Yuri Foreman Geared and Ready For Ring Return

By Jake Donovan

Former 154 lb. titlist Yuri Foreman ends a near two-year hiatus to return to the ring Wednesday evening at BB Kings Blues Club & Grill in New York City. The Brooklyn native – by way of Belarus – faces Missouri’s Brandon Baue in a scheduled six-round middleweight contest.

Both fighters comfortably made weight. Foreman came in at 154 lb - his normal fighting weight – while Baue weighed in at 157½ lb for his New York City debut.

Foreman (28-2, 8KO) hasn’t fought since suffering a 6th round stoppage loss at the hands of Pawel Wolak in March ’11. The loss was Foreman’s second straight, coming nine months after falling prey to Miguel Cotto in nine rounds the prior June at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York.

The last time Foreman saw the win column was in fact his title winning effort over Daniel Santos in Nov. ’09, on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s 12th round stoppage of Cotto.

While a win isn’t guaranteed, the 32-year old figures to have his hand raised by night’s end. Baue (12-10, 8KO) has lost five straight, with his last win coming only a week after Foreman’s aforementioned victory over Santos.

The middleweight attraction is part of a nine-fight card which kicks off the 2013 season of the long-running Broadway Boxing series presented by DiBella Entertainment. Wednesday’s show will mark the 9th season of the series, which has often played to sold-out venues throughout New York City.

FULL CARD/WEIGHTS:

Luis Rosa, 123 lb vs. Derrick Wilson, 122 lb – 8 rounds, super bantamweight

Yuri Foreman, 154 lb vs. Brandon Baue, 157½ lb – 6 rounds, middleweight  

Lamar Russ, 161 lb vs. Jose Medina, 162 lb – 8 rounds, middleweight

Heather Hardy, 122 lb vs. Peggy Maerz, 119 lb – 4 rounds, super bantamweight

Delen Parsley, 159 lb vs. Tyrone Selders, 160 lb – 8 rounds, middleweight

Eugene Russell , 240 lb vs. Granson Clark, 219 lb – 4 rounds, heavyweight

Skender Halili, 148 lb vs. Roberto Crespo 147½ lb – 6 rounds, welterweight

Patrick Day, 155 lb vs. Zach Kelley, 156 lb – 4 rounds, super welterweight

Neuky Santalesis, 133 lb vs. Juan Javier Guerrero, 132 lb – 4 rounds, lightweight

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox