For the second time in less than a year, Elijah Lugo took the most logical next big step in his boxing journey.
The teenaged middleweight has signed with Queensberry Promotions, the UK-based promotional giant confirmed on Tuesday. Terms of their deal were not revealed as this goes to publication, though the signing made sense for both parties. Queensberry – headed by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren - previously signed Nathan Lugo, Elijah’s older brother, to its banner.
“Welcome to Queensberry, Elijah Lugo,” the company announced via social media.
Elijah, 19, and Nathan, 21, are also both trained by their father, Mike, and managed by David McWater.
The younger Lugo, 3-0 (1 KO) turned pro in April after taking his brilliant amateur career as far it can go without waiting out the next Olympics cycle. The unbeaten middleweight from Marietta, Georgia, claimed five gold medals during international youth competition, including top honors during the 2024 World Under-19 Championships last fall in Pueblo, Colorado.
“To be honest it was a little sad because I was told after this world tournament that there’s not much else I can do to build more money,” Lugo told BoxingScene at the time. “So, after I took my fifth gold medal and won the Youth Worlds, I said it’s time. I’ve taken over the world in the amateurs. Time to move on.”
Lugo made his pro debut on an April 5 ProBox TV show [Editor’s note: ProBox founder Garry Jonas owns BoxingScene] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went the distance in a four-round shutout victory, as was the case five weeks later on a May 5 Overtime Boxing (OTX) DAZN show in Houston, Texas.
The latter card was also the first of two times where Elijah and Nathan Lugo both appeared on the same pro card. They once again joined forces on a July 25 OTX show in Atlanta, mere minutes from their Marietta hometown.
Elijah Lugo earned his first pro stoppage on the night, halting Marquis Williams midway through the fifth round.
Lugo joins a growing list of young prospects recently signed by Queensberry. The signing also represents the company’s commitment to making strides in the North American market.
Queensberry also promotes Brandun Lee, 30-0 (23 KOs), 18-year-old Puerto Rican newcomer Yandiel Lozano, 1-0 (0 KOs) and fast-rising super middleweight Abel Gonzalez, 8-0 (6 KOs), who headlines an August 23 Miura Boxing-promoted DAZN show from Naucalpan, Mexico.
