Former welterweight and junior welterweight world titlist Devon Alexander and all-action fighter Ivan Redkach are due to meet on the Premier Boxing Champions card on June 1 (FS1) at a location in Southern California, a source with knowledge of the bout, which hasn’t been announced yet, told ESPN. Alexander, going into his first fight with legend Roy Jones Jr. as his head trainer, is coming off a disputed split decision loss to former welterweight titlist Andre Berto in August and heavily disputed draw with Victor Ortiz 14 months ago. Redkach has won two fights in a row following consecutive losses to John Molina Jr. and former world titlist Argenis Mendez.
Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer
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Devon Alexander could get a chance to earn his first win since 2017 on June 1st, as according to ESPN, he and Ukrainian slugger Ivan Redkach are “due to meet” in a PBC on FS1 card.
Yes, this presumably means that they’re competing with Anthony Joshua vs. Jarrell Miller. This isn’t really their fault, though; they’ve had the date planned since last November, so it’s really just a matter of bad luck.
“The Great” (27-5-1, 14 KO) is just 2-4-1 in the last five years, though that record could easily look much better. He deserved the win against Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto, but had to settle for a majority draw and split decision loss, respectively.
Redkach (22-4-1, 17 KO), a 2008 Olympic alternate for his native Ukraine, hasn’t quite panned out as hoped. A 2015 TKO loss to Dejan Zlaticanin kicked off a 2-4-1 stretch that saw him lose to Tevin Farmer, Argenis Mendez, and John Molina Jr in a wild slugfest. He’s won two straight since and “The Mexican Ukrainian” is tons of fun, at least; he should be able to drag an entertaining fight out of Alexander.
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 26 May 2019, 18:30, edited 1 time in total.
Former two-division world champion Devon Alexander "The Great" will face exciting welterweight Ivan "El Terrible" Redkach in the 10-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, June 1 from Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, California.
The telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also feature a 10-round clash of middleweight contenders as Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. faces Willie "El Mongoose" Monroe Jr. in the co-main event. The action begins with unbeaten heavyweight Onoriode Ehwarieme in a 10-round clash against Rodney Hernandez.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale next week and can be purchased at the Soboba Box and Soboba.com.
"Devon Alexander could easily be 2-0 in his last two fights and has shown that he's back to the form that made him a two-division world champion," said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. "Working for the first time with the legendary Roy Jones Jr. in his corner, Alexander is poised for another championship run at welterweight. He's going to have his hands full with all-action Ivan Redkach, who is hungry to prove that he's grown into a welterweight contender in his own right. Combined with a 50-50 middleweight showdown between Hugo Centeno Jr. and Willie Monroe Jr., plus heavyweight knockout artist Onoriode Ehwarieme, this is shaping up to be a dramatic night on FS1 and FOX Deportes and live at Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto."
"We're looking forward to hosting this exciting championship match, this will be the first event of its kind in our all new event center," said Jason Cozart, Assistant General Manager of Soboba Casino Resort. "We look forward to hosting many more bouts in the future."
Alexander (27-5-1, 14 KOs) returned to the spotlight in February 2018, after a period of inactivity in which he sought treatment for an addiction to painkillers, and delivered in two exciting contests on FOX. After fighting to an action-packed draw against Victor Ortiz, he dropped Andre Berto in their August matchup before losing a narrow split-decision. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Alexander will train with the legendary Roy Jones Jr. in Pensacola, Florida for the first time for this fight. He has defeated the likes of Marcos Maidana, Lucas Matthysse and Jesus Soto Karass throughout an accomplished career where he won titles at 140 and 147-pounds.
"I'm excited to get back in the ring on June 1 on FS1 and FOX Deportes and bring a great fight to the fans at Soboba Casino Resort," said Alexander. "As most people know, I've switched trainers to Roy Jones. Jr. Roy has accomplished everything in this sport and he's teaching me to have fun again. He's also helping me balance both my physical and mental game. I'm just excited to enter the ring with him in my corner and to fight my way back into world title contention."
Originally from Ukraine, but now training in Los Angeles, Redkach (22-4-1, 17 KOs) has won back-to-back fights heading into June 1, defeating Brian Jones last June and Tyrone Harris in February. The 33-year-old is a training camp teammate of featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz and put together those recent victories after losing contests to John Molina Jr. and Argenis Mendez on FS1. The December 2017 battle against Molina saw both men hit the canvas in a firefight that garnered Fight of the Year recognition.
"This fight is very important to me and I appreciate the opportunity to compete against a fighter like Devon Alexander," said Redkach. "I am always in the gym and ready to fight, but I am also preparing mentally for the challenge ahead and to be at my very best. Devon Alexander is a good fighter with a name people know, but after my performance on June 1, they will know me too."
Representing his hometown of Oxnard, California, Centeno (27-2, 14 KOs) bounced back from a loss to Jermall Charlo in 2018 to defeat Oscar Cortes in February. The 28-year-old previously scored a highlight-reel knockout of Immanuwel Aleem on FS1 in August 2017 and won his first 24 pro fights.
