Three intriguing pay-per-view matchups that includes knockout artists and rising stars will precede three-division world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ 12-round tremendous struggle with hard-hitting sensation “King” Ryan Garcia in a SHOWTIME PPV manufacturing on Saturday, April 22 in a Premier Boxing Champions occasion from T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.
The pay-per-view telecast will start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and options Cuban star and WBA Tremendous Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. battling Ghana’s Sena Agbeko within the co-main occasion.
The motion may even see an eagerly anticipated rematch between tremendous middleweight sluggers Gabriel Rosado and Bektemir Melikuziev in a 10-round showdown. Kicking off the telecast can be hard-hitting 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia going through rugged Kevin Salgado of Mexico in a 10-round showdown.
Davis vs. Garcia is promoted by GTD Promotions, TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The telecast is being produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and can be accessible throughout pay-per-view suppliers together with DAZN PPV.
Tickets for the stay occasion are on sale now and can be found via www.axs.com.
A Cuban-native who got here to Minneapolis to start his professional profession in 2019, Morrell (8-0, 7 KOs) has rapidly proven off the abilities that made him a standout in Cuba’s storied newbie scene . The 25-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then-unbeaten Lennox Allen in August 2020 in simply his third professional struggle. Morell, who trains in Texas with famend coach Ronnie Shields, added two dominant knockout victories in 2022 as he stopped Kalvin Henderson in June earlier than a Twelfth-round TKO of the beforehand unbeaten Aidos Yerbossynuly in November.
“I’m very excited to be the co-main occasion of this unimaginable night time for boxing,” stated Morrell. “’Tank’ Davis is among the sport’s largest superstars and my aspiration is to in the future be on the Mount Rushmore of boxing subsequent to him. On April 22 I’m going to dispatch my opponent in sensational trend. And after this struggle I would like the ‘Mexican Monster’ David Benavidez, however first I’ve to get previous a tricky and really succesful opponent in Agbeko. I intend to handle my enterprise on April 22 after which look ahead to taking over David Benavidez in a struggle that the followers need to see.”
Initially from Ghana and now combating out of Nashville, Tennessee, Agbeko (27-2, 21 KOs) enters this struggle having gained his final 4 contests and 12 of his final 13. The 31-year-old gained thrice in 2022, together with most not too long ago incomes a unanimous determination over the beforehand unbeaten Isaiah Steen final October on SHOBOX: The New Technology®. The one blemish on Agbeko’s document since 2014 is a choice loss in 2021 in opposition to high 168-pound contender Vladimir Shishkin.
“I’m very grateful to my whole crew for this unimaginable alternative to struggle for the title,” stated Agbeko. “It is a stern check in opposition to top-of-the-line tremendous middleweights on the planet within the co-main occasion of the most important struggle of the 12 months. This is a chance that I relish drastically and is precisely how I envisioned profitable the belt. I’ve had a protracted journey to get so far, however I’ve at all times skilled like a man with a goal on my again. I need to win the belt and be the fighter that everybody goes after. I’ve an ideal crew behind me and I can’t wait to correctly introduce myself to the boxing world on April 22.”
Having confronted a deep and in depth listing of champions and high fighters all through his profession, the at all times thrilling Rosado (26-16, 15 KOs) will look to repeat his 2021 highlight-reel KO in opposition to Melikuziev in one of many 12 months’s largest surprises once they meet on April 22. The Philadelphia native has gone toe-to-toe with present and former champions Jermell Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter Quillin, David Lemieux, Joshua Clottey, Daniel Jacobs and Jaime Munguia in a professional profession that dates again to 2006.
“It was powerful having the struggle in opposition to ‘Zurdo’ canceled, however now it’s me versus Bek on the most important struggle card of the 12 months,” stated Rosado. “I’m targeted and able to put Bek again in verify. I look ahead to being a part of a historic struggle card, and I plan on dominating ‘The Bully’ as soon as once more!”
The 26-year-old Melikuziev (11-1, 9 KOs) heads into April 22 looking for revenge from his 2021 defeat to Rosado and to increase his profitable streak to 5. Initially hailing from Uzbekistan and now residing in Indio, California, Melikuziev turned professional in 2019 after a formidable newbie profession that included gold medals within the 2015 and 2017 Asian Championships. Melikuziev had knocked out six of his first seven professional opponents earlier than operating into Rosado’s proper hand.
“That is the struggle I needed and an important struggle for me right now,” stated Melikuziev. “That is the struggle to proper the flawed. I’m so fortunate to make it on the most important card of the 12 months. I need to thank my crew, my promoter, and naturally, Rosado, for giving me this chance.”
Preventing out of Phoenix, Arizona, Garcia (14-0, 12 KOs) earned a career-best victory in March, blasting out the beforehand unbeaten Amilcar Vidal within the fourth-round on SHOWTIME® to announce his presence at 160-pounds. The 19-year-old had beforehand put collectively a four-win 2022 marketing campaign capped by a second spherical KO of Cruse Stewart that streamed stay on the SHOWTIME SPORTS® YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing® Fb web page. The precocious Garcia has moved quick since turning professional in 2020 and has knocked out six of his final seven opponents.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this main pay-per-view occasion and I’m excited for the chance,” stated Garcia. “After my final struggle, I’ve been within the health club ready for the time to showcase my expertise but once more. I’m planning on placing on an ideal efficiency in opposition to Salgado on April 22. The principle occasion is a good struggle and ‘Tank’ is a beast, and Ryan is undefeated and proficient and can be a tricky check. However be sure you don’t miss my struggle, as a result of it’s going to be a Mexican warfare for the entire followers.”
A local of Mexico Metropolis, Salgado (15-1-1, 10 KOs) is the youthful brother of former tremendous featherweight champion Juan Carlos Salgado and now fights out of San Antonio, Texas. The 25-year-old turned professional in late 2016 and delivered knockouts in six of his first 9 outings. After scoring three-straight knockouts between September 2019 and February 2021, Salgado returned to the ring in October 2021 to defeat Ricardo Banuelos Cernas by unanimous determination earlier than combating Bryant Perrella to a split-draw in his U.S. debut in April. Salgado bounced again from a September 2022 defeat to Joey Spencer by knocking out Gilberto Flores within the first spherical of their December 2022 conflict.
“I do know that I’m going through an excellent opponent, however I’m able to shock the boxing world,” stated Salgado. “It is a nice alternative for me. I’m grateful to be on this place and I’m coming to take full benefit of it. I’m feeling sturdy in coaching camp and I’ll be prepared to check Garcia and see the place he stacks up.”
