BoxRec

Unbeaten welterweight contender and Minneapolis-native Jamal “Shango” James will battle former world champion Antonio DeMarco in a 10-round welterweight attraction that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 and FOX Deportes Saturday, July 13 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also feature a 10-round heavyweight clash between Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius and Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington, plus unbeaten prospect and 2016 U.S. Olympian Karlos Balderas will square-off against Joshuah Hernández in an eight-round lightweight bout.

James takes on the experienced and durable former champion DeMarco in his fourth-straight appearance at The Armory in his hometown. He will look to cement his status in the PBC within the most talent-rich division in boxing.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.

“One of the staples of boxing at The Armory, Jamal James is ready to make another statement in the welterweight division against the very tough former champion Antonio DeMarco,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “His fourth straight fight at The Armory will give James a chance to thrill his hometown fans once again, as PBC presents another night of action for the fans in Minnesota. With these two fighters’ styles, plus a loaded undercard of exciting fights, this should make for a great night at the venue and live on FS1.”

James (25-1, 12 KOs) has become a local favorite and most recently thrilled the Armory crowd in February with a stoppage victory over Janer Gonzalez on FS1. The 30-year-old has rolled off five consecutive victories since suffering the first loss of his career – a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás in 2016. James has compiled three knockouts in his current win streak while defeating the likes of Diego Chaves, Abel Ramos and Jo Jo Dan.

“I love being able to fight at home at The Armory, especially against a fighter like Antonio DeMarco,” said James. “DeMarco has the skills and it is going to be a good step up and test for me. We have been chasing this title for the past year. Getting past DeMarco is the way to get there and that’s what I am going to do.

“Minnesota fans are a different type of fans. They come out and show support. Having a place like the Armory to fight is a dream come true. There isn’t a bad seat when it comes to fights. We sell the place out in the winter, and now getting to fight in July, I know it is definitely going to be jam-packed.”

A former lightweight world champion, DeMarco (33-7-1, 24 KOs) owns victories over Jorge Linares and John Molina Jr. in a career that has seen him face a cavalcade of champions and top contenders. Representing Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, DeMarco has gone the distance in every fight except against multiple-division champions Adrien Broner and Edwin Valero, and in 2017 he knocked out then-unbeaten Eddie Ramirez on FOX in the first round. Last October he went the distance and lost a close decision to unbeaten Maxim Dadashev.

“Here I come again!” said DeMarco. “I am going to win this fight and upset Jamal James in his hometown. I have the experience to get the victory and I’m going to use it to make this a great fight on July 13.”

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

Decent fight. If Jamal wins this, in addition to his wins against Diego Chaves and Jo Jo Dan, it'd be fair to say he'd be on a great run since his loss to Ugas.

Related: Jamal James is 6' 2", and I just find that to be a novelty for a welterweight.

Former heavyweight world champion Charles Martin will square off against Daniel Martz in a 10-round heavyweight attraction as part of FS1 PBC Fight Night action and on FOX Deportes Saturday, July 13 from The Armory in Minneapolis.

DeMarco is undersized and past it.

Lackeos wrote: ↑14 Jun 2019, 00:46 Decent fight. If Jamal wins this, in addition to his wins against Diego Chaves and Jo Jo Dan, it'd be fair to say he'd be on a great run since his loss to Ugas.

Related: Jamal James is 6' 2", and I just find that to be a novelty for a welterweight.

ya great win over jo jo dan

Wh hasn't James got a meaningful why he didn't fight Alexander or Berto or Danny Garcia when he faced Granados. Criminal he hasnt got a meaningful. I'm hearing Broner might picked Lee Selb why not James crazy.

Hey man, thanks for making this thread twice.

Lackeos wrote: ↑06 Jul 2019, 15:48 Hey man, thanks for making this thread twice.

I actually made one a while before the other. The mods need to merge them.

In a main event where there were truly no losers, Jamal James prevailed with the biggest win of his improving career.

The local favorite prevailed in a 10-round war with Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco, earning a unanimous decision in their Fight of the Year contender Saturday evening at The Armory in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minn.

The PBC on FS1 headliner opened up with James doing what he does best—charge straight towards his opponent and unload with punches without fear of the incoming. The accuracy wasn’t quite there early on, with DeMarco alert and managing to slip most of the punches although not landing much in return.

At least not for another couple of minutes.

Round two will undoubtedly be remembered come year-end awards season, even if a frame that James and his local fans would soon rather forget. DeMarco showed just how much fight is left in a career more than 15 years deep, the Mexican southpaw storming through James’ sheer volume to badly stun the local favorite with a right hook.

James spent most of the rest of the round pinned to the ropes but never going into a defensive shell in hopes of merely riding out the wave. DeMarco continue to apply pressure, connecting with left hands but allowed just enough space to allow James to work his way to the center of the ring.