The 31-year-old Willie Monroe, Jr. (23-3, 6 KOs) has shown the skills to compete at the elite level, having faced top middleweights Gennady Golovkin and Billy Joe Saunders throughout his career. The 32-year-old from Rochester, NY holds victories over Gabriel Rosado, Brian Vera and Brandon Adams and has won back-to-back fights heading into June 1.
Representing his home of Sapele, Nigeria, Ehwarieme (17-0, 16 KOs) was a 2008 Olympian who is unbeaten since turning pro in 2010. The 31-year-old has a 16-fight knockout streak heading into his U.S. debut, as he continues to seek a path to becoming the first Nigerian heavyweight champion since Samuel Peter. He will be opposed by San Jose, California's Hernandez (12-7-2, 3 KOs), who defeated Nick Jones and then unbeaten LaRon Mitchell in 2018. The 30-year-old has battled heavyweight standouts Adam Kownacki, Michael Hunter and Efe Ajagba in a career dating back to 2011.
Redkach is a pretty fun middle of the road guy that always comes up short when he steps up. He's come up short stepping lower than this, he'll lose. Probably by UD.
After having trainer Kevin Cunningham in his corner throughout his entire career, Devon Alexander is now banking on former four-weight world champion Roy Jones, Jr. providing that extra lift to extend his career.
Alexander may not have many fights left in him, which makes his clash against former lightweight contender Ivan Redkach all the more interesting.
The two southpaw fighters will square off on June 1 at the Soboba Resort Casino in San Jacinto, California. The 10-round bout will headline a three-bout ‘Premier Boxing Champions’ telecast that will air live on FS1 and Fox Deportes (8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT).
Alexander recently announced he made the switch to Roy Jones, Jr. to train him, a peculiar move considering Cunningham had trained Alexander since May 2004.
“As most people know, I’ve switched trainers to Roy Jones, Jr.,” said Alexander, who has faced and defeated Lucas Matthysse, Marcos Maidana, and Randall Bailey. “Roy has accomplished everything in this sport and he’s teaching me to have fun again. He’s also helping me balance my physical and mental game. I’m just excited to enter the ring with him in my corner and to fight my way back into world title contention.”
Although his best days were at 135 pounds, Redkach is confident that he can compete in the welterweight division.
“This fight is very important to me and I appreciate the opportunity to compete against a fighter like Devon Alexander,” said Redkach, who is trained by Jose Santa Cruz, trainer and father of featherweight titleholder Leo. “I am always in the gym and ready to fight, but I am also preparing mentally for the challenge ahead and to be at my very best.”
“Devon Alexander is a good fighter with a name people know, but after my performance on June 1, they will know me too.”
Unbeaten heavyweight Onoriode Ehwarieme will now face Houston's Rodney Moore in an eight-round attraction as part of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, June 1 from Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, California.
The telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by former two-division world champion Devon Alexander "The Great" taking on exciting Ivan "El Terrible" Redkach in a 10-round battle.
PBC Prelims on FS2 and FOX Deportes begin at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated featherweight contender Jhack Tepora in a 10-round showdown against Jose Luis Gallegos. Plus, former world champion Marlon Tapales squares off against Roberto Castaneda in a 10-round super bantamweight fight. With Tepora and Tapales, the Prelims telecast will see two rising contenders from the Philippines. Tepora ia closing in on a world title opportunity, while Tapales is seeking a title in a second division.
Representing his home of Sapele, Nigeria, Ehwarieme (17-0, 16 KOs) was a 2008 Olympian who is unbeaten since turning pro in 2010. The 31-year-old has a 16-fight knockout streak heading into his U.S. debut, as he continues to seek a path to becoming the first Nigerian heavyweight champion since Samuel Peter. He will be opposed by Houston's Moore, (20-17-2, 9 KOs) who won his last two fights, including a decision victory in February over Brandon Spencer.
The 24-year-old Tepora (22-0, 17 KOs) most recently stopped Edivaldo Ortega in the ninth-round last July as he continued his climb up the featherweight ranks. Fighting out of Cebu City, Philippines, he is unbeaten since turning pro in 2012 and will make his U.S. debut on June 1. He takes on the 24-year-old Gallegos (16-6, 12 KOs), who was born in Chicago but now lives in Bakersfield, California. Gallegos had an 11-fight winning streak until losses in his last two bouts.
Representing Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, Tapales (32-2, 15 KOs) captured a bantamweight world title by knocking out Panya Uthok in the 11th round of a back and forth championship bout. The 27-year-old has since moved up in weight and most recently stopped Fernando Vargas Parra in his U.S. debut in February. He will face Castaneda (23-11-2, 16 KOs), who hails from Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The 27-year-old Castaneda is coming off a majority draw against Tyler McCreary in his last fight in March.
