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Rodriguez vs. Rungvisai & Kyoguchi
vs. Bermudez Headline June Shows
Matchroom and DAZN announce two new shows today as Hiroto
Kyoguchi will defend his WBA Super and Ring Magazine World
Light-Flyweight titles against Esteban Bermudez at the Arena
Coliseo in Mexico City, Mexico on Friday June 10, live
worldwide on DAZN, in the latest installment of Matchroom
and DAZN’s fight series in Mexico, in association with
Canelo Promotions and Clase Y Talento and then Jesse ‘Bam’
Rodriguez will defend his WBC World Super-Flyweight title
against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday June 25 at the
Tech Port Arena in San Antonio, live worldwide on DAZN
(except Uzbekistan & Thailand) and leading a stacked
quadruple header of World title action.
Kyoguchi (15-0 10 KOs) puts the titles he ripped from Heikie
Buddler in December 2018 on the line for the fourth time and
makes a welcome return to the ring after his entertaining
battle with the pocket rocket Axel Aragon Vega in Dallas in
March 2021 came to an end when the challenger was forced to
quit the bout with a hand injury in the fifth round.
The Japanese, who previously defended the titles in
successive points wins over Tanawat Nakoon and Tetsuya
Hisada in June and October of 2020 in his homeland, fights
in Mexico for the first time in the paid ranks and does so
against a hungry contender.
Bermudez (14-3-2 10 KOs) holds the WBA Regular title after
handing a first career defeat to defending champion Carlos
Canizales in stunning fashion – flooring the belt-holder
towards the end of the sixth round before wiping him out
with 23 seconds left in the session. The 26 year old will be
fired up to elevate to Super champ and rip the coveted Ring
Magazine strap from Kyoguchi, and the defending king knows
he’s in for a big test on June 10 as he covets unification
bouts down the line.
“It was always my dream to fight in Mexico because the
Mexican style has influenced me a lot,” said Kyoguchi. “It
is a great opportunity to show my boxing in that country
against a rival like Esteban Bermudez. Regarding the
unification fight, I think it is my mission as absolute
champion.”
“He is a very good champion but kind of weak because too
many injuries – I’ve been waiting a year for him to fight
me!” said Bermudez. “I live from boxing, and I’ve needed
this fight to happen for a long time. I’ve been at training
camp for this fight, and he is coming to my home town, the
title is going to still here.”
Two weeks later, focus switches to a monster card in San
Antonio, as Rodriguez (15-0 10 KOs) makes the first defense
of the belt he won in stunning fashion in February, flooring
former World ruler Carlos Cuadras en-route to becoming the
youngest current World champion in just his 15th pro-outing.
‘Bam’ will get a hero’s welcome on his home turf when he
steps through the ropes in San Antonio for the first time as
king of the world and only the third time in his career,
boxing on his doorstep in his third and fifth fights in June
2017 and March 2018 respectively.
The 22 year old could hardly face a stiffer test when
putting his belt on the line for the first time, coming up
against former two-time Super-Fly kingpin Rungvisai (50-5-1
43 KOs). The Thai star was set to face Cuadras in a
long-awaited rematch for the title in San Diego, only for
Rungvisai to fall ill and be replaced at late notice by the
new young champion. The 35 year old has a chance to get his
hands on the coveted green and gold strap for a third time,
having first held the belt in 2013 and then reclaiming it
against Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez three years later.
“Fighting a guy like Rungvisai is going to bring me to a
whole new level,” said Rodriguez. “He's a great fighter but
this is my time now. You have to take risks in this sport,
that's what special fighters do. They said it was a risk me
challenging for a World title fight on short notice and now
they say it's a risk taking on a fighter like Rungvisai but
this is what I want. These are the types of fights you need
so you can be remembered by the fans long after your career
is done.
“I've always said that me and my brother are going to bring
the big fights back to San Antonio and this is just the
start of it. We are so proud to be from this city and we get
that love back from the people there so this will be a
special night.”
“Jesse might be the youngest current World champion, but
this is a fight where he can prove he already belongs with
the very best in boxing,” said trainer Robert Garcia. “We
have a lot of respect for Rungvisai, we know what he is
capable of, and he is a great, great fighter but I also know
what Jesse is capable. I have so much belief in him, and I
know he is ready for this.”
