Photos/Weights: Miguel Cotto Promotions in Caguas, Puerto Rico

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico - Three battles for regional titles, plus undefeated prospect Alberto “Explosivo” Machado and world title contender Janiel Rivera, will be part of the April 23rd show in Caguas. Four undefeated prospects will take on their toughest opponents to date and three of them will be fighting for regional titles sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC) during what figures to be a spectacular night of boxing at the Roger L. Mendoza Coliseum in Caguas in a card presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Roc Nation Sports, H2 Entertainment, and Universal Promotions.

The show is part of the DIRECTV Boxing Nights series and also pits the two top boxing companies in Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Javier Bustillo's Universal Promotions, against each other. The two companies will have their fighters facing each other in a historic night of boxing, including five bouts that could be main events on their own shows.  

In the actual main event, hard punching Angel “Tito” Acosta (12-0, 12 KOs) of Santurce will be defending his Fecarbox Mini Flyweight crown against Dominican Erickson Martell (12-5-1, 8 KOs) a resident of Puerto Rico who is promoted by Universal Promotions in an eight round bout. 

In the co-feature bout, the powerful Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (13-0, 11 KOs) and the pride of Monte Hatillo will battle Miguel Angel Mendoza (22-7-2, 21 KOs) of Mexico in an eight round bout at 130 pounds. Mendoza, 32, has double the experience of Machado and has faced top notch opposition like Mercisto Gesta of the Philippines.

In other action, José “Chiquiro”  Martínez (16-0, 10 KOs) of Las Marías will be defending the colors of Miguel Cotto Promotions when he takes on Edwin “Puto” Rodríguez (7-2, 5 KOs) of Juana Díaz for the WBC Super Flyweight Latino belt in a 10 round bout. 

Also, Carlos “Machazo” Rodríguez (12-2, 11 KOs), of Mayagüez, and a Universal Promotions protégé, will challenge Carlos Narvaez (13-0, 6 KOs) of Morovis in an eight round bout for the super flyweight Fecarbox belt.

And, in a very attractive 10 round match that could have been also for a regional title, Janiel Rivera (13-2-3, 7 KOs) of Vega Baja, and Miguel Cotto Promotions fighter, will take on Universal Promotions’ own Anthony Rodríguez (7-2, 2 KOs) of Orlando in a 108 pound bout.   Rivera, 24, who was born on Manati but is resident of Vega Baja, has had three wins and a draw since his loss to Adrian “Confesor” Hernandez in a bout for the WBC Mini Flyweight world championship in February of 2014. One year before, Rivera—a tall fighter (5’7’’) for the division—was upset by his loss to the veteran Miguel “Zamurai” del Valle, who took away his undefeated record. Rodriguez is a young veteran who is returning to the ring after seven years of inactivity but had an easy win against “Zamurai” del Valle in 2006.

The card will also include the professional debut of John Bauza, a Puerto Rican native who resides in New Jersey and who had an amateur record of 170-8. He will be taking on Franklin Torres of Vega Baja, who is also making his pro debut in a four round 140-pound bout.  

In other bouts, Ricardo “Richy” Rodriguez (6-0-1, 4 KOs) of Mayaguez will take on Luis Cosme (8-8-1, 3 KOs) of Bayamon in a super bantamweight bout. Additionally, the experienced Juan "Cowi” Herrera (13-9-1, 4 KOs) of Naguabo will battle Luis Ortiz (3-9, 4 KOs) of Vega Alta in a six round super bantamweight bout. 

FULL WEIGHTS

107.8LBS ANGEL ACOSTA  VS. ERICKSON MARTELL 108LBS

132LBS ALBERTO MACHADO VS. MIGUEL ANGEL MENDOZA 130LBS

114.4LBS JOSE MARTINEZ VS. EDWIN RODRIGUEZ 114.6LBS

105.4LBS JANIEL RIVERA VS. ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ 105.6LBS

114.6LBS CARLOS NARVAEZ VS. CARLOS RODRIGUEZ 113.4LBS

139LBS JOHN BAUZA VS. LEROY PADILLA 141LBS

126LBS RICARDO RODRIGUEZ VS. LUIS COSME 127LBS

124LBS JUAN HERRERA VS. LUIS ORTIZ 124LBS

DIRECTV Boxing Nights is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, H2 Entertainment, and Roc Nation Sports, Universal Promotions in association with DIRECTV and Caguas City Hall, Gasolina Party In Pouch Ciclón Energy Drink, Armour All, Restaurant Raices, and Periódico La Cordillera. Tickets for the event at the Roger Mendoza Coliseum of Caguas have a cost of $35.00 Red Carpet, $15 Ringside and $10 General Admission. They are available at Ticket Center by calling 787-792-5000 or at www.tcpr.com.