February 20: Esquiva Falcao & Elvis Rodriguez to be Featured on Berchelt-Valdez Undercard LIVE on ESPN+
Brazilian middleweight contender
Esquiva Falcao is coming back to America. After a pair of knockout wins
last year in his home nation, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist will take on
two-time world title challenger Artur Akavov in a 10-rounder Saturday, Feb.
20 from MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
In a junior welterweight special feature scheduled for eight or six rounds,
knockout wizard Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez will face Argentine
veteran Luis Alberto Veron.
Falcao-Akavov, Rodriguez-Veron and additional undercard bouts will stream
live on ESPN+ at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT. The evening continues live on
ESPN & ESPN3 (in Spanish) (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) with the all-Mexican
showdown between WBC super featherweight world champion Miguel Berchelt and
former world champion Oscar Valdez, and junior lightweight contender
Gabriel Flores Jr. against former world title challenger Jayson Velez.
Falcao (27-0, 19 KOs), ranked No. 5 by the IBF and WBO, is a seven-year pro
who ended his sterling amateur career with a 215-15 record. He has won four
consecutive bouts by knockout, including an eighth-round stoppage over
Mexican veteran Jesus Antonio Gutierrez in July 2019. Akavov (20-3, 9 KOs)
nearly dethroned WBO middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders in
December 2016, dropping a controversial decision. He challenged for the
same world title in January 2019 and was bested by Demetrius Andrade en
route to a 12th-round TKO loss. Akavov last fought in October 2019 and
knocked out 50-fight veteran Sergei Melis in five rounds.
Falcao said, “I am ready to face the best in my division. My opponent is a
good boxer, but I am better and I am ready to become a world champion. No
fighter will stop me. I’m training very hard with Robert García. I’m
sparring with the best because I am one of the best. On February 20, I will
show the world once again that I am ready to become a world champion.”
Rodriguez (10-0-1, 10 KOs) emerged as one of boxing’s hottest prospects in
2020, going 5-0 with five knockouts, including four headline-making
stoppages inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. He last fought Oct. 9 and
became only the second man to knock out 37-fight veteran Cameron Krael.
Veron (18-2-2, 9 KOs) has never been knocked out as a professional and is a
former WBO Latino and South American welterweight champion. He is coming
off a competitive decision defeat to 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Taras
Shelestyuk in January 2020.
Rodriguez said, “I want to show that I am ready for the big fights. I think
I deserved to be the Prospect of the Year. Not being named Prospect of the
Year has motivated me more than ever. I am here to become a world champion.
I am very grateful for the opportunities Top Rank is giving me and for the
efforts of my entire team. I am going to show who I am through my actions
in the ring, not through words or social media.”
*In other ESPN+ streaming action:*
– Xander Zayas (6-0, 5 KOs), the Puerto Rican prodigy who celebrated his
18th birthday last September, will clash with Philadelphia native James
Martin (6-1) in a six-round welterweight fight. Zayas signed with Top Rank
at 16 years old and hopes to extend his knockout streak to four against
Martin, who has never been stopped in the paid ranks.
“Since my last fight, I’ve had an extended camp and have been fortunate
to spar numerous world champions and top fighters, which has provided me a
wealth of experience,” Zayas said. “I’m excited to fight on February 20 and
put on a show for my fans.”
– Unbeaten junior lightweights collide when California Central Valley
favorite Bryan Lua (7-0, 3 KOs) fights Puerto Rican prospect Frevian
Gonzalez (4-0, 1 KO) in a six-rounder. Gonzalez and Lua won two fights
apiece inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble last year, with Lua scoring a
highlight-reel knockout over Luis Norambuena in his first fight following a
27-month layoff.
– Sonny “The Bronco” Conto (6-0, 5 KO), South Philadelphia’s latest
heavyweight hopeful, is set to return from a 13-month layoff against Waldo
Cortes (6-3, 3 KOs) in a four-rounder. Conto battled assorted injuries
throughout 2020, but he is ready for a busier 2021. Cortes fought Bubble
favorite Kingsley Ibeh last June, giving as good as he received before
being knocked out in the fourth round.
– Milwaukee-born middleweight sensation Javier Martinez (2-0) will make
his third appearance inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble, this time in a
four-rounder against Montana native Billy Wagner (3-1, 1 KO).
– One of Puerto Rico’s brightest young talents, Omar Rosario (2-0), will
make his Las Vegas debut in a four-round welterweight tilt versus fellow
unbeaten Uriel Villanueva (1-0). Rosario, a 23-year-old from Caguas, won
the 2020 Olympic Trials for his home nation at 152 pounds before electing
to turn pro.
– Use the hashtag #BercheltValdez to join the conversation on social
media. For more information, visit www.toprank.com
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