
China's former world featherweight champion Can Xu (18-3, 3KOs) will return to the ring on October 8 in Plant City, FL at the ProBox Events Center, with the all action featherweight looking to put himself back in title contention.
Xu returns to the ring after a hardfought loss to world featherweight champion Leigh Wood in the United Kingdom, and after making changes within his camp, the Chinese star feels rejuvenated as he sets his sights on becoming a two-time world champion in the featherweight division.
The former WBA world champion will take on Mexico's Brandon Leon Benitez (18-2, 7KOs) over 10 rounds, live on ProBox TV, the ProBox TV app and KOTV at the start time of 10am, making this event primetime viewing in Xu Can's native China. Benitez is coming off four straight victories, and the Mexican knows full well, a victory against the Chinese star Can Xu would be life changing for his career.
Juan “El Olimpico” Huertas will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino lightweight title against Miguel “Explosivo” Madueno ProBox TV’s September 9 main event. These two ‘banger/punchers’ will fight at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida and the card will be streamed live at PROBOXTV.com and the ProBox TV app.
“I cannot wait to fight on ProBox TV again,” said Huertas “My last fight was on ProBox TV and I came in as underdog against an undefeated fighter and knocked him out in the first round to win the WBO Latino title. On September 9, I’ll be looking for a KO repeat to defend it!”
“I’m ready to fight Huerta today,” said Madueno. “I can’t wait to get back in the ring and showcase myself. What better opportunity than this one for a belt and on a big platform. I was not successful in my last performance, but styles make fights and this one is the perfect match for me. Huerta is tough, I know he is, but I will show the world that I’m tougher and better than him.”
“El Olimpico” Huertas (16-3-1, 12 KOs) from Panama City, Panama, represented Panama in the 2012 Olympics and made his professional debut on May 15, 2013. In his last two fights, following a two-year pandemic forced hiatus, he won both via first-round stoppage. His most recent win, on June 17 in Panama City, he beat Jonhatan Cardoso to win the WBO Latino Lightweight title. Huertas is a former WBA Fedecentro Super Featherweight Champion, winning that in only his seventh professional fight. He is also a former WBA Fedalatin Super Featherweight champion.
“Explosivo” Madueno (27-1, 25 KOs) is from Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, now residing in Orange County, California. The twenty-three-year-old made his professional debut on January 27, 2017 and his September 9 fight against Huertas will be his first title fight of any kind. His last fight was the first and only loss of his professional career. His fourth professional fight was his only other fight that went the distance.
ProBox TV was founded by Roy Jones Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Tarver, Paulie Malignaggi and Garry Jonas. Miguel Cotto recently joined the team. As always, the ‘Big 4’ will be calling the action from ringside.
Juan “El Olimpico” Huertas will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino lightweight title against Miguel “Explosivo” Madueno ProBox TV’s September 9 main event. These two ‘banger/punchers’ will fight at the ProBox Events Center in Plant City, Florida and the card will be streamed live at PROBOXTV.com and the ProBox TV app.
“I cannot wait to fight on ProBox TV again,” said Huertas “My last fight was on ProBox TV and I came in as underdog against an undefeated fighter and knocked him out in the first round to win the WBO Latino title. On September 9, I’ll be looking for a KO repeat to defend it!”
“I’m ready to fight Huerta today,” said Madueno. “I can’t wait to get back in the ring and showcase myself. What better opportunity than this one for a belt and on a big platform. I was not successful in my last performance, but styles make fights and this one is the perfect match for me. Huerta is tough, I know he is, but I will show the world that I’m tougher and better than him.”
“El Olimpico” Huertas (16-3-1, 12 KOs) from Panama City, Panama, represented Panama in the 2012 Olympics and made his professional debut on May 15, 2013. In his last two fights, following a two-year pandemic forced hiatus, he won both via first-round stoppage. His most recent win, on June 17 in Panama City, he beat Jonhatan Cardoso to win the WBO Latino Lightweight title. Huertas is a former WBA Fedecentro Super Featherweight Champion, winning that in only his seventh professional fight. He is also a former WBA Fedalatin Super Featherweight champion.
“Explosivo” Madueno (27-1, 25 KOs) is from Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, now residing in Orange County, California. The twenty-three-year-old made his professional debut on January 27, 2017 and his September 9 fight against Huertas will be his first title fight of any kind. His last fight was the first and only loss of his professional career. His fourth professional fight was his only other fight that went the distance.
ProBox TV was founded by Roy Jones Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Tarver, Paulie Malignaggi and Garry Jonas. Miguel Cotto recently joined the team. As always, the ‘Big 4’ will be calling the action from ringside.
Welterweight Future Star Marques Valle (5-0, 5 KOs; lives in Tampa, Florida) took out southpaw Jorge Rodrigo Sosa (3-5) from Paraguay in round two of a scheduled six.
Marques and little brother Dominic have modeled for years, but each has decided to go all in with the pugilism.
The loser, who did land a couple straight left hand counters, went to the floor in the first. A left hook to the body repeated the act. Sosa almost crumpled again toward the end of the round and the ref stared hard. In the second, the 34 year old B side guy stayed stubborn, he'd bend but not break. Until he broke, down again in the second. He was wincing when he got up, the ref saw that and waved his hands. The finish came at 2:38 of the second.
Future Star Julio Solis (8-0, 6 KOs; residing in Tampa, Florida), born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, handled Argentine Emiliano Garcia (17-7-1) in a lightweight faceoff. After eight rounds, the judges saw it 80-72, times three for "Macho."
Garcia moves well, so Solis wasn't connecting in round one like he'd been used to. Solis, who turned 21 three days before fight night, had to work to find the 38 year old opponent. In the fourth, a clean left hook from Solis had Garcia nodding his head, "you got me." The out of towner hung in, he even tried to back up Solis some in the sixth. But no, this was all Solis, all the way.
Future Star Dominic Valle rose to 4-0 (4 KOs), with a stoppage W over Manuel Guzman (8-6-1) from Nicaragua. The junior lightweight battle ended at 2:39 of the third.
Dominic is "Little Valle," he's younger and at a lighter weight class than big bro Marques, age 23. At 5-11, he's above average at that division, and used his length to fine effect. Guzman sure did come to fight, he ate a diet of power shots, including a left hook to the body early in the third that landed and made the crowd buzz.
Brandon Glanton went to 16-0 (13 KOs) in the first fight of the night, as the cruiserweight from Atlanta, Georgia took care of Deshon "All Bite, No Bark" Webster from Kansas.
The end came at 1:58 of the fifth, with the muscle-y victor scoring with a right hand. He'd already put Webster down in the round, and the ref saw that the loser was fading.
Webster (12-6-3) came to fight, he hung in tight with Glanton, and showed heart in getting up from two knockdowns. Glanton, rated as high as No. 8, by the WBA, put him to the floor in the third, and sapped his energy with body work.
Junior lightweight Jaycob Gomez (age 20; went to 5-0, defeating late, late sub Marcello Williams (age 33; 3-13, 0 KOs entering), out of Brazil. The scrap went the distance, six rounds, with the lefty Puerto Rican in against a rugged man whose record didn't hint at his true skill set, which includes a tight chin and an admirable stubbornness.
After the finish, before Gomez had his hand raised, watchers could hear Malignaggi's comfort level with his in-booth partners, and notice his growth as a media talent when he talked through Gomez highlights from throughout the six rounder. Sideline note: The hours together, on-air and doing podcasts every Monday, have made it so already there's a smoothness and at-ease vibe present when Goldberg, Jones Jr, Tarver and Malignaggi talk boxing, ringside and elsewhere.
Last aside on the announce team--Goldberg allowing for pauses...multiple seconds to pass without having to have one of them speak, is very, very refreshing. It's not meaningless, or just an announcement of my personal preference--this is a sign that there are pros working, no one's over excited, too eager to make an impression. It is a rarity, and a welcome one, in this age of over-amplication for effect.
Back to the fisticuffs...
Featherweight Jan Paul Rivera (age 21, 2-0, 2 KOs coming in), a Future Star out of Salinas, Puerto Rico, took on Cesar Martinez (age 32, 4-6-2), out of Spain, living in Los Angeles. "Rivera's definitely a beast," said Roy as he backed up Martinez early in round one. Showing a ptent jab, Rivera flurried on Martinez, with his back to the ropes, and smashed him near through said ropes. The ref jumped in and called a halt 48 seconds into the opening round. "A great looking prospect in Rivera," Tarver opined. "That jab was like a laser," Malignaggi noted. "Jan Paul has an exceptional jab," Jones agreed.
Najee might watch the bout and wished for a different punch selection when he looked to finish off Monroy in the first minute of round three. But, Jones noted, for sure Najee's punches look crisper when he's in the 180s versus the 200s.
Super flyweight Trinidad Vargas (age 19, 0-0 entering) kicked off the show, suceeding in his pro debut. The Grand Prairie, Texas prospect scored a TKO stoppage over "Thundermouse" Josh Aarons (age 33, 0-2 entering), fighting out of Pennsylvania.
Vargas sent Aarons to the mat with an overhand right/left hand follow with 39 seconds left. The loser stumbled when he rose, so the ref waved it off in round one.
ProBox TV is back with live action on July 9. "We the fighters have decided to try and give you exactly what you want as a fan. That's the only way to keep this business going, and that's what we intend to do, on ProBox TV," said the new entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Roy Jones Jr to kick off this show. His declaration aligns well with the main event, which on paper looks like a coinflip fight. Panamanian New Yorker Cesar Francis (10-0) battles rugged vet Ray Beltran (37-9-1) in a 140 pound showdown.