Three Major Boxing Promotions Unite for Big Fight Night in Las Vegas

Remember when Oscar De La Hoya fought Felix Trinidad in 1999 in Las Vegas?

That super fight took place because Top Rank allowed De La Hoya to meet Don King Production’s Trinidad for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles in Las Vegas. Two giant promoters agreed to allow their superstars to meet.

For the last year or so promoters have been sharing fight cards and mixing their stars.

This weekend boxing fans can enjoy another example of promoters cooperating with each other to form a strong boxing card.

Two outstanding world title fights take place as super lightweights William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) meets Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-3, 10 KOs) for the vacant WBC title and IBF lightweight world titlist Raymond Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) defends against former champion Robson Conceicao (21-3-1, 10 KOs) at Virgins Hotel Las Vegas.

TNT and DAZN will show the Golden Boy, TGB and Top Rank Promotions card.

“This came through from collaboration with Top Rank, PBS and Golden Boy,” said De La Hoya. “We’re proud to work alongside partners like Top Rank and PBC to make the biggest and best fights possible.”

“The main event will determine the WBC super lightweight titlist that was vacated by Shakur Stevenson,” said WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. Now Golden Boy’s Zepeda, who fought Stevenson for the same title last year, is one of the contestants. He faces former Golden Boy fighter Roach, who now is sponsored by TGB Promotions.

Mexico’s Zepeda was unable to crack Stevenson’s impressive defensive shell but performed well. In Roach, he faces a very fundamentally strong fighter who has impressed many in his outings against Gervanta “Tank” Davis, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and others.

“I have a bundle of skills, a ton of will and a heart like a lion. Zepeda does as well. We can’t wait to see how it turns out on Saturday night,” said Roach. “It’s going to be a fight to remember.”

In the co-main event the world gets the opportunity to see one of the rising talents in Raymond “Danger” Muratalla, who earlier this year surprised much of the world by out-boxing Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz. Now he will be facing another Olympic gold medalist and former world champion in Brazil’s Robson Conceicao.

“We know he is a tough fighter and comes to fight. I’m ready for whatever he brings. We know it’s going to be a tough fight,” said Muratalla, who hails from Fontana, Calif. and trains at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.

Conceicao has trained in Las Vegas for 40 days to prepare for this world title fight.

“I know he is a good fighter, he is the champ. I’ve been with the best and I’m ready,” said Conceicao, who lost the WBC super featherweight title to O’Shaquie Foster two years ago by split decision. “I’m ready to take this belt back to Brazil.”

It’s a nine-bout card that also features two very talented contenders and a slew of top prospects who are eager to perform in Las Vegas.

Charles Conwell, a very skilled super welterweight from Cleveland, seeks to rebound from an underwhelming performance that led to his only loss a year ago. Conwell (21-1, 16 KOs) faces Philadelphia’s undefeated Paul Kroll (12-0-2, 8 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout.

A rising welterweight star, Raul Curiel, has rocketed to recognition with back-to-back sizzling performances against Alexis Rocha and then accepted a last-second fight against middleweight Jordan Panthen. Curiel (17-0-1, 14 KOs) now fights veteran Quinton Randall (17-3-1, 4 KOs) for the regional NABF welterweight title.

“I need to put on a show to get a world title opportunity,” said Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza, a veteran mover and shaker in the boxing world. Curiel is trained by Robert Garcia. “We have a great team.”

It’s a strong collaboration of top-notch fighters on one stage in Las Vegas.

“This is going to be an instant classic,” said TGB’s Tom Brown.

“It’s beautiful thing. We should keep doing it,” said Top Rank’s Brad Goodman.

Las Vegas is going to be hot on Saturday.

Tickets for Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda are on sale now and are priced at $300, $200, $150, $75, $50 and $30, plus applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com or GoldenBoy.com.

 

Fights to Watch (All times Pacific Time)

Sat. YouTube/GoldenBoy 1 p.m. Joel Iriarte (10-0) vs Jorge Lagunas (19-9).

Sat. TNT, DAZN 5 p.m. Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-3) vs William Zepeda (33-1); Raymond Muratalla (24-0) vs Robson Conceicao (21-3-1).

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