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George Kambosos Jr. vs. Maxi Hughes & Keyshawn Davis vs.
Francesco Patera Lightweight Doubleheader Confirmed For July
22 At FireLake Arena
A former king and an emerging prodigy will look to seize the
spotlight as part of an action-packed lightweight
doubleheader in one of the sport’s most competitive
divisions.
Former unified and lineal lightweight world champion George
Kambosos Jr. makes his Top Rank debut in a 12-round IBF
world title eliminator against English southpaw Maxi Hughes
on Saturday, July 22, at FireLake Arena in Shawnee,
Oklahoma.
In the 10-round co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist
Keyshawn Davis takes a seismic step up in class against
Belgian contender and former European champion Francesco
Patera.
Kambosos-Hughes and Davis-Patera will be broadcast live on
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“George Kambosos Jr. is still one of the lightweight
division’s premier attractions, and he has the chance to get
right back to title contention with a win over an
upset-minded Maxi Hughes,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“Keyshawn Davis, in less than 10 fights, is already a
contender and has all the makings of a future superstar.
This is a sensational lightweight doubleheader for the fans
in Shawnee and everyone watching on ESPN.”
“George insisted on a meaningful fight to begin his
comeback. He’s never taken the easy route," said Lou
DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "Maxi Hughes is
a legit top 10 lightweight and a high-risk fight for George
coming off two losses against Devin Haney. This will be an
IBF world title elimination bout and George will also
challenge for Maxi’s IBO lightweight world title. For Maxi,
this is the opportunity he’s been fighting for. This is his
chance to prove that all of those fights he won as the
underdog meant something.”
Kambosos (20-2, 10 KOs) is a 10-year pro who has traveled to
Malaysia, Greece, London, New York City, Connecticut, and
Las Vegas in his efforts to conquer the lightweight
division. His wins over former world champions Mickey Bey
and Lee Selby helped secure a world title shot against
Teofimo Lopez in 2021. In a triumph that was named ESPN’s
Upset of the Year, Kambosos toppled Lopez via split decision
and captured three lightweight world titles. In 2022, the
29-year-old avoided an easy hometown defense and instead
faced Devin Haney in back-to-back undisputed world title
showdowns in Melbourne, Australia. Following his first
career losses, Kambosos has ambitions of reclaiming his
throne, but he’ll first need to get passed Hughes.
“I am extremely excited and motivated to make a serious
statement against Maxi Hughes in my return fight in the
United States, the Mecca of boxing, live on ESPN and Main
Event PPV in Australia,” Kambosos said. “Having fought the
best lightweight boxers in the world, I now know I have
become an even better fighter and have added further
artillery and weapons to my overall fight game. Maxi Hughes
is a good boxer, a tough Englishman, and I’m sure he will
try his best, but I know and he knows that his best will not
be enough. Hughes is not elite, and when you have been in
there with elite boxers like I have, you pick up on the
mistakes in a boxer like Hughes. I will claim his IBO world
title and the IBF world title eliminator position on July
22."
Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs), a 33-year-old veteran hailing from
the United Kingdom, debuted in the paid ranks in 2010. He
secured his first British title by defeating Ryan Moorhead
in 2017. In his second bid for a British strap, he suffered
a stoppage loss to Sam Bowen in 2018 before handing Kieron
McLaren his first setback the following year. He hasn’t lost
since a November 2019 showdown for the WBO European title
against Liam Walsh, but he rebounded impressively, winning
all seven of his subsequent fights, including a 10-round
decision win against then-unbeaten Kazakh standout Viktor
Kotochigov in 2020. Hughes is coming off a 12-round majority
decision win against former world champion Kid Galahad last
September.
“I’m excited to realize my dream of fighting in the USA and
to showcase my skills to a new audience,” Hughes said. “I’ll
do what’s necessary to get the win.”
Davis (8-0, 6 KOs), from Norfolk, Virginia, went 3-0 in the
pro ranks before capturing a silver medal at the Tokyo
Olympics. In November 2021, he signed a long-term
promotional contract with Top Rank and has since scored five
victories, including brutal knockouts against Esteban
Sanchez and Omar Tienda. In his most recent outing, the
24-year-old outclassed and battered Anthony Yigit en route
to a ninth-round TKO. Davis looks to continue his rapid
lightweight ascent against his stiffest test to date.
“I belong with all the top lightweights, and Patera is the
next one in the way. And just like my eight opponents before
him, Patera will have no answer for what I’m bringing to the
table,” Davis said. “This is going to be a brutal night for
him, however long it lasts.”
Patera (28-3, 10 KOs) is an eight-year pro from Belgium. In
May 2016, he challenged for his first European title,
dropping a unanimous decision to Yvan Mendy. He bounced back
that year with a TKO win over Csaba Bolcskei in September
before suffering a close decision loss to Sean Dodd the
following month. Patera then notched wins over Pasquale Di
Silvio and Edis Tatli before losing a rematch to Tatli in
December 2017. Since then, the 30-year-old has won 10
straight fights and is coming off a first-round knockout
against Irakli Shariashvili in April.
“I am coming to Shawnee to put on a spectacular performance,
defeat Keyshawn Davis, and show everyone that I belong on
the world stage,” Patera said.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will feature the ring returns
of welterweight contender Giovani Santillan, Oklahoma-born
heavyweight Jeremiah Milton and middleweight prospect Troy
Isley.
Santillan (30-0, 16 KOs) will face Ecuadorian contender
Erick Bone (27-6, 14 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight battle.
He is coming off his best year yet as a pro, stopping
Jeovanis Barraza in April 2022 before a hometown win over
Julio Luna Avila in San Diego last August. Bone is an
experienced veteran who has given tough challenges to former
world champions Shawn Porter, Chris Algieri, Miguel Vazquez
and Sergey Lipinets.
Milton (9-0, 6 KOs) will make his second appearance in 2023
in an eight-round heavyweight tilt. The 29-year-old is no
stranger to fighting in Oklahoma, having fought four times
in his hometown of Tulsa. Milton is coming off an
eight-round decision win over Fabio Maldonado in April.
Isley (9-0, 4 KOs) will fight in an eight-rounder. The
24-year-old U.S. Olympian joined the Top Rank stable in
January 2021 and started his pro career with a decision win
against Bryant Costello. In 2022, he stayed busy and went
5-0 with two knockouts. In April, on the Shakur Stevenson-Shuichiro
Yoshino card, he notched a near-shutout over Roy Barringer.
Two competitive eight-round heavyweight matchups will also
be featured on the ESPN+-streamed portion.
American contender Mike Balogun (20-1, 16 KOs) will collide
against New Zealand’s Hemi Ahio (20-1, 15 KOs). Balogun is a
former Oklahoma University linebacker who is coming back
from a loss to former cruiserweight world champion Murat
Gassiev, while Ahio stopped Richie Stanley in the first
round in February.
Unbeaten Cleveland southpaw Roney Hines (12-0-1, 8 KOs) will
face Belgium’s Michael Pirotton (7-0, 3 KOs).
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