“I am very excited for this opportunity to fight for the WBC
World title,” said Rungvisai. “I will be at my best to win
the WBC World title and become the first three times WBC
World champion in the history of Thailand. Thank you so much
to Matchroom, DAZN, and the WBC for this opportunity.”
Rodriguez and Rungvisai lead a stellar night of action with
three more World title fights on the bill, with Julio Cesar
Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo picking up where they left
off from their curtailed firefight for Martinez’s WBC World
Flyweight title, where both men hit the canvas in the
opening round and Arroyo touched down again in the second,
before the action in New Hampshire in November had to be
halted after Arroyo suffered a nasty cut from an accidental
headclash.
Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) has been out of action since that
night, while Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) bravely rolled the dice
to take on modern great Chocolatito as the headline act on
the night Rodriguez won his belt.
World title clash number three on the bumper card will see
IBF and WBA World Super-Bantamweight champion Murodjon
Akhmadaliev defend his titles against Ronny Rios. The pair
were set to meet in New Hampshire in November, but COVID
ruled Rios out and he was replaced by game late challenger
Jose Velasquez. Akhmadaliev (10-0 7 KOs) retained his belts
with a near-shutout on the cards, going the distance for
just the third time in his 10th pro bout, and second as a
World champion. Rios (33-3 16 KOs), the mandatory challenger
for the WBA crown, goes for glory for the second time in his
36-fight career after challenging Rey Vargas for the WBC
strap at 122lbs in August 2016.
The fourth bout on the card has the most belts on the line,
as undisputed Welterweight ruler Jessica McCaskill makes the
third defense of all her marbles at 147lbs. McCaskill (11-2
4 KOs) ripped the straps from long-standing ruler Cecilia
Braekhus on the streets of Downtown Tulsa in August 2020 and
saw off the Norwegian in a rematch for her first defense in
March 2021. The Chicagoan recorded the fourth stoppage win
of her career in the second defense of the belts in
December, ending Kandi Wyatt’s challenge in the seventh, and
will face an opponent to be named soon in San Antonio.
Mexico’s undercard is shaping up nicely, supporting what
promises to be an explosive main event is a cast of hot
talents led by Jorge Casteneda meeting Mexico City’s Eduardo
Hernandez for the WBC Silver International Super-Lightweight
title. Texan Casteneda (15-1 11 KOs) has upset the apple
cart in his last two bouts, first handing a majority
decision defeat to unbeaten Otha Jones III in Florida in
April 2021, and then travelling to London, England to take
another ‘0’ by beating Youssef Khoumari in October, again
via majority decision.
Supporting what promises to be an explosive main event will
be a cast of hot talents led by Jorge Casteneda. Texan
Casteneda (15-1 11 KOs) has upset the apple cart in his last
two bouts, first handing a majority decision defeat to
unbeaten Otha Jones III in Florida in April 2021, and then
travelling to London, England to take another ‘0’ by beating
Youssef Khoumari in October, again via majority decision,
and his opponent will be announced soon.
Diego Pacheco (14-0 11 KOs) continues to be a must-watch
talent and the 21 year old ticks off another major milestone
as he stretches his legs over the ten round distance for the
first time, against an opponent to be named.
“June is looking red hot with two fantastic shows,” said
promoter Eddie Hearn. “Kyoguchi- Bermudez is a great fight.
Hiroto is hunting down unifications at 108lbs, but he is
going to have his hands full with Esteban, who has proved
that he has devastating power – it’s going to be a great
night in Mexico City.
“As for June 25 in San Antonio – what can we say? It’s a
quadruple header of World title action, with four bouts that
could headline any card. I’m thrilled to see Jesse get the
chance to headline at home as a World champion, and what a
foe to face in the Thai legend Rungvisai.
“Martinez-Arroyo is a long-running saga that both men want
to end in emphatic style, MJ is one of the very best World
champions out there and is looking to produce that statement
win to lure his fellow champions into unifications – and
after an amazing run of fights for women’s boxing in recent
months, which continues this weekend in New York with Katie
Taylor and Amanda Serrano, the undisputed Welterweight ruler
will want to show that she’s one of the very best out
there.”
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