Adrien Broner and Omar Figueroa to clash on August 20 in crossroads bout

Previous entire world titlists Adrien “The Problem” Broner and Omar “Panterita” Figueroa will clash in a 12-round junior welterweight showdown headlining action dwell on Showtime on Saturday, August 20 from Tough Rock Dwell at Seminole Tough Rock Lodge & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. in a Leading Boxing Champions party.

The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will element top 140-pounders Alberto Puello and Batyr Akhmedov squaring off in the co-principal event. Additionally, WBA junior lightweight titlist Roger Gutierrez defends his belt towards unbeaten Hector Garcia in the telecast opener.

The two former champions present an intriguing contrast of variations as the flashy, complex abilities of Broner match up versus the bruising, quantity assault of Figueroa. Both fighters have reached amazing highs and sent memorable times all over their careers and will glimpse to go through one particular a different to return to championship contention.

Cincinnati’s Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs), is one of the most well-known and colourful personalities in the activity and quickly rose to prominence by combining supreme boxing with a brash outspoken character. By the age of 26, he experienced captured earth titles at 130, 135, 140 and 147 lbs, turning out to be one of only 8 energetic fighters to gain a entire world championship in four divisions. Broner has confronted several multi-division world champions such as Manny Pacquiao, Paulie Malignaggi, Marcos Maidana, Mikey Garcia and Jessie Vargas. He most lately gained a unanimous conclusion more than Jovanie Santiago in February 2021 and now returns to the tremendous light-weight division the place he dominated Khabib Allakhverdiev to get a 140-pound title in 2015.

“I’m likely in there to try to cease Figueroa,” mentioned Broner. “I’m likely to acquire the struggle to him and go forward and get him out of there. What I expect from him is the very same grotesque Figueroa that we generally see. He’ll consider to make it a tough fight. Each individual fighter is distinctive, but I never consider he’ll be hard to hit. So, I’ll see ya’ll on August 20.’’

The 32-12 months-outdated Figueroa (28-2-1, 19 KOs) is from a battling family alongside with his more youthful brother Brandon, a previous junior featherweight globe winner. Figueroa gained the WBC Lightweight Globe Championship with a unanimous choice victory above Nihito Arakawa in a 2013 “Fight of the Year” and properly defended the title two periods in advance of going up to junior welterweight in 2015. Figueroa has also fought at welterweight, earning action-packed victories above Robert Guerrero, John Molina Jr., and Antonio DeMarco. He’ll shift again down to junior welterweight on August 20 after again-to-back defeats in opposition to Yordenis Ugas and Abel Ramos.

“I’m thrilled to move on to the future section of my daily life and occupation, in particular now that my mental well being is at the forefront of almost everything I do,” mentioned Figueroa. “Having a apparent intellect has been the ideal issue to take place to me. Now I’m equipped to concentration 100% on my boxing vocation and I can not wait to be back again in the ring on August 20.”

A native of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, Puello (20-, 10 KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas below the assistance of renowned mentor Ismael Salas. The 27-year-old leapt up the rankings in July 2019, handing Jonathan Alonso his 1st occupation defeat with a unanimous decision victory that gained him an interim title. Puello was productive in his U.S. debut in December 2021, as he scored a unanimous conclusion victory more than Veshawn Owens in Owen’s hometown.

“I’m quite committed to profitable this fight for my group and my nation,” reported Puello. “I am additional than organized to make the most of this opportunity. My only aim is on earning this victory, starting to be globe champion and using on all the worries that arrive my way after that.”

Born in Uzbekistan and now combating out of Los Angeles, Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) represented Turkey at the 2016 Olympic game titles. The 31-year-outdated turned professional in 2017 and won his initially seven professional fights, with 6 coming by knockout. His lone blemish arrived in an motion-packed title battle in opposition to Mario Barrios in September 2019, where by he was equipped to endure two knockdowns to make it a near fight, ahead of inevitably dropping by selection. Akhmedov has rebounded to acquire again-to-back fights, which includes a stoppage of the commonly sturdy former entire world winner Argenis Mendez in June 2021.

“I’m excited that I’m lastly having my shot at the earth title yet again,” mentioned Akhmedov. “I have labored very tough to attain my intention of turning out to be planet champion. This time, I’m going to do everything achievable to make certain that I acquire entire advantage of this opportunity.”

The 27-12 months-outdated Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) captured his earth title with a unanimous selection victory above Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado in January 2021, in a fight that saw him drop his opponent 3 situations. Gutierrez followed up that effectiveness by defending his earth championship and defeating Alvarado a second time in August 2021, once more earning a unanimous selection. Battling out of his indigenous Maracaibo, Venezuela, Gutierrez is unbeaten in his final 7 outings, which include 4 knockouts.

“I am thrilled to return to the ring and protect my title for the 2nd time,” said Gutierrez. “This is heading to be a complicated fight, but I am assured in my capabilities and my preparation, and I know I will be victorious. I am ready to present the world all over again that I am the most effective in this division.”

Tall and rangy with excellent power in his still left hand and a devoted human body assault, the 30-year-outdated Garcia (15-, 10 KOs) scored a person of the greatest upsets of the yr in February, when he stepped in as a late substitute for Gutierrez to defeat then-unbeaten Chris Colbert in Las Vegas. The 5-9 Garcia represented his indigenous Dominican Republic in the 2016 Olympics just before turning pro in December that calendar year. Together with his countryman Puello, Garcia is also properly trained by the really revered Ismael Salas in Las Vegas.

“This is a extremely essential combat for me due to the fact I have worked for so prolonged to acquire a world title,” explained Garcia. “This struggle is for all of the individuals in the Dominican Republic. I just can’t hold out to exhibit my competencies for them once yet again on Showtime. It’s also a extremely exclusive night time for the reason that me and my good friend Alberto Puello will both equally be combating for entire world titles, the very first time two Dominicans will do so on the similar evening. We grew up jointly and experienced the identical beginner coaches and now we have a prospect to make record collectively.”

A press release by Showtime/Premier Boxing Champions was employed in this write-up.