NEW YORK CITY (December 11, 2024) – When undefeated Manhattan middleweight Jacob Solis returns December 17th to fight on the “Holiday Fight Night 3 card, presented by Boxing Insider Promotions and streamed live on DAZN, he’ll be going back to the future in the intimate surroundings of Sony Hall in historic Times Square.
The 33-year-old Solis has taken an unusual path to pro boxing. He started boxing at the age of nine because his mother needed a “babysitter” for Jacob and his younger sister in Santa Fe Springs in Los Angeles County. After training with his sister a few times, Solis admitted that he was scared of boxing when he first started sparring experienced foes.
“They threw me in with junior amateur champions and I got my bell rung,” Solis explained. “I played baseball and hockey but had never boxed before. But I eventually fell in love with boxing and I’m grateful to have done it at such a young age.”
Solis, however, didn’t fall in love enough to stop focusing on baseball in high school. He did start mixed-martial-arts training. In his early twenties, Solis started to coach boxing and six years ago he moved to New York City, where he continued training people at a local gym. Jacob didn’t compete in boxing until he was 27. He turned pro on Dec. 16, 2023, stopping Tevin Terrance in the third round at Sony Hall on the “Holiday Fight Night 2”.
He returns to the scene of his pro debut next Tuesday night in a four-round bout against Daniel Jefferson (5-3, 0 KOs).
“Fighting at Sony Hall is special for me,” Solis said. “It’s super small there without a bad seat in the house. I live in New York City – only a 20-minute train ride to the venue from my house – and all my friends will be there. This is my fourth fight promoted by Larry (Goldberg); I fought twice in Atlantic City. I prefer fighting at Sony Hall because it’s so moody and dark with a New York crowd. And I don’t have to travel far for the weigh-in and fight.”
Self-described as a slick, defensive boxer as an amateur, Solis noted that he has become more of a power puncher as a pro, displaying a Mexican style of fighting.
Solis is managed by TMA Management (Martin Hopwood) and trained by Jose Guzman. Proving that he’s not a typical boxer, Jacob’s chief second is his best friend, pro boxer Josh Popper (2-0), and Solis serves as his chief second as well.
If everything works out well for Solis, he will open a gym in New York City to coach boxers and strength-and-conditioning long before “Holiday Fight Night 4”.
“Jacob is the perfect fighter to feature at Sony Hall,” commented promoter Larry Goldberg, the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2024 Promoter of the Year. “He is exciting, brings a crowd and his management and trainers are great people. People at the venue and local boxing fans are always asking when Jacob is fighting next. We took him pro last year and it’s great to see how far he’s come in such a short time.”
Co-main events headline “Holiday Fight Night 3” in eight-round matches as lightweight prospect Kurt Scoby (15-1, 13 KOs) and Mexican flyweight Andy Dominguez (11-1, 6 KOs) are showcased in separate bouts.
The heavy-handed Scoby, 29, takes on Nicaraguan Bryan Jimenez (17-1, 10 KOs) in what could be a barnburner from the opening bell. Scoby was a star running back on Monrovia High School’s football team in Greater Los Angeles, scoring 35 touchdowns as a senior. Scoby accepted a scholarship offer from Fresno State and after a red-shirt season there, he transferred to Azusa Pacific, where he rushed for 2,704 yards in three seasons. Scoby pursued boxing and he moved to New York City during the 2020 pandemic in search of a trainer and additional experience. He ended up at the famed Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn and connected there with his head trainer, Don Saxby. His Dec. 17th opponent, 27-year-old Jimenez, is a former FEDECARIBE champion.
Dominguez, a three-time New York Golden Gloves Champion, faces fellow Mexico native Angel Geovanny “Rayito” Meza Morales (8-2-3, 6 KOs). Fighting out of the South Bronx, Andy defeated Marvin Solano (24-7) in the inaugural “Holiday Fight Night” in 2021 at Sony Hall.
Wyandanch (NY) junior welterweight Terell Bostic (13-2, 2 KOs) will square-off with upset-minded Carlos Marrero (8-9-3, 1 KO) in an eight-round fight. Bostic puts his 5-fight win streak on the line against Marrero, who has won five of his last six matches.
New York Police officer Nisa Rodriguez (2-0, 0 KOs) is in her first scheduled six-rounder against Georgia middleweight Melody Popravak (2-1-1. 1 KO). Rodriguez is an eight-time New York Daily News Golden Gloves, six-time Metro Championships, two-time Empire State, and Caribbean and Central Americano gold medalist.
Blue-chip super middleweight prospect Donte Layne (5-0, 5 KOs), fighting out of Long Island (NY), faces Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-7-2, 6 KOs) in a six-round match presented in association with Overtime Boxing. The 21-year-old Layne won gold medals at the 2022 and 2021 USA National Championships and 2022 National Golden Gloves Tournament.
Brooklyn lightweight Koby Khalil Williams (3-0, 2 KOs) opens the show in a four-rounder versus Deonta Williamson.
The card is subject to change.