Big-time boxing comes to Puerto Rico as Joshua James Pagan competes against Maliek Montgomery at the Coliseo Pedrín Zorrilla in San Juan. The fighters will contend for the vacant WBO NABO lightweight title.
Additionally, Carlos Arrieta-Torres and Alfredo Cruz will face off in the super featherweight category. Other fighters in action include Ashleyann Lozada, Felix Parrilla, William Y. Colon Vazquez, Kiria Tapia, and others.
Tickets for the Pagan vs. Montgomery match are available for purchase at prticket.com.
Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Fight Card
Vacant WBO NABO Lightweight Championship
Joshua James Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery
8 Round Featherweight Bout
Ashleyann Lozada vs. Melissa Oddessa Parker
8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Kiria Tapia vs. Marianela Soledad Ramirez
8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Carlos Arrieta-Torres vs. Alfredo Cruz
8 Round Featherweight Bout
Felix Parrilla vs. Kenneth Taylor
6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
William Y. Colon Vazquez vs. Paulo Figueroa
4 Round Middleweight Bout
Eric Sanchez-Medina vs. Linomar Rios
Vacant WBO NABO Lightweight Championship
Joshua James Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery
8 Round Featherweight Bout
Ashleyann Lozada vs. Melissa Oddessa Parker
8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Kiria Tapia vs. Marianela Soledad Ramirez
8 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Carlos Arrieta-Torres vs. Alfredo Cruz
8 Round Featherweight Bout
Felix Parrilla vs. Kenneth Taylor
6 Round Super Featherweight Bout
William Y. Colon Vazquez vs. Paulo Figueroa
4 Round Middleweight Bout
Eric Sanchez-Medina vs. Linomar Rios
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery fight moved due to water pipe emergency
Joshua Pagan and Maliek Montgomery will face off in a crossroads battle, but a local water issue in Puerto Rico nearly knocked out the event.
Puerto Rico is facing a water crisis after a water pipe broke, leaving many without water. As a result, the fight card, which is scheduled for Thursday, has moved from the Coliseo Pedrin Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, also in San Juan.
“We received notice from the original venue that, under the circumstances, the event could not move forward there,” Salita told Boxing Scene. “I’m very grateful to Javier Bustillo of Universal Promotions, who worked closely with us and local city officials to secure an upgraded venue at the historic Roberto Clemente Coliseum.”
“Many locals don’t have water for basic daily needs like showers or tap water,” Salita said. “We were told the issue is being worked on, but when we went into town this evening, we saw firsthand that many businesses had to close their doors.”
Earlier in the day, the event held a press conference ahead of the bout. The promoters of the two fighters say the matchup draws comparisons to classics from years past.
Salita, Pagan’s promoter, compared the bout to the 2007 middleweight bout between Kelly Pavlik and Edison Miranda, as well as the 1999 heavyweight bout between Ike Ibeabuchi and Chris Byrd.
“It is one of those fights, where two really tough guys who could really fight and had great amateur careers, that are great professionals who really have a lot of skill, are bold enough to put it on the line,” Salita said. “I believe this fight has all the drama to be one of the greatest prospect fights of the year, and of recent times.”
Britton Hardin, the senior director of Fighter Operations at OTX, sees the bout as Miguel Cotto versus Zab Judah, only his fighter, Montgomery, will play the role of Cotto. It is a tad ironic since Pagan is a Puerto Rican fighter from Grand Rapids, Michigan, fighting in Puerto Rico for the second time in his career.
“J.J. [Pagan] does a lot of flashy things, and he has been able to do that against the level of opponent that he has been able to fight,” Hardin told BS. “But when you have someone who has mastered their style and mastered their craft, [is] consistent and fighting at their best, you tend to have the young buck go into those deep waters and drown. That’s always Maliek’s ambition to drown his opponent.”
Salita countered, saying: “The longer the fight goes, the better it is for Pagan.”
Montgomery, 20-1 (18 KOs), is coming off a loss to Jeremy Hill in March. It also comes after Montgomery, a 30-year-old from Macon, Georgia, had two ill-fated attempts to make the junior lightweight limit, and now has opted to fight at lightweight.
“I felt like I was on a certain trajectory with that last fight that I had, and because of the performance, it is throwing me off my trajectory,” Montgomery told BS. “I think this puts me back on track to be where I want to be in the sport in the best of ways.”
Pagan, 13-0 (4 KOs), despite having an unbeaten record, sees it as a high-stakes fight.
“It is a crossroads fight for both of us,” Pagan, 25, told BS. “This has a lot of implications; it is a big moment for both of us. It will bring us to the next level.”
