EL PASO, TX (July 14, 2015) – Mexican-American heavyweight star Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola, (36-4, 31 KOs) will face “Big” Fred Kassi, (18-3-0, 10 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions on CBS, Saturday afternoon, July 18 from the Don Haskins Center at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Televised coverage on CBS Sports starts at 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.
Featured on the undercard is a trio of undefeated prospects as Mario Barrios (14-0, 5 KOs) takes on Jose Esquivel (9-2, 2 KOs)in a six-round super featherweight bout, Ryan Karl (7-0, 5 KOs) faces Rigobert Flores (7-1, 2 KOs) in six-rounds of super lightweight action and Steve Lovett (12-0, 10 KOs) battles Jinner Guerrero (8-4, 6 KOs) in an eight-round light heavyweight attraction.
Also featured is the 10-round middleweight clash between 26-year-old unbeaten Ivan Golub (8-0, 6 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn by way of Ukraine, and 26-year-old Lukasz Maciec (22-2-1, 5 KOs) from Lublin, Poland.
Rounding out the day of fights is 21-year-old Justin Deloach (9-1, 5 KOs) out of Georgia, Louisiana who faces 29-year-old Detroit-native Lauro Alcantar (9-3, 1 KO) in a six-round super welterweight battle, while 24-year-old Josh Taylor (0-2) from Scotland will enter the ring against Houston’s Randy Gibson (0-1) for a six-round super lightweight bout.
These exciting fights will support the PBC on CBS main event pitting undefeated Irish superstar Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) in a world title defense against Mexico’s Alejandro “Cobrita” Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing and Cyclone Promotions, are priced at $50 or $25 for general admission and are on sale now. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the University Ticket Center at (915) 747-5234. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com.
Making his first start in El Paso, the 34-year-old Arreola is anxious to fight in front of the passionate West Texas boxing fans. On the March 13 PBC card he was victorious against Curtis Harper in an outstanding slugfest that featured excellent two-way action throughout. A native of Riverside, Calif., Arreola has challenged the top heavyweights over the last decade and is regarded as one of the most feared punchers in the division.
Born in Cameroon but fighting out of New Orleans, the 35-year-old hard-hitting Kassi will be looking to upset Arreola and make an impact on a huge stage. Kassi has delivered knockouts in five of his last eight fights and will make his first start of 2015 on July 18.
Fighting in his home state and representing San Antonio, Barrioslooks for his third knockout victory of 2015 on July 18. The 20-year-old hopes to build on his momentum and continue to grow his fan base in his home state when he takes on the 25-year-old Esquivel from Mexico.
An undefeated prospect representing Houston, Karl had an excellent amateur career that ended with him ranked third in the nation in the 141-pound division. The 23-year-old has already won twice in 2015 and most recently defeated Alfred Hall on May 9. He faces the 32-year-old Californian Flores.
Representing New South Wales, Austraila, Lovettturned pro in 2010 and has yet to drop a fight in his first 12 bouts. The 30-year-old takes on the 32-year-old Guerrero from Ecuador.
MCJOE ARROYO GOES TO TEXAS TO FACE ARTHUR VILLANUEVA FOR THE 115 POUNDS IBF TITLE; MCWILLIAMS WILL BE WITH HIS BROTHER
International Boxing Federation (IBF) 115 pounds #1 ranked, McJoe Arroyo, traveled today to El Paso, Texas, where this Saturday, July 18th, will face #3 ranked Arthur Villanueva for the vacant IBF super flyweight, in a fight that will take place at the Don Haskins Center, live on Showtime at 10:00 pm.
Arroyo (16-0, 8 KOs), a former Olympian of Puerto Rico in 2008, went along his twin brother McWilliams (IBF #4 and WBO #6 flyweight world ranked), trainers Anthony Otero and Alex Caraballo, his manager Orlando Piñero and Peter Rivera, Vice-President of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP).
“McWilliams and McJoe be together in this world fight. Last year, when McWilliams fought for the world title, McJoe could not travel, because the journey was long and McJoe was training, but now it is a more comfortable ride and they will be together on this important date for both. In addition there is the possibility that McWilliams fight this Saturday also. We are looking for an opponent,” Peter Rivera said.
The bout between McJoe Arroyo, who in his latest bout won an unanimous decision over Mark Anthony Geraldo in an IBF elimination fight, on December 20, 2014, and Villanueva (27-0, 14 KOs), who is coming off a victory by unanimous decision over former world champion Julio Cesar Miranda in February, 2014, is the co-feature this Saturday, July 18, in El Paso. The main event of the night will be between former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-2-1, 32 KOs) and Marcos Reyes (33-2, 24 KOs) in a 10 rounds schedule fight. Also on Showtime at 10:00 p.m., unbeaten Amir Imam (17-0, 14 KOs) will face Fernando Angulo (29-9, 16 KOs) in the opening bout.