BOXING AFTER DARK LOOKS TO TURN THE LIGHTS OUT
New York, NY– In attempt to recapture the magic of the legendary series, Boxing After Dark goes back it’s roots in presenting an action packed twin bill featuring crowd pleasing undefeated rising stars and battle tested veteran pugs putting it all on the line this Saturday night at Madison Square Garden on a card that will be televised live at 9:45 PM ET on HBO.
JUAN MA MOVES UP IN WEIGHT & STEPS UP THE COMPETITION
Coming off a close decision win in a feverishly paced violent affair against Rogers Mtagwa, Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) seeks to gain his second championship against seasoned WBO featherweight (126 lbs) champ Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs) in a scheduled 12 rounder.
EXPOSURE OR EXPOSED?
After imposing his will by displaying a variety of skill in the early rounds against Mtagwa, power punching Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez faded down the stretch, lost focus, got nailed, struggled to stay on his feet, and barley crossing the finish line. Although his hands were raised in victory, questions loomed as to how much the Mtagwa battle took out of the young star.
LUEVANO CAN’T PUNCH MUCH, BUT NEITHER COULD MTAGWA
Since winning the vacant WBO strap by knocking out Nicky Cook, Luevano has reigned on top of the division going 4-0-1. Despite having only 1 knockout victory in his last 10 bouts, skillful southpaw Luevano is a “make you miss and make you pay” type of craftsmen that will look to employ such skill in attempt to burn out the questionable stamina of Lopez.
POWER PUNCHING CUBAN GAMBOA FEATURED IN CURTAIN RAISER
Yuriorkis Gamboa’s (16-0,14 KOs) TV friendly style will be on display in the televised opener against fellow action fighter Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) over 12 rounds or less in the featherweight division.
GAMBOA HAS FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC
Having dismantled his last six opponents in emphatic knockout fashion, and often coming off the canvas in doing so, Yuriorkis Gamboa is quickly becoming “must see TV” for fight fans. With his “hit and get hit” style and blindingly fast combinations of awful intent, Gamboa’s bouts frequently showcase wars of immense intestinal fortitude.
ROGERS IN BACK TO BACK “FIGHT OF THE YEAR” CANDIDATES!
Being no stranger to the intense drama boxing can produce, Rogers Mtagwa has been involved in two potential “fight of the year” candidates in the past two years and surely sees the Gamboa bout as being a possible third. Mtagwa hopes to chin check the suspect chin of Gamboa and take him into deep water much like he did against Lopez.
John Signorella