Photo edit by Keystone Boxing
On Saturday, April 8, 2017 undefeated Junior Welterweight prospect Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed (21-0, 12 KOs) will take part in the first boxing event at the brand new Theater at MGM National Harbor and will enter his first 10-round contest as a professional.
Reed, a product of Waldorf, MD, will be facing Reyes Sanchez (26-9-2, 15 KOs) of Nezahualcóyotl, México and is looking to build off of a successful 2016 campaign where he went 4-0, 2 KOs.
The main event will feature a Junior Lightweight title bout between WBO champion and pound-for-pound stud, Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) and former WBA titleholder Jason Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs).
The event is being promoted by Top Rank, Inc. and will include a televised tripleheader broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing.
After showcasing his talent for fans in Omaha, Nebraska and New York at the famed “Mecca of Boxing,” Reed will be fighting at home for the first time in over two years when he knocked out Edgardo Soto in Round 2, much to the delight of his fans.
“I’m ready to put on a show. I haven’t been home in over two years so this fight will be historic,” said Reed in a recent interview with Round By Round Boxing.
While many boxers see fighting in front of their hometown fans as a distraction with added pressure, Reed is looking forward to lacing up the gloves in front of the local contingent.
“I don’t think it’s pressure because all my fans always travel,” said Reed. “I will say there is a little more excitement. I get a little more excited because I know everyone is going to come out and it’s my first 10 rounder.”
Reed is promoted by Top Rank, home to many established champions such as Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford, as well as top-notch prospects and contenders. Reed is hoping that he can prove to his promotional company that he is a marquee name in his backyard that can sell tickets.
“I get to show Top Rank that I can sell out at home so hopefully this is the start of something new,” said Reed.
Reed also hopes to follow in the footsteps of his DC-area contemporaries who have already started to win world championships.
“I’ve grown up with these guys and to see them win world championships only motivates me more,” said Reed. “There is no team in boxing, but we all grew up together. We always support each other, when Tank [Gervonta Davis] won his everybody supported and when Jarrett [Hurd] won his everybody supported too.”
Assuming he is successful on Saturday night, Reed is anxious to face the top names in his division and show that he deserves a title shot.
“[I want] anyone except Terence [Crawford] really,” said Reed who acknowledges Crawford’s impressive pedigree. “I say that with all due respect to everybody that’s ranked ahead of me. I know I’m not ready for Terence Crawford right now because he’s probably the No. 1 or No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter. But, with that being said, I’m ready for anyone other than Terence.”
More About the Fight Card:
The championship card, which features Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Jason Sosa in the main event, will also feature undefeated WBO Cruiserweight world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Aleksandr Usyk (11-0, 10 KOs), from Kiev, Ukraine, and NABF Light Heavyweight champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Oleksandy Gvozdyk (12-0, 10 KOs), from Kharkiv, Ukraine, defending their titles against Michael Hunter (12-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nevada and Yuniesky Gonzalez (18-2, 14 KOs), a native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, who lives and trains in Miami, Florida, respectively, in all-action co-main event battles.
All six fighters will be attending the final press conference on Thursday, April 6, 2017, as will undefeated No. 1 Super Middleweight contender Jesse “Hard Work” Hart from Philadelphia, PA., and local favorites from the metro Washington, DC area Mike Reed and Patrick Harris, who will be fighting in separate bouts on the non-televised undercard.
Header photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
