Two world title battles including Australian oppositions have actually been contributed to the very card headlined by the uninhabited IBF light-weight world title face-off in between Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. on Sunday, May 12 at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.
Mexican standout Carlos Cuadras will protect his WBC Interim junior bantamweight world title against previous world champ Andrew Moloney.
And, in a bantamweight world title tilt, WBA champ Nina Hughes seeks to reverse the obstacle of one-time world champ Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson.
Promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Top Rank, Ferocious Promotions, TEG Sport and Duco Events, Lomachenko-Kambosos, Cuadras-Moloney and Hughes-Johnson will be relayed in prime-time television in the United States on Saturday, May 11 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, survive on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Cuadras vs. Moloney exists in association with Teiken Promotions.
“Not just is this historical occasion a very first for Australia, with 3 world champion battles on the very same costs, it is really a fight fan’s card with engaging matches in each of the included destinations, appealing a lot of action. Both Aussies, Andrew Moloney and Cherneka Johnson, will be additional encouraged to recover previous splendor in front of their compatriots. Mexican fantastic Carlos Cuadras is never ever in a bad fight, and it’s difficult not to root for Nina Hughes, a single mother who continues to defy the odds,” stated Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment.
“I can’t wait to get here in the gorgeous city of Perth for this historical occasion,” stated Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Andrew Moloney remains in a great fight against among Mexico’s fantastic champs, and I anticipate the Hughes-Johnson title fight to be a competitive, remarkable bantamweight fight.”
Cuadras (42-5-1, 28 KOs), a 16-year-pro and among the leading lighter weight fighters of this generation, made 6 defenses of the WBC 115-pound world title from 2014-2016. Since being dismissed by pound-for-pound fantastic Roman Gonzalez in September 2016, he is 7-4, consisting of choice beats to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Juan Francisco Estrada in quotes to restore his WBC world title. Cuadras has actually won 3 successive battles, most just recently taking a trip to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and edging compatriot Pedro Guevara by split choice to win the Interim world title.
“I anticipate the obstacle of battling Andrew Moloney in Australia, and I am pertaining to show I am still a force at 115 pounds,” Cuadras stated. “There are lots of fantastic champs in my department, however I can’t neglect Moloney, a starving fighter who will be motivated by the Australian fans.”
Moloney (26-3, 16 KOs) quickly held the WBA junior bantamweight world title before going 0-2 with a no contest in an eventful trilogy against Joshua Franco from 2020-2021. He then rattled 4 successive success, consisting of 3 on Australian soil, to make a chance at the uninhabited WBO junior bantamweight world title last May against Japanese super star Junto Nakatani. Moloney hung difficult, however in the 12th round, Nakatani landed a crunching left hand that ended the fight. He went back to the win column last December, protecting a choice over Judy Flores to get a local title.
“I’m definitely pumped to have this fight secured. Carlos Cuadras has actually remained in with the very best of the very best at junior bantamweight, and he is the most significant name offered in the department,” Moloney stated. “I existed live to enjoy him fight Juan Francisco Estrada almost 7 years back, and to be combating him for the Interim world title in Australia is a big chance. To have both Lomachenko and Cuadras combating in Australia demonstrates how much Australian boxing is flying now, and I’m enjoyed belong to all of it. Bring on May 12!”
Hughes (6-0, 2 KOs) turned professional in December 2021 at 39 years of ages. She had actually an embellished amateur profession with more than 70 battles and 4 nationwide titles. Hughes, a single mom of 2, set her sights on an expert profession throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the Commonwealth bantamweight title in her 3rd getaway and upset Jamie Mitchell by consentaneous choice in November 2022 to catch the WBA bantamweight world title. She made her only title defense last June, turning away Katie Healy through choice. The ageless Hughes now turns her attention to Johnson, the home nation preferred.
“I am anticipating revealing the world why I am the WBA bantamweight world champ, and I’m enjoyed be combating on such a prominent occasion in Perth, Western Australia,” Smith stated. “Cherneka Johnson is a previous world champ, and while it will be a hard task, I will not be rejected success. Thank you to DiBella Entertainment and Leon Sudbury at Takeover Sports Management for getting this fight made.”
Johnson (15-2, 6 KOs) was born in New Zealand however transferred to Australia as a pre-teen, and she quickly developed herself as one of Australia’s standout novices. In April 2022, 6 years after turning professional, she took the uninhabited IBF junior featherweight world title with a bulk choice over Melissa Esquivel in Melbourne, Australia. She safeguarded the title 6 months in the future the Devin Haney-Kambosos II undercard in Melbourne, getting rid of a ruthless cut to beat Susie Ramadan. Johnson lost her title last June in London, where she lost a unanimous choice to Ellie Scotney. Nearly a year later on, she goes back to bantamweight, encouraged to end up being a two-weight queen.
“I am delighted to fight for a 2nd world title on this fantastic occasion together with boxing legends here in Perth, Western Australia,” Johnson stated. “It has actually been a long journey for me, loaded with effort and devotion, and I am figured out to end up being a two-time world champ. It is an honor to fight Nina Hughes, however I am here to win. On fight night, I will reveal the world what I am made from.”
