Hall of Fame boxer and president of IMP, “Iron” Mike Tyson, who fought 17 times on SHOWTIME®, will make his return to the network in a new capacity as the promotion makes its debut on the network. Three of IMP’s most highly regarded unbeaten fighters will be showcased in a live tripleheader airing on ShoBox: The New Generation (SHOWTIME, 10:45 ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
Explosive Cuban southpaw Alexei “The Hurricane” Collado (18-0, 16 KOs), of Miami, Fla., by way Cork, Ireland, and Havana, Cuba, faces Pittsburgh-area crowd favorite “Lightning” Rod Salka (18-3, 3 KOs), of Bunola, Pa., in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Interim FECARBOX title.
Slick southpaw and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz (14-0, 8 KOs), of Oxnard, Calif., by way of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic meets Emmanuel Lartey (15-1-1, 7 KOs), of Brooklyn by way of Ghana, in an eight-round co-feature for the vacant WBC FECARBOX welterweight championship.
Local favorite and Iraq War veteran Sammy Vasquez, Jr. (13-0, 9 KOs), of Monesson, Pa., makes his IMP debut against fellow unbeaten Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez, Jr. (11-0, 5 KOs), of Union City, N.J., in an eight-round welterweight bout opening the broadcast.
Lubin, arguably the best teenage professional boxer in the world, was considered Team USA’s No. 1 overall prospect for the 2016 Olympics prior to him signing a promotional contract with Iron Mike Productions last October 1 on his 18th birthday. The multi-talented southpaw, who was the 2012 National PAL Champion, has knocked out all four of his opponents as a professional. He faces the toughest test of his young pro career in his first scheduled six-round fight against Mexican invader Jovan “Negrito” Ramirez (3-1, 1 KO). In his last fight, Ramirez suffered the first loss of his career to former world light middleweight champion Joachim Alcine.
Cuban-born Jhonson, fighting out of Miami, squares-off against Lenwood Dozier (9-5-1, 4 KOs), of Glen Burnie, Maryland, in an eight-round junior middleweight fight that has future world title fight implications for the gifted Cuban.
Another highly decorated amateur in the IMP stable, undefeated super featherweight Albert “Prince” Bell (3-0, 1 KO) will seeks revenge against Micah Branch (2-9-1) in a four-round match. Branch defeated Ohio native Bell, who now lives in Miami, as an amateur.
Also fighting on the undercard in a four-round bout is local favorite junior middleweight Andreas Kamouyerov, of Vemetia, Pa., versus New Jersey junior middleweight Malik Jackson (0-2-2).
Another heralded, undefeated prospect in action will be Cleveland lightweight Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. an opponent to be determined in another four-rounder. Martin is promoted by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson‘s SMS Promotions. 50 Cent is expected to be in attendance.
Published on WBAN. We cover women’s boxing and men’s boxing.