The WBA lightweight championship fight between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach Jnr will have three other title fights on the PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime card.
Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela, holder of the WBA junior welterweight title, is billed to take on Gary Antuanne Russell in the co-main event, while WBC junior welterweight champion Alberto Puello defends his title against mandatory challenger Sandor Martin.
The event will take place March 1 at Barclays Center in New York.
Valenzuela, 14-2 (9 KOs), is coming off an emphatic decision win over Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in August last year. Valenzuela, a 25-year-old Mexican fighter, came back stronger after a controversial decision loss to Chris Colbert in March 2023, blasting out Colbert in six rounds in a rematch nine months later.
“I’m here to show the world what it means to be great,” said Valenzuela. “Bring me your most ferocious, and I will bring back their heads. On March 1 I will achieve victory against Gary Antuanne Russell and cement my legacy in the super lightweight division. Don’t miss it, because I’m making sure everyone knows where I stand at 140 pounds.”
Valenzuela’s opponent, Russell, 17-1, (17 KOs), is hoping to be lucky on his second attempt at a world title after losing to Alberto Puello in their June 2024 clash for the WBC 140-pound title.
“I can’t wait to get back in the ring and display my skills,” said the 28-year-old Russell. “Not everyone can perform when the heat gets turned up in the kitchen, but like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson said, can you smell what we’re cooking? We’re gonna find out if Valenzuela is ready on March 1.”
Meanwhile, Dominican Republic’s Puello, 22-0, (10 KOs), will put his WBC junior welterweight belt on the line against 42-3, 15 KOs Spanish fighter Martin in a 12-round showdown. Now a two-time world champion (having previously held the WBA 140-pound title), Puello returned to titleholder status last June after recording a decision win over Russell for what was then the WBC’s interim title, before being elevated shortly after fight night.
Puello described Martin as a great fighter but vowed to stamp his place in the sport by defending his WBC belt.
“This is my time, my stage and I’m ready to put on a show that fans will never forget. When we step into that ring, it’s going to be fireworks. I’m going to bring the best version of myself and do whatever it takes to leave with the victory. I’m doing this for the Dominican Republic, this fight is for them and I’m going to make them proud.”
But Martin, 31, who has earned back-to-back knockout victories over Arblin Kaba and Mohamed El Marcouchi in July and December 2023, said he was ready to take up the opportunity of becoming a champion.
“A new super lightweight king will be crowned on March 1. Alberto Puello has some experience, but he won’t be prepared for what I bring to the ring in Brooklyn. That beautiful WBC belt is coming home with me to Spain.”
Also on the card, junior middleweight Yoenis Tellez will take on former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams for the WBA Interim belt.
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].
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