“I knew coming into the fight that he was a veteran, a former world champion,” James told Fox Sports’ Jordan Hardy after the fight. “I knew this was a major step up for me and I didn’t take him lightly. He was just had… will power. But I do too. I had to bite down. A couple of rounds I was fighting his fight.
“I’m not taking anything away from that Mexican warrior, he came to fight.”

The punches never stopped flowing from there. James has quickly gained a reputation as a fierce body puncher, remembering to go downstairs in round three and thoroughly outworking the former lightweight titlist who remains a tough out even if he’s not winning as often as he used to.

With fights like this, DeMarco will continue to win fans.

James continued to outwork the 33-year old but by no means could keep the elder statesman at bay no matter how many punches he landed. A ton would find their mark— to be exact over the 10-round haul, with DeMarco not only absorbing well but often finding a convincing response.

More two-way action came in round five, with DeMarco now digging to the body and continuing to find a home for his right hook. James was still the far more active of the two but couldn’t come up with the proper defensive adjustment to make the night any easier.

Instead, his best defense was a better offense.

“This is boxing. Even though I train the hardest to not get hit, you’re going to get hit in there,” James admitted. “He’s a strong fighter, he caught me with some decent shots. But I shook it off and secured that victory for (the fans in Minneapolis).”

Against any other mid-level welterweight, James would have delivered a knockout ending with the frightening number of power shots he scored with in round seven.

Right hands and left hooks landed at will on an inviting DeMarco, who was bloodied and tattooed but steadily smiling and willing to trade as he still managed 58 punches, the most he threw in any round.

James never ran out of steam, throwing more than 100 punches in a high-octane round nine after getting caught with clean right hooks and body shots in the preceding frame. DeMarco continued to walk through every last punch, which wasn’t helping his cause on the scorecards but certainly proved entertaining to the rabid crowd on hand.

Ever the humble warriors, both boxers went well beyond the ceremonial touching of gloves at the start of the final round, instead embracing one another. That was before they proceeded to beat the crap out of each other for the final three minutes.

The closest either fighter came to a knockdown was when James inadvertently shoved DeMarco to the canvas midway through the 10th and final round. DeMarco laughed off the sequence but quickly found himself in trouble as James unloaded with right hands and left hooks upstairs.

In a fitting an ending to a Fight of the Year contender, DeMarco closed the fight with two clean shots to James’ chin just inside the bell to end the thrilling slugfest. It wasn’t enough to avoid his second straight loss, however, as the former lightweight titlist and still serviceable veteran falls to 33-8-1 (24KOs).

Meanwhile, it’s six straight for James (26-1, 12KOs) since a hard-fought loss to a then-returning Yordenis Ugas in an Aug. 2016 fight he took on short notice—and in retrospect probably never should have taken at all.

He entered the contest just four weeks after a grueling slugfest with Wale Omotoso, as he stepped in for an injured Bryant Perrella (who also won on Saturday’s show). It was a learning lesson for James and honestly one that has aged remarkably well as Ugas currently rates among the best welterweights in the world today.

The 6’2” welterweight from Minnesota believes he’s right there with the pack—and is prepared to prove it against anyone willing to put a belt at stake.

“Who want to give me this opportunity,” James said of whomever he’d next like to face. “I’m not ducking anybody. Boxing is a short-lived opportunity; I want to make it happen.”

My DVR cut off the last few rounds of this which was a shame as it was a really good fight.

James looked solid but he's still no threat whatsoever to the Canelos and GGGs of the world.

jujigatame wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 12:00 My DVR cut off the last few rounds of this which was a shame as it was a really good fight.

James looked solid but he's still no threat whatsoever to the Canelos and GGGs of the world.

Mine cut out before it started. Not sure why a welter would be looking to threaten those guys. If he had a war with demarco he's a fringe contender.

jujigatame wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 12:00 My DVR cut off the last few rounds of this which was a shame as it was a really good fight.

James looked solid but he's still no threat whatsoever to the Canelos and GGGs of the world.

I agree. Mostly because he fights two weight classes below them.

Jamal James in my eyes has without a doubt earned himself a world title shot opportunity.

chuck9788 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 16:06 Jamal James in my eyes has without a doubt earned himself a world title shot opportunity.

IMO not yet. Fight with Anthony Young, who defeat Sadam Ali would be nice. Winner will get title shot.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 14:31

jujigatame wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 12:00 My DVR cut off the last few rounds of this which was a shame as it was a really good fight.

James looked solid but he's still no threat whatsoever to the Canelos and GGGs of the world.

Mine cut out before it started. Not sure why a welter would be looking to threaten those guys. If he had a war with demarco he's a fringe contender.

Jeez sorry I somehow confused the WW and MW divisions.

Replace "Canelos and GGGs" with "Crawfords and Spences". Because it did seem like James was angling for a title shot pretty hard, which despite this win he really doesn't deserve.