Joshua James Pagan is set to face Haskell Rhodes in a 10-round lightweight bout Friday at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of the “Big Time Boxing Puerto Rico” event.
The co-feature will showcase Argentina’s Juan Carrillo in the light heavyweight division against Miami’s Lenin Castillo.
The fighters participated in a press conference on Tuesday and a media workout on Wednesday at the Felix Pagan Pintor Boxing Gym, hosted by International Boxing Hall of Famer Ivan Calderon.
Pagan, 10-0 (4 KOs), from Grand Rapids, Michigan, turned pro in January 2023 and has remained highly active under Salita Promotions. This bout marks his 11th professional fight and his first at the 10-round distance.
“I see this as the hard part,” the 24-year-old Pagan said of a Thursday press conference. “I just love fighting and training; that’s the easy part. It’s my full-time job and what I love to do, and what I’ve been doing my entire life. Camp’s been great, and I went to [Las] Vegas for about a week and a half and got some good sparring from Bruce Carrington before finishing camp here last week.”
A former multiple-time national champion in the USA Boxing system, Pagan expressed gratitude toward his opponent.
“I want to thank Haskell Rhodes for accepting the fight,” he said. “I have no doubt in my mind that we have a great fight on our hands for everyone here. Growing up, I always dreamed of fighting in Puerto Rico, let alone the main event. It’s truly a blessing to be here. I used to watch Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, and they inspired me to be the next great fighter with Puerto Rican lineage.”
Rhodes, 31-6, (16 KOs), a 37-year-old from Las Vegas, enters the ring on a two-fight win streak after losing to undefeated Antonio Perez last year in Miami. His most notable recent bout was a unanimous decision loss to unbeaten lightweight Floyd Schofield in July 2023.
Fighting in Puerto Rico for the first time, Rhodes noted his own inspiration from a legendary Puerto Rican fighter.
“If you’ve ever seen me fight or the way I dress, it’s definitely influenced by Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, down to my red-and-black shoes with all the sparkles,” Rhodes said. “I’m bringing a heavy vibe of Hector Camacho on Friday night!”
In the co-feature, Carrillo, 12-0 (9 KOs) will face Castillo, 25-5-1 (19 KOs), in a competitive light heavyweight matchup. Carrillo, a 32-year-old from Colombia, previously defeated unbeaten prospect Richard Vansiclen in June 2023 and has fought only once since, stopping Quinton Rankin in the third round.
“I have confidence that I will win this fight on Friday night,” Carrillo said.
Said Castillo, a 36-year-old Dominican: “There is a lot of attention right now on the light heavyweight division, which is very deep in talent.”
Also on the bill will be middleweight prospect Da’velle Smith, 9-0 (7 KOs), from Taylor, Michigan, and Puerto Rico’s 34-year-old Kiria Tapia, 4-0, who shared their excitement about fighting in Puerto Rico.
Said Smith: “I’ve been here since Monday and just can’t wait for Friday night. I have Puerto Rico in my heart, and I’ve been trying to get here for 16 years. Hopefully, what’s next for me are bigger fights and showing everyone that I’m ready to put my foot on the gas and become a world champion.”
Said Tapia: “I grew up watching great women’s champions like Laila Ali and Christy Martin. They inspired me to be the fighter I am, and I hope I can be the one to show future girls and women what it takes to become a world champion boxer.”
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