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Featherweight titleholder Chris John of Indonesia is undefeated and has made 10 title defenses but remains an unknown in the United States because all of his defenses have been in Indonesia (6), Japan (3) or Australia (1).
Now, however, "The Dragon" is coming to America to defend his title against Rocky Juarez in Houston, Juarez's hometown.
They will meet at the Toyota Center on Feb. 28 in the HBO co-feature on the card headlined by lightweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez's defense against Houston's Juan Diaz in what figures to be one of the city's biggest boxing nights ever.
"It's a natural fit to have Rocky and Juan in Houston with both of them fighting for world titles on the same card," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.
The deal for John-Juarez was completed Wednesday after talks for Juarez's proposed bout with titleholder Steve Luevano ended.
A Thursday press conference is scheduled in Houston to formally announce the fight as well as the previously announced Marquez-Diaz bout.
"We have talked for a while about the right fight for John to come to the U.S. and now that time is here," Schaefer said. "It's a big fight for Chris John and the right spot for him. Everyone has accused him of just fighting in Indonesia but now he comes into the lion's den to defend his title in Rocky's hometown. It's a big showcase for both of them. For Rocky, it's an opportunity to finally win a world title and do it in his hometown, and for Chris John it's an opportunity to silence the people who say he only fights in Asia. He's not just coming to the U.S. for a fight, he's coming here to fight in his opponent's backyard."
John (42-0-1, 22 KOs), 29, whose American promotional rights are held by Golden Boy, is regarded as the No. 1 featherweight in the world. Among his defenses was a controversial decision against Marquez in Indonesia in March 2006.
"And now he's on the same card as Juan Manuel Marquez and he is a guy who beat Marquez," Schaefer said. "There are a lot of interesting storylines to this card. I am really proud and happy that HBO was able to help to come up with the necessary funds to make this happen."
Sampson Lewkowicz, John's adviser, said John's appearance in the U.S. has been a long time coming.
"I believe it is well deserved for him to invade America," Lewkowicz said. "America will see the best featherweight in the world. Chris has no problem coming over here. The only reason he didn't come over before is because nobody wanted to face him, so he's delighted that Juarez challenges him."
Lewkowicz said when John defended his title with a decision against Hiroyuki Enoki in October in Japan, he made "more than $200,000 and he is coming here for less money than he made in Japan -- just to prove himself."
Juarez (28-4, 20 KOs), who was Luevano's mandatory challenger, and promoter Golden Boy, had been trying to make that match with Luevano promoter Top Rank for the Houston card. However, Luevano manager Cameron Dunkin did not want to go to Juarez's hometown.
Top Rank proposed that the bout take place in April in Puerto Rico, where the company will promote an HBO card headlined by junior featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez. But Juarez wanted to fight at home, and when John emerged as a serious option a few days ago, Juarez opted to face him in Houston rather than go to Puerto Rico to face Luevano for more money.
It will be Juarez's fourth shot at a world title. The 2000 U.S. Olympic silver medalist lost a decision to Humberto Soto for an interim featherweight belt in 2005, dropped two decisions to then-junior lightweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2006 and a decision to Marquez for a junior lightweight belt in 2007.
"Rocky has seen a tape of John at his best and he believes he can beat him," Juarez manager Shelly Finkel said. "If Rocky is going to get a title, this is his best shot. If he can't do it, he just can't do it and he'll be one of the best fighters who never won a title. But if Rocky beats him, he beats the best guy in the division."
Now, however, "The Dragon" is coming to America to defend his title against Rocky Juarez in Houston, Juarez's hometown.
They will meet at the Toyota Center on Feb. 28 in the HBO co-feature on the card headlined by lightweight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez's defense against Houston's Juan Diaz in what figures to be one of the city's biggest boxing nights ever.
"It's a natural fit to have Rocky and Juan in Houston with both of them fighting for world titles on the same card," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com.
The deal for John-Juarez was completed Wednesday after talks for Juarez's proposed bout with titleholder Steve Luevano ended.
A Thursday press conference is scheduled in Houston to formally announce the fight as well as the previously announced Marquez-Diaz bout.
"We have talked for a while about the right fight for John to come to the U.S. and now that time is here," Schaefer said. "It's a big fight for Chris John and the right spot for him. Everyone has accused him of just fighting in Indonesia but now he comes into the lion's den to defend his title in Rocky's hometown. It's a big showcase for both of them. For Rocky, it's an opportunity to finally win a world title and do it in his hometown, and for Chris John it's an opportunity to silence the people who say he only fights in Asia. He's not just coming to the U.S. for a fight, he's coming here to fight in his opponent's backyard."
John (42-0-1, 22 KOs), 29, whose American promotional rights are held by Golden Boy, is regarded as the No. 1 featherweight in the world. Among his defenses was a controversial decision against Marquez in Indonesia in March 2006.
"And now he's on the same card as Juan Manuel Marquez and he is a guy who beat Marquez," Schaefer said. "There are a lot of interesting storylines to this card. I am really proud and happy that HBO was able to help to come up with the necessary funds to make this happen."
Sampson Lewkowicz, John's adviser, said John's appearance in the U.S. has been a long time coming.
"I believe it is well deserved for him to invade America," Lewkowicz said. "America will see the best featherweight in the world. Chris has no problem coming over here. The only reason he didn't come over before is because nobody wanted to face him, so he's delighted that Juarez challenges him."
Lewkowicz said when John defended his title with a decision against Hiroyuki Enoki in October in Japan, he made "more than $200,000 and he is coming here for less money than he made in Japan -- just to prove himself."
Juarez (28-4, 20 KOs), who was Luevano's mandatory challenger, and promoter Golden Boy, had been trying to make that match with Luevano promoter Top Rank for the Houston card. However, Luevano manager Cameron Dunkin did not want to go to Juarez's hometown.
Top Rank proposed that the bout take place in April in Puerto Rico, where the company will promote an HBO card headlined by junior featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez. But Juarez wanted to fight at home, and when John emerged as a serious option a few days ago, Juarez opted to face him in Houston rather than go to Puerto Rico to face Luevano for more money.
It will be Juarez's fourth shot at a world title. The 2000 U.S. Olympic silver medalist lost a decision to Humberto Soto for an interim featherweight belt in 2005, dropped two decisions to then-junior lightweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2006 and a decision to Marquez for a junior lightweight belt in 2007.
"Rocky has seen a tape of John at his best and he believes he can beat him," Juarez manager Shelly Finkel said. "If Rocky is going to get a title, this is his best shot. If he can't do it, he just can't do it and he'll be one of the best fighters who never won a title. But if Rocky beats him, he beats the best guy in the division."
From ESPN.
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