Detroit Boxing Rises Again? Jermaine Franklin, Other Locals Hit DAZN on May 23

Promoter Dmitriy Salita and DAZN have teamed to unearth and provide a spotlight for the traditionally rich boxing talent mined in and around Detroit, with their production arriving May 23.

Salita Promotions on Thursday announced a DAZN-streamed card at Detroit’s Wayne State Fieldhouse (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) headlined by heavyweight Jermaine Franklin (22-2, 14 KOs) versus former U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas (11-10, 9 KOs).

The “Big Time Boxing USA” series aims to showcase promising domestic products, and Detroit and nearby Michigan towns have proven a productive launching point given the historic feats accomplished by longtime residents such as Joe Louis, Thomas Hearns and Claressa Shields – whom Salita promotes.

Saginaw’s Franklin, 30, went the distance with both Dillian Whyte and former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua over a six-month stretch of bouts in England in 2022 and 2023. He will return from a 10-month break for a fight scheduled for 10 rounds.

“I want to show the world the new Jermaine,” Franklin said in a news release. “I have some new smoke to show boxing fans. I learned so much after the Joshua fight. I must trust myself and my skills. My team told me, ‘If you want the belt, you have to go for it.’ You will see a new Jermaine. I promise that.”

Being home is part of that newfound inspiration.

“I’m so hyped to fight in front of my family and friends,” Franklin said. “I get a chance to come home and give my family a welcome-home knockout. I have been to some great places to fight, but nothing comes close to fighting at home in front of family.”

The co-main offers Grand Rapids’ Joshua James Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) against fellow unbeaten 140-pounder Roger Hilley (13-0, 8 KOs) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the NABF belt.

A slew of local prospects will fight on the streamed broadcast portion, including Detroit’s undefeated “Hitman 2.0” Da’Velle Smith (8-0, 6 KOs), once-beaten Dearborn-based Husam Al Mashhadi (9-1, 8 KOs) and Mount Clemens’ undefeated Luis Quintero (7-0, 7 KOs).

“We’ve assembled some of the baddest men from the Detroit boxing scene for this fight card,” Salita said in his news release discussing the first multi-event agreement with DAZN.

“Future world champions facing tough competition in a true test of mettle and looking to take the next step – this is what the ‘Big Time Boxing’ series is all about.

“Each man is hungry to make a statement of his own, especially Jermaine, who is one of America’s top-ranked heavyweights. I want to thank DAZN for giving all the fighters a worldwide platform to show out for Detroit. And I thank the Detroit boxing community for coming out to support their favorite hometown fighters.”