Joshua Pagan could be heading home to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for his next fight following his performance in the main event of Thursday’s “Big Time Boxing” card from the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Pagan, 14-0 (5 KOs), picked up a ninth-round technical knockout win over Maliek Montgomery in their bloody lightweight battle. After Montgomery suffered a cut in the second round, the fight turned into a back-and-forth battle of not only skill but also will.
Pagan, a 25-year-old from Grand Rapids, Michigan, whose grandparents moved from Puerto Rico to the United States, is now looking to fight for the first time in his hometown.
“My focus is on bringing him back to Grand Rapids for a homecoming fight,” Dmitry Salita, Pagan’s promoter, told BoxingScene. “The last pro boxing event there was when Floyd Mayweather defended his lightweight title, so it would mean a lot to make that happen.”
Salita outlined plans for Pagan while explaining that he will be holding multiple shows in 2026 in Puerto Rico.
“We’re aiming for about six events on the island next year to showcase some of the world-class talent that’s out there but hasn’t gotten much attention yet,” Salita said.
As for Pagan’s victory over the 30-year-old Montgomery, 20-2 (18 KOs), Salita couldn’t have been more pleased with the performance.
“Man, what a warrior!” Salita said. “Tonight reinforced what I’ve always known about Pagan: He’s truly dedicated to boxing, willing to step up against tough, highly regarded opponents on his path to becoming a champion.
“Our main goal is to get him a world title shot. He’ll take some time to rest, review this performance with the team and then make a decision.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