Regardless of the narratives around the fight, the bout nearly didn’t happen.
“Sometimes, things happen that you could never imagine, and in those moments, leadership is about adapting quickly and making the right decisions under pressure,” Salita said. “As the saying goes, the show must go on. This event is bigger than just boxing. It’s a symbol of resilience.”
Joshua Pagan and Maliek Montgomery will face off in a crossroads battle, but a local water issue in Puerto Rico nearly knocked out the event.
Puerto Rico is facing a water crisis after a water pipe broke, leaving many without water. As a result, the fight card, which is scheduled for Thursday, has moved from the Coliseo Pedrin Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, also in San Juan.
“We received notice from the original venue that, under the circumstances, the event could not move forward there,” Salita told Boxing Scene. “I’m very grateful to Javier Bustillo of Universal Promotions, who worked closely with us and local city officials to secure an upgraded venue at the historic Roberto Clemente Coliseum.”
“Many locals don’t have water for basic daily needs like showers or tap water,” Salita said. “We were told the issue is being worked on, but when we went into town this evening, we saw firsthand that many businesses had to close their doors.”
Earlier in the day, the event held a press conference ahead of the bout. The promoters of the two fighters say the matchup draws comparisons to classics from years past.
Salita, Pagan’s promoter, compared the bout to the 2007 middleweight bout between Kelly Pavlik and Edison Miranda, as well as the 1999 heavyweight bout between Ike Ibeabuchi and Chris Byrd.
“It is one of those fights, where two really tough guys who could really fight and had great amateur careers, that are great professionals who really have a lot of skill, are bold enough to put it on the line,” Salita said. “I believe this fight has all the drama to be one of the greatest prospect fights of the year, and of recent times.”
Britton Hardin, the senior director of Fighter Operations at OTX, sees the bout as Miguel Cotto versus Zab Judah, only his fighter, Montgomery, will play the role of Cotto. It is a tad ironic since Pagan is a Puerto Rican fighter from Grand Rapids, Michigan, fighting in Puerto Rico for the second time in his career.
“J.J. [Pagan] does a lot of flashy things, and he has been able to do that against the level of opponent that he has been able to fight,” Hardin told BS. “But when you have someone who has mastered their style and mastered their craft, [is] consistent and fighting at their best, you tend to have the young buck go into those deep waters and drown. That’s always Maliek’s ambition to drown his opponent.”
Salita countered, saying: “The longer the fight goes, the better it is for Pagan.”
Montgomery, 20-1 (18 KOs), is coming off a loss to Jeremy Hill in March. It also comes after Montgomery, a 30-year-old from Macon, Georgia, had two ill-fated attempts to make the junior lightweight limit, and now has opted to fight at lightweight.
“I felt like I was on a certain trajectory with that last fight that I had, and because of the performance, it is throwing me off my trajectory,” Montgomery told BS. “I think this puts me back on track to be where I want to be in the sport in the best of ways.”
Pagan, 13-0 (4 KOs), despite having an unbeaten record, sees it as a high-stakes fight.
“It is a crossroads fight for both of us,” Pagan, 25, told BS. “This has a lot of implications; it is a big moment for both of us. It will bring us to the next level.”
Regardless of the narratives around the fight, the bout nearly didn’t happen.
“Sometimes, things happen that you could never imagine, and in those moments, leadership is about adapting quickly and making the right decisions under pressure,” Salita said. “As the saying goes, the show must go on. This event is bigger than just boxing. It’s a symbol of resilience.”
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Joshua Pagan, Maliek Montgomery make weight in Puerto Rico
Joshua Pagan and Maliek Montgomery have made weight for their crossroads clash that will now take place at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pagan weighed in at 134.6lbs, while Montgomery tipped the scales at 132.4lbs, under the lightweight limit of 135lbs.
Pagan, 13-0 (4 KOs), enters the bout with hopes of solidifying himself as an emerging up-and-comer. Pagan has notable victories with wins over unbeaten Roger Hilley and veteran Haskell Rhodes. Pagan, a 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, last fought in June, winning a unanimous decision over James Bernadin, and has spent the majority of his career fighting at or around the lightweight limit.
Montgomery, 20-1 (18 KOs), enters off the first loss of his career to Jeremy Hill. Though Montgomery has fought at lightweight, he has spent the majority of his career at junior lightweight. Montgomery, a 30-year-old from Macon, Georgia, failed to make weight in his two bouts against Sakaria Lukas and Hill.
The bout will stream on DAZN.
The complete weigh-in results are below:
Lightweight – 10 rounds
Joshua Pagan (134.6lbs) vs. Maliek Montgomery (132.4lbs)
Women’s junior featherweight – eight rounds
Ashleyann Lozada (121.2lbs) vs. Mellisa Oddessa Parker (121.6lbs)
Featherweight – eight rounds
Felix Parrilla (126.6lbs) vs. Kenneth Taylor (125.2lbs)
Women’s junior lightweight – eight rounds
Kiria Tapia (130.0lbs) vs. Marinela Ramirez (130.0lbs)
Junior lightweight – eight rounds
Carlos Arrieta (127.0lbs) vs. Alfredo Cruz (127.0lbs)
Lightweight – six rounds
William Colon (132.4lbs) vs. Paulo Figueroa (132.2lbs)
Middleweight – four rounds
Eric Sanchez-Medina (154.0lbs) vs. Linomar Rios (156.0lbs)
Lightweight – four rounds
Bryan Garcia (134.0lbs) vs. Luis Rodriguez (135.4lbs)
Joshua Pagan and Maliek Montgomery have made weight for their crossroads clash that will now take place at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pagan weighed in at 134.6lbs, while Montgomery tipped the scales at 132.4lbs, under the lightweight limit of 135lbs.
Pagan, 13-0 (4 KOs), enters the bout with hopes of solidifying himself as an emerging up-and-comer. Pagan has notable victories with wins over unbeaten Roger Hilley and veteran Haskell Rhodes. Pagan, a 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, last fought in June, winning a unanimous decision over James Bernadin, and has spent the majority of his career fighting at or around the lightweight limit.
Montgomery, 20-1 (18 KOs), enters off the first loss of his career to Jeremy Hill. Though Montgomery has fought at lightweight, he has spent the majority of his career at junior lightweight. Montgomery, a 30-year-old from Macon, Georgia, failed to make weight in his two bouts against Sakaria Lukas and Hill.
The bout will stream on DAZN.
The complete weigh-in results are below:
Lightweight – 10 rounds
Joshua Pagan (134.6lbs) vs. Maliek Montgomery (132.4lbs)
Women’s junior featherweight – eight rounds
Ashleyann Lozada (121.2lbs) vs. Mellisa Oddessa Parker (121.6lbs)
Featherweight – eight rounds
Felix Parrilla (126.6lbs) vs. Kenneth Taylor (125.2lbs)
Women’s junior lightweight – eight rounds
Kiria Tapia (130.0lbs) vs. Marinela Ramirez (130.0lbs)
Junior lightweight – eight rounds
Carlos Arrieta (127.0lbs) vs. Alfredo Cruz (127.0lbs)
Lightweight – six rounds
William Colon (132.4lbs) vs. Paulo Figueroa (132.2lbs)
Middleweight – four rounds
Eric Sanchez-Medina (154.0lbs) vs. Linomar Rios (156.0lbs)
Lightweight – four rounds
Bryan Garcia (134.0lbs) vs. Luis Rodriguez (135.4lbs)
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
This is a pretty good main event tbf
Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Yeah, I'll probably watch if it don't go on too late...
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
PAGAN BLOODIES, STOPS MALIEK MONTGOMERY IN 9 TO STAY UNBEATEN
Lightweight prospect Joshua James “JJ” Pagan bloodied and outboxed Maliek Montgomery en route to a ninth-round stoppage victory Thursday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The final blow was a right uppercut to a bloody Montgomery, who suffered a cut late in the second round plaguing him throughout their fight.
The ringside physician checked the cut on three occasions, including at the beginning of the final round. Each time though, Montgomery (20-2, 18 KOs) pleaded with the doctor to allow the fight to continue.
However when the uppercut landed, referee Ramon Pena had seen enough. He stopped the fight with 16 seconds remaining in the round.
Pagan (14-0, 5 KOs) claimed a vacant WBO regional lightweight title and his first knockout victory since July 2023, when breezing past Texas journeyman Gabriel Smith inside a round.
The 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan of Puerto Rican descent inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Georgia-based Montgomery's record and career-first by stoppage.
The pair wasted no time getting acclimated, as the fight quickly became a close-quarters brawl and stayed that way for large periods. Montgomery fought on the front foot, pressing the action, while Pagan constantly tried to turn him and split his guard with power shots.
Both fighters found success, but the tide started turning when a punch from Pagan gave Montgomery a nasty gash over his left eye, leaving him a bloody mess for the remainder.
As the fight progressed, Pagan seized control of the bout with his ability to land clean shots worsening the older man's cut and by smothering attacks where possible.
Pagan split Montgomery's guard with numerous right uppercuts and clean straight right hands throughout. Pagan's straight right hand was especially effective whenever Montgomery switched from orthodox to southpaw.
Montgomery mounted a rally late in the sixth round and landed a flurry of punches to body and head, but couldn't sustain the momentum from that surge. Pagan regained control with his ability to outbox Montgomery on the inside up until Pena called a halt to their contest.
Here are the results from the other three fights on the main card:
Ashleyann Lozada (3-0, 1 KO) def. Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-4-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight-round contest at junior featherweight
In the featherweight division, Connecticut talent Felix Parrilla (12-0, 10 KOs) remains perfect after scoring a third-round knockout over Kenneth Taylor (15-6-2, 6 KOs).
It was a happy evening for Puerto Rico lightweight Kiria Tapia (8-0, 1 KO) as she outpointed Marianela Soledad Ramirez (13-10-2, 6 KOs) over eight rounds.
Lightweight prospect Joshua James “JJ” Pagan bloodied and outboxed Maliek Montgomery en route to a ninth-round stoppage victory Thursday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The final blow was a right uppercut to a bloody Montgomery, who suffered a cut late in the second round plaguing him throughout their fight.
The ringside physician checked the cut on three occasions, including at the beginning of the final round. Each time though, Montgomery (20-2, 18 KOs) pleaded with the doctor to allow the fight to continue.
However when the uppercut landed, referee Ramon Pena had seen enough. He stopped the fight with 16 seconds remaining in the round.
Pagan (14-0, 5 KOs) claimed a vacant WBO regional lightweight title and his first knockout victory since July 2023, when breezing past Texas journeyman Gabriel Smith inside a round.
The 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan of Puerto Rican descent inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Georgia-based Montgomery's record and career-first by stoppage.
The pair wasted no time getting acclimated, as the fight quickly became a close-quarters brawl and stayed that way for large periods. Montgomery fought on the front foot, pressing the action, while Pagan constantly tried to turn him and split his guard with power shots.
Both fighters found success, but the tide started turning when a punch from Pagan gave Montgomery a nasty gash over his left eye, leaving him a bloody mess for the remainder.
As the fight progressed, Pagan seized control of the bout with his ability to land clean shots worsening the older man's cut and by smothering attacks where possible.
Pagan split Montgomery's guard with numerous right uppercuts and clean straight right hands throughout. Pagan's straight right hand was especially effective whenever Montgomery switched from orthodox to southpaw.
Montgomery mounted a rally late in the sixth round and landed a flurry of punches to body and head, but couldn't sustain the momentum from that surge. Pagan regained control with his ability to outbox Montgomery on the inside up until Pena called a halt to their contest.
Here are the results from the other three fights on the main card:
Ashleyann Lozada (3-0, 1 KO) def. Melissa Oddessa Parker (6-4-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight-round contest at junior featherweight
In the featherweight division, Connecticut talent Felix Parrilla (12-0, 10 KOs) remains perfect after scoring a third-round knockout over Kenneth Taylor (15-6-2, 6 KOs).
It was a happy evening for Puerto Rico lightweight Kiria Tapia (8-0, 1 KO) as she outpointed Marianela Soledad Ramirez (13-10-2, 6 KOs) over eight rounds.
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Montgomery wants a rematch.
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handsofstone
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Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
Tbh the fight probably should've been stopped several rounds before, Montgomery had been bleeding like a sieve from about the 4th, it was horrendous, he was game Montgomery never stopped coming forward showed a ton of heart, pleaded to continue every time the doctor was checking the eye, it was a good tussle ,some good action, plenty leather thrown, Montgomery was the aggressor, Pagan was sticking and moving, held his feet at times as well, it was competitive but that eye was clearly a hindrance for Montgomery and he got more desperate the later it went and Pagan looked more in control, Montgomery had a good 6th put it on Pagan but couldn't find a breakthrough, Pagan was in control by the 9th when it was stopped, landed a few uppercuts before the ref finally stopped it, I wouldn't mind a rematch
Re: Joshua Pagan vs. Maliek Montgomery | DAZN - October 23, 2025
It SHOULD have been stopped when it happened !
Or maybe “give him a round” - but once they didn’t stop it, then wtf did the ref randomly stop it 5 rounds later when the fight was nearly finished!?
Monty deserves a rematch for his Black Knight impersonation.
Or maybe “give him a round” - but once they didn’t stop it, then wtf did the ref randomly stop it 5 rounds later when the fight was nearly finished!?
Monty deserves a rematch for his Black Knight impersonation.