Adams vs. Byfield Moved To ESPN2 FNF Co-Feature

In the wake of Hank Lundy missing weight and his bout with Petr Petrov effectively canceled, the January 16 edition of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights will now run as a middleweight doubleheader.

Brandon Adams faces Lekan Byfield in a previously scheduled non-televised bout that has now been upgraded to the co-feature attraction. The headlining bout remains intact, as Willie Monroe Jr. faces veteran Bryan Vera in a scheduled 10-round regional middleweight title fight.

Both bouts air live from Turning Stong Resort & Casino in Verona, New York (Friday, 9:00pm ET). 

Adams (14-1, 9KOs) was the top runner-up in the Boxcino 2014 Middleweight tournament, dropping a 10-round decision to Monroe Jr. in the finals. The loss was his first as a pro, though the L.A.-born and bred boxer soldiers on as he views 2015 as his chance to prove he still belongs among the best of the next generation of middleweights. 

The show was originally intended to showcase the winners of last year's Boxcino tournaments in the middleweight and lightweight divisions. However, Lundy's follies at the scales—followed by his refusal to attempt to shed the weight or agree to a rehydration cap—left Petrov on the sidelines, having not fought since his knockout win over Feraando Carcamo in the Boxcino Lightweight finals last May. 

Tonight's edition of Friday Night Fights will also reveal the participants and matchups in this year's Boxcino offerings, with heavyweight and super welterweight this year's hosting divisions. 

The quarterfinal round for the super welterweight division will begin Friday, February 13, airing live from Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. The heavyweight division follows suit one week later on Friday, February 20 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino. Both will air live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.