In non-televised action a pair of unbeaten prospects in Santa Maria, California's Jose Balderas and Julio Garcia of Madison, Wisconsin square off in a bantamweight bout. Anthony Chavez of Redlands, California takes on Milwaukee's Mike Fowler in a four-round super featherweight fight. Justin Cardona of Salinas, California meets Liberia's Archie Weah in a four-round super lightweight bout.
Undefeated Mexican featherweight Francisco Ochoa battles Phoenix, Arizona's Jesus Aguinaga in an eight-round bout. Unbeaten Filipino featherweight John Leo Dato appears in a six-round bout and Garden City, California's Jose Perez clashes with Los Angeles-native Mario Ayala in an eight-round featherweight bout.
Also in action, unbeaten Ukrainian super featherweight Viktor Slavinskyi meets Mexico's Ernest Guerrero. Santa Maria, California's Aaron Morales clashes with Mexico's Robert Pucheta in a six-round bantamweight bout. San Antonio, Texas' Robert Rodriguez battles Jose Rodriguez of Markesan, Wisconsin in a four-round bantamweight bout and Denver's Shon Mondragon takes on Mexico's Jose Fabian Naranjo in a six-round super bantamweight bout.
The telecast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also feature a 10-round clash of middleweight contenders as Hugo "The Boss" Centeno Jr. faces Willie "El Mongoose" Monroe Jr. in the co-main event.
Jhack Tepora atoned for past sins with an entertaining win in his latest ring adventure.
The unbeaten featherweight fended off a determined but outgunned Jose Luis Gallegos to score a 10-round decision Saturday evening at Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California.
Scores were 99-91 across the board in favor of Tepora, a Filipino southpaw fighting for the first time in more than 10 months.
A drug testing anomaly forced Willie Monroe Jr. out of an interim title fight last December and from the ring the for more than nine months as a result.
Saturday’s fight with Hugo Centeno didn’t create any demand for the second-generation boxer to return to the ring any sooner.
The middleweight southpaw rode boxed his way to a unanimous decision win over Centeno in their FS1-televised 10-round contest Saturday evening at Saturday evening at Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California.
Scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94 for Monroe in a slow moving affair which featured more drama than action.
Monroe Jr. was fighting for the first time since last August, the extended break stemming from his testing positive for accelerated levels of testosterone ahead of his canceled interim title fight showdown versus Jermall Charlo last December. The Rochester, N.Y.-bred boxer didn’t show any ring rust, his slick style effectively winning rounds early on as Centeno struggled to adapt.
The bad clash of styles produced a largely ugly affair, along with the southpaw versus conventional matchup coming with its share of headbutts. Centeno was forced to contend with a busted nose for much of the contest, but his corner did a good job of controlling the wound, thus keeping him in the fight.
Centeno rewarded his team’s hard work with a strong surge in the middle rounds. After being held to single digit punches landed in each of the first four rounds, Centeno outlanded Monroe in rounds five through eight.
Monroe regained his bearings down the stretch, with the action picking up as both boxers sensed the fight was on the table. Centeno’s specific instructions were to go for the knockout, which proved sage advice once the final cards were read.
The win is Monroe’s third straight since a 12-round points loss to then-unbeaten middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders in Sept. 2017. He’d also suffered a title fight loss when he was stopped in six rounds by Gennady Golovkin in May 2016.
Centeno falls to 27-3 (14KOs), having now lost two of his last three starts.
The bout aired live on FS2 as the chief support to an intended PBC on FS1 telecast headlined by a welterweight crossroads bout between Devon Alexander and Ivan Redkach,
SenorPipino wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 22:38
4-1 underdog Redkach may have ended the career of Alexander with a 6th round KO win.
It appeared to be a close fight with Alexander possibly ahead.
But Redkach suddenly scores 3 knockdowns in the 6th to pull the upset.
Yeah I could tell by how heavily he was dropped that 1st time, and how much time was left in the round that he was in deep trouble. He never could shake it off.
I don't know if it's the end for Devon Alexander, but he'll probably want to evaluate whether or not it's worth it to him to continue on in this profession considering that he's likely gonna be relegated to stepping stone with a name status now for the young guns on the PBC roster. Unless he feels he can turn it around, and beat some cats like that. Which he may well be able to.
bmilligan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 22:44
That is one of those KOs that ends careers.
Wasn't unlike the Omar Figueroa/Robert Guerrero one in the way it looked. Maybe not quite that violent, but just the way Devon was reacting to the punches.
gilgamesh wrote: ↑01 Jun 2019, 22:42
I don't know if it's the end for Devon Alexander, but he'll probably want to evaluate whether or not it's worth it to him to continue on in this profession considering that he's likely gonna be relegated to stepping stone with a name status now for the young guns on the PBC roster. Unless he feels he can turn it around, and beat some cats like that. Which he may well be able to.
You dont know if its the end? It was the end 4 yrs ago when he lost to Aron Martinez as a -6000 favorite.
