| |
|
|
Undefeated Middleweight Troy Isley To Face
Joe Hicks On Shields vs. Scott Undercard Aug. 15
Undefeated middleweight contender Troy Isley will face Joe
Hicks in a showdown of 2020 U.S. Olympic rivals on Saturday,
Aug. 15 live on DAZN in a 10-round featured bout of the
Claressa Shields vs. Kaye Scott blockbuster event from State
Farm Arena in Atlanta.
In a co-featured bout, former Puerto Rican Olympian and
undefeated contender Ashleyann Lozada will face former world
title challenger Paulette Cuesta in a 10-round women’s super
bantamweight matchup. In the DAZN opener, WBC Women's Super
Featherweight Champion Caroline Veyre will make the first
defense of her title against undefeated challenger Bernice
Ferreira.
The three bouts round out the five-fight DAZN worldwide
broadcast that begins at 9 p.m. ET following live streaming
coverage on Zeus Network at 6 p.m. ET. It was announced on
Thursday that knockout artist and rising star Ernesto “Tito”
Mercado will face Emmanuel Tagoe in the 10-round super
lightweight co-main event prior to Shields vs. Scott.
Presented by Salita Promotions in partnership with Wynn
Records, Claressa Shields Promotions and Route 30
Promotions, and presenting sponsor Zeus Network, the
historic event marks the first women’s headliner at State
Farm Arena. Remaining tickets for Aug. 15 are available on
Ticketmaster.com.
Isley and Hicks were teammates on the 2020 U.S. Men’s
Olympic Boxing Team, with Isley advancing to the round of 16
while Team Captain Hicks missed out due to changes in
qualifying after the Games were delayed by the Covid
pandemic. To Hicks, the changes benefitted Isley, who took
his spot on the team. To Isley, the better and more
experienced man earned his place in Japan. Now the longtime
teammates become rivals in a showdown that may position the
winner to challenge for a world title.
“Transformer” Isley (16-0, 6 KOs), of Alexandria, Va., is
fresh off a fifth-round TKO of Leonardo Di Stefano on June
14 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The 27-year-old scored two
knockdowns in the empathic victory and called out
middleweight champions Erislandy Lara and Carlos Adames in
his post-fight interview. Prior to June 14, Isley won a
hard-fought unanimous decision over Etoundi Michel William
in June of 2025 in Norfolk, Va. In 2024, Isley soundly
defeated former U.S. Olympian teammate Javier Martinez, who
holds two amateur victories over Hicks at the U.S. Olympic
Trials.
“I made easy work of Javier Martinez and I’m going to do the
same to Joe Hicks,” said Isley referring to his former
Olympic teammates. “I’m hungry and I’m coming different.
Fans are going to see a version of Troy Isley, the best
version. I’m going to put this Olympic talk to bed with Joe.
“It feels good to be right back and this time on a Claressa
card. Last year was a down year for me – I didn’t fight as
much as I wanted. My plan was to be busy this year. I’ve
been with Salita Promotions for two months and this is
already my second fight.”
Hicks (12-1, 7 KOs) bounced back from his first professional
defeat with a decision victory over Todd Manuel on Feb. 10
in his hometown of Grand Rapids. The 32-year-old made
history as one of the first professional fighters to compete
for the U.S. Boxing Team, but changes to the qualifying
process due to Covid prevented him from competing in the
postponed Games despite being named Team Captain.
“Troy Isley is a tight opponent, but I am confident in my
skills as a boxer puncher and counter puncher. We have
history from the Olympics and on fight night I’m going to
get it back in blood and prove I have always been the better
fighter.
“I’m happy to be back in the ring. I’ve had long layoffs and
only fought twice in the past year, but I stay in the gym so
I’m ready for any opportunity. I’m grateful to be on the
GWOAT card and God will make sure I come out of it with my
hand raised on Aug. 15.”
Lozada (4-0, 1 KOs) was the first female Olympic boxer in
Puerto Rican history. The native of Corozal is currently
ranked No. 4 in the world by the WBA and coming off a win
over longtime two-division champion Debora Anahi Dionicius
in May. The 35-year-old southpaw turned professional in 2025
after a lengthy amateur career and has fought four times in
less than 18 months as her level of opposition has steadily
increased.
“I am elated to fight for the WBA Gold title, and a victory
will bring me one step closer to my dream of becoming a
world champion,” Lozada said. “I am going against a very
worthy opponent who has all my respect. I have worked hard
for this moment, and with God by my side, no one will stop
me. I am immensely proud to add to the long-standing
tradition of México vs. Puerto Rico. I want all of the
Puerto Rican and Latino community in Atlanta and watching on
DAZN to join me on August 15th. ¡Viva Puerto Rico!”
Lozada will face her toughest test on Aug. 15 in Cuesta, the
No. 6 ranked contender in the WBA, with the winner
positioned to challenge No. 3 ranked Phannerai Netisri in a
WBA world title eliminator. Cuesta (19-5-1, 4 KOs), of
Tijuana, Mexico, is coming off a decision win over
previously undefeated Karla Davis in June in Puerto Rico. In
2023 she challenged longtime super bantamweight titleholder
Yamileth Mercado.
“I am more than ready to take on Ashleyann Lozada,” said
Cuesta, who recently defeated the No. 6 ranked contender.
“She has never faced a strong, determined, experienced
Mexican like me. I will bring home a great victory for
Mexico on August 15.”
Veyre (11-1) won the vacant WBC Super Featherweight World
Championship with a decisive unanimous decision over
longtime former champion and contender Delfine Persoon, who
had previously faced women’s boxing superstars Alycia
Baumgardner and Katie Taylor. The 37-year-old Veyre, of
Montreal by way of Paris, had previously faced former world
title challenger Licia Boudersa, winning a near-shutout
decision in her fifth consecutive fight in Michigan. On Aug.
15, Veyre faces just the second undefeated challenger of her
career in her first title defense.
"I can't wait to get back in the ring, can't wait to be on
the undercard with Claressa Shields,” Veyre said. “But more
than anything, I can't wait to defend my title for the first
time, and go get another one while I'm at it. My opponent is
10-0 and an IBO champion, and that's exactly why I want this
fight. I didn't become a world champion to duck challenges.
I want to prove I'm the champion of this division, and the
only way to do that is by facing the other champions."
Ferreira (10-0, 4 KOs) will fight outside of her native
South Africa for the first time, where she has compiled 10
wins in just three years. In her last two bouts, the
34-year-old won a wide decision over Ellen Simwaka and a
near-shutout over former world title challenger Nozipho
Bell. Ferreira, who currently holds the IBO super
featherweight belt, is ranked in the top five by two of the
major sanctioning bodies - No. 2 by the IBF and No. 4 - as
well as No. 9 by the WBO.
“They’re selling this as a clash of two titans, but when
that bell rings, respect goes out the window,” Ferreira
said. “She’s coming to win a match, I’m coming to take a
soul. I’ve taken beatings from life that would have put her
in the ground, so if she thinks 10 rounds with me is going
to break my spirit, she’s in for a long night."
Said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions: “We’re
excited to put on this great DAZN undercard featuring former
Olympic teammates and American contenders in a
career-defining showdown. The addition of Lozado vs. Cuesta
and Veyre vs. Ferreira to the undercard of Claressa Shields
and Kaye Scott further solidifies our dedication to women’s
boxing by showcasing three fantastic women’s fights on the
biggest platform in the sport.”
|
|
|
