Davis, Farenas Headline Special Wednesday Edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights and Noche de Combates Former Featherweight Titlist Dib to Meet Garza in Co-Feature
The special Wednesday, July 2 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra will feature undefeated Jr. Lightweight Mark “Too Sharp” Davis (18-0, 5 KOs) and former Super Featherweight world title challenger Michael “Hammer Fist” Farenas (37-4-4, 29 KOs) in a 12-round IBF world title eliminator.
Wednesday’s show, from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN. The card is promoted by SMS Promotions, which is owned by multiplatinum recording artist and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The card is part of 50 Cent’s birthday celebration.
Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore will be ringside with analyst Teddy Atlas describing the action for ESPN2, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will provide the latest boxing news and highlights. Commentators Robert Sierra and Alex Pombo will call the fights for Noche de Combates (Fight Night) on ESPN Deportes, while Claudia Trejos and Leopoldo González will anchor the studio.
Main Event: Cleveland’s Davis is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision win over Carlos Vinan, while Farenas, who hails from the Philippines, is looking to score his fifth consecutive knockout following a second-round TKO win over Hector Velazquez in his last fight.
“Farenas – I don’t think he’s going to touch me,” Davis said. “I’m going to beat him with speed and movement. I think he’s pretty slow on his feet. I think he’s flat-footed….just be ready to see fireworks on July 2.”
Co-Feature: Friday’s 10-round Jr. Lightweight co-feature will pit former IBF Featherweight titlist Billy “The Kid” Dib (36-3, 21 KOs) of Australia against former Featherweight world title challenger Alberto “Kichis” Garza of Mexico (26-7-1, 21 KOs). Dib is looking to rebound from a ninth-round TKO loss in a rematch against defending titleholder Evgeny Gradovich. Their first title fight in March 2013 headlined Friday Night Fights. Garza is also looking to get back to his winning ways following a 12-round unanimous decision loss to José Pedraza.
Opening Fight: Wednesday’s telecast will open with a four-round bout between undefeated Jr. Welterweight Ryan Martin (5-0, 3 KOs) and Matthew Baca (4-1-1, 2 KOs).
ESPN Boxing Schedule:7/1/14
| Date | Time (ET) | Main Events | Location | Networks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jul 2 | 9 pm | Michael Farenas (38-4-4, 30 KOs) vs. Mark Davis (18-0, 5 KOs)—12 rounds, Jr. Lightweights | Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, Conn. | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jul 11 | 9 pm | Tureano Johnson (14-1, 10 KOs) vs. Mike Gavronski (14-0-1, 10 KOs)—10 rounds, Middleweights | Little Creek Casino, Shelton, Wash. | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jul 18 | 8 pm | Karim Mayfield (18-1-1, 11 KOs) vs. Emmanuel Taylor (17-2, 12 KOs)—10 rounds, Jr. Welterweight | Paramount Theater, Huntington, N.Y. | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jul 25 | 9 pm | Roberto Garcia (35-3, 23 KOs) vs. Breidis Prescott (27-5, 20 KOs)—10 rounds Welterweight | UIC Convention Center, Chicago | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Aug 1 | 9 pm | Thomas Williams Jr. (17-0, 12 KOs) vs. Gabriel Campillo (23-6-1, 10 KOs)—12 rounds, Light Heavyweights | Little Creek Casino, Shelton, Wash. | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
