ajagba, a 2016 Nigerian
Olympian, has not fought since last October’s defeat to
Cuban star Frank Sanchez on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder
III undercard. Injuries delayed Ajagba’s return, and he’s
looking to reclaim his status as one of the division’s
rising talents.
In other undercard action:
Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (4-0, 3 KOs), from
Cleveland, Ohio, steps up in class against Harry Gigliotti
(8-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round junior welterweight scrap.
Johnson, at 23 years old, is one of the sport’s brightest
young talents. He fought at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
in January and shut out the previously undefeated Xavier
Madrid.
Tulsa native Trey Lippe Morrison (18-1, 17 KOs), who lost
his undefeated record in his last bout, is scheduled to
return in an eight-round heavyweight fight.
Standout junior welterweight prospect Kelvin Davis (5-0, 4
KOs) steps up in a six-rounder against Sebastian Gabriel
Chaves (5-4, 2 KOs).
Frevian Gonzalez (5-1, 1 KO), who trains with Pedraza, will
see action in a six-round lightweight bout against Gerardo
Esquivel (3-2-1, 1 KO).
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