Fa vs Vargas, Ahio vs Tufte Official Weigh In Results

By Boxing News - 11/15/2019 - Comments

Junior Fa 267.6 vs Devin Vargas 218.6
Hemi Ahio 231.6 vs Joshua Tufte 269
Ivan Golub 146.2 vs Janer Gonzalez
Dennis Douglin 170 vs Mike Guy 166.4

Tonight, two Members of the Split-T Management banner will be in action at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once-beaten welterweight Ivan Golub takes on Janer Gonzalez in a ten-round contest for the WBC USNBC Welterweight title, while undefeated super welterweight Ardreal Holmes battles Jose Antonio Abreu in a eight-round bout.

Golub of Brooklyn, New York via Goravoka, Ukraine is 17-1 with 13 knockouts. The hard punching Golub is on a four-fight winning streak and over his five-year career, the 30 year-old has wins over Kirk Huff (3-0), Tyson Harrison (2-0), Juan Rodriguez Jr (12-3), Marlon Aguas (9-0), James Stevenson (23-2), and in Golub’s last bout he stopped Joaquim Cameiro on August 1st in Monroeville, PA.

Gonzalez of Colombia has wins over Victor Coronado (4-1), Devis Caceres (14-2) and Carlos Galven (9-1-1). the former Colombian and WBC Latino Super Welterweight champion, Gonzalez is coming off a loss to world ranked Jamal James on February 23rd in Minneapolis.

Golub weighed in at 146,2 lbs and Gonzalez weighed in at 149.4 lbs. Gonzalez is ineligible to win the title.

Holmes of Flint, Michigan, has a record of 10-0 with four knockouts. Holmes, who was a heralded amateur, was a National Golden Gloves Finalist, and has a win over Bryan Goldsby (4-1). Holmes is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over veteran Walter Wright on October 11 in Warren, Michigan.

Abreu of La Romana, Dominican Republic has a record of 14-6 with eight knockouts.

The 31 year-old Abreu has quality wins on his resume over Jose Eduardo Souza (1-0-1), Euri Ginzalez (24-6-1) and Wesley Tucker (14-2).

Abreu is coming off a defeat to Eric Walker on August 1st in Monroeville, PA.

Holmes was 155.4 lbs. Abreu was 158.4 lbs at Thursday’s weigh-in

Golub is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions. Holmes is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.

The fights can be seen live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 11 PM ET.

Hemi “The Heat” Ahio sign with DiBella

DiBella Entertainment has signed Undefeated Heavyweight Contender Hemi “The Heat” Ahio (15-0, 10 KOs), of Auckland, New Zealand, to an exclusive promotional contract.

The hard-hitting Ahio will make his debut under the DiBella Entertainment banner on Friday, November 15, in a scheduled 10-round bout against Joshua Tufte (19-3, 9 KOs), of Kernersville, NC, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The featured attraction bout of the Broadway Boxing event will be live streamed exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASSĀ®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, starting at 9:00 p.m. MST/11:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. PST.

Advance tickets, priced at $200 VIP, $100 Ringside, $60 and $30, plus service fees, are on sale now and can be purchased HERE. The Salt Palace Convention Center is located at 100 S W Temple in Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Doors will open on the night of the event at 7:00 p.m. MST. Broadway Boxing is presented by Nissan of Queens, Azad Watches, OPTYX, Christos Steak House and Gagliardi Insurance.

“I’m really appreciative of DiBella Entertainment having the faith in me to be successful in the United States,” said the 29-year-old Ahio. “Bring on the good times. I can’t wait to fight on Friday, November 15.”

“Hemi has the potential to be a big player in the heavyweight division,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Known as the ‘Tongan Tyson’ in New Zealand, he’s a huge puncher with fast hands and an exciting come-forward style. Coming off a big knockout of an undefeated prospect in Saudi Arabia, Hemi is back in the US and ready to shine on UFC Fight Pass, Friday, November 15 in Salt Lake City.”

Renowned as a street fighter in Auckland, Ahio was jumped by six assailants in early 2013 in his hometown and stabbed in the chest. Despite his life-threatening injury, Ahio was able to knock out three of his attackers with the other three running away from the free-swinging, bloodied New Zealander. Following the notorious incident, Ahio was taken to a boxing gym by his uncle and had his first professional bout on October 18, 2013, which he won by first-round knockout.

With his tremendous hand speed and devastating power, the aggressive Kiwi heavyweight, born to Tongan parents, has drawn comparisons stylistically to a young Mike Tyson. Ahio captured the IBO Oceania-Orient and New Zealand Heavyweight Titles, winning a unanimous decision in his first 10-rounder against Daniel Tai in September 2017. Victorious three times in 2019, he returns to the United States following a first-round knockout of Ali Kiydin on July 12 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On March 2, 2019, Ahio made his US debut with a seventh-round stoppage versus Ed Fountain in Columbus, Ohio.

Headlining the Broadway Boxing event, fellow New Zealand heavyweight Junior Fa (18-0, 10 KOs) battles US Olympian Devin Vargas (21-5, 9 KOs), of Sylvania, OH, in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Dibella Entertainment signs New Zealand heavyweight prospect Junior Fa

DiBella Entertainment (DBE) is thrilled to announce the signing of highly touted undefeated New Zealand heavyweight prospect Uaine Fa Jr., otherwise known as Junior Fa (9-0, 6 KOs). This is the first signing since DBE has brought in Australian boxing agent Brendan Bourke to seek out the best talent from the Asia Pacific region.

Born Auckland and now living in Papakura, Fa is a hulking figure standing at 6’5″ and averaging 270 pounds, with exceptionally fast hands. At 16 years old, he was inspired to take up boxing by his father, a former amateur boxer himself. As an amateur, Fa was the 2009 New Zealand National super heavyweight champion, a gold and silver medalist at the Oceania Championships in 2010 and 2012 respectively, as well as a bronze medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He also owns two amateur wins over current WBO heavyweight champion and fellow New Zealander Joseph Parker.

Connecting with manager Mark Keddell and trainer Henry Schuster, Fa made his professional debut in February 2016, winning nine fights last year. In his last bout on December 10, Fa scored an impressive third-round knockout over 17-1 Pablo Magrini on the same card that saw Parker win his world title. Fa feels that there is unfinished business between the two and is determined to face his former amateur rival again as a professional, after gaining more experience and international recognition.

“The physically imposing Junior Fa has the size and skills to make an impact in an era of heavyweight giants,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “His power and amateur pedigree, including two wins over Joseph Parker, have put him on the map in the Asia Pacific region; he now looks to make his mark on the US and the boxing world.”

“I would like to thank Lou DiBella for giving me this opportunity to showcase my talent and love for boxing,” said Fa. “Lou has given me a stage to perform on to show the world what I can do. I will train hard, prove myself and not let Lou down.”

“It’s great to be able to work with and learn from one of boxing’s top promoters like Lou DiBella,” said Keddell. “Junior comes from a long line of New Zealand heavyweights and looks to continue in the tradition of David Tua and Joseph Parker.”

“I’m happy to have facilitated DiBella Entertainment’s signing of heavyweight prospect Junior Fa,” said Bourke. “Junior has everything you want in a heavyweight: height, reach, punching power and fast hands. America is going to love this guy.”