Dargan-Luis Clash Marks Main Events' Return To ESPN2

By Jake Donovan

Karl Dargan is deep in training for his January 30 showdown with Canada’s Tony Luis. The bout headlines at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Conn. and airs live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fight series. 

The bout marks the first show on the network for promoter Main Events in nearly four years, when Joel Julio defeated Agnes Adjaho in May ‘11. The New Jersey-based establishment had previously served as the exclusive provider of boxing content for NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night series before the deal expired at the end of 2014. 

Dargan (17-0, 9KOs) became a familiar face on the Fight Night circuit after signing with Main Events in 2013. The unbeaten Philly prospect has appeared on both NBC Sports Network and its parent station NBC, with his most recent performance coming on the free TV network with 5^th round knockout of Angino Perez last September, also at Foxwoods Resort.

“We're very excited to be working with ESPN and with Foxwoods again,” said promoter Kathy Duva. “Dargan had a big 2014 and we expect 2015 to be even bigger. With this fight, he'll have another opportunity to pick up a regional title and move up in the lightweight rankings, but it won't be easy.”

Luis (18-2. 7KOs) comes in following an uneven 2014 campaign, going 1-1 on the year. The loss, however, came in a respectable effort versus Ivan Redkach last January, pushing the unbeaten prospect to the brink before coming up short in a bout that was scored much wider than the in-ring action suggested.

“Tony Luis will press the action so Dargan will have to fight,” acknowledges Duva. “On a national platform like ESPN2, a big win in an explosive fight can catapult the winner to stardom. Both of these fighters understand that, so I expect a great fight on January 30^th.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox