News: Acosta vs. Buitrago, Mykal Fox, Nathan Wheatley

World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will showcase his vast skills June 16 in his first title defense against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos "Chocorroncito" Buitrago in the "La Batalla" 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
 
La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.
 
Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.
 
Building his own legacy in a traditionally rich, hot-bed for boxing like Puerto Rico, Acosta (17-1, 17 KOs) captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out Juan Alejo (24-4-1), of Mexico, in the 10th round.
 
An outstanding amateur boxer with more than 180 matches, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games,), the San Juan-based fighter has defeated 22-5 Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), and 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).
 
"My goal is to be the best," Acosta said. "I grew-up watching Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, who are my favorite fighters. I will work as hard as I can to give the best to my family, as well as make my island proud. I will win on June 16th and let the world know that I am the best 108-pound boxer in the world."
 
Having a future Hall of Famer such as Cotto as his promoter is a tremendous advantage, in and out of the ring, for Acosta. "It means a lot and is an honor for me to have a living legend like Miguel Cotto as my promoter," Acosta explained. "He has guided my career the best way. He also gets involved in my camp and wants me to get better and better every fight."
 
"Tito Acosta is a really good fighter," Cotto commented about his protégé. "He is World Champion for a reason. We will work to give him the best opportunities. Tito has an opportunity to show the world on June 16th what he is made of and who he is. As World Champion, he needs to be at the highest level to have a brilliant performance each fight, because the better performances and victories, the bigger name he will build." 
 
"It is important for a fighter to do his job in the ring because every performance is a unique opportunity to show the world who you are and at what level you belong. People in Puerto Rico love boxing, and its fighters."
 
WBA #2-rated Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs) will be fighting in his fifth world title fight, after losing three times with one draw. He was stopped for the first time in his last fight this past December, by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0), in the eighth round of their title fight in Japan.
 
All three of Buitrago's career losses have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) in 2016 and 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then-WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Philippines.
 
"Chris Buitrago is a great fighter and tough challenger, who has the highest level of experience, and that motivates me," Acosta spoke about his Nicaraguan opponent. "People want to watch a toe-to-toe brawl and he brings that style. I think he will brawl with me, but I'll be ready for any style he brings June 16th.
 
"I work for the KO (he has 17 knockouts in his 17 wins) because that's what fans like. I work for that every fight and I will win June 16th by knockout!"
 
Additional June 16th PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Philadelphia, Penn. - This past Friday night, junior welterweight Mykal Fox remained perfect by winning a eight-round unanimous decision over Anthony Mercado.

The bout headlined an eight-fight card at SugarHouse Casino, and was promoted by King's Promotions.

Fox of Forestville, Maryland controlled the action by using his long reach that set up combination punching.  The 22 year-old was solid throughout, and cruised home to the victory by scores of 79-73 twice and 78-74.

Fox is now 17-0,  Mercado of Camuy, Puerto Rico is 11-4.

"The Fighting Ring Announcer" Alex Barbosa came back after a nearly two-year layoff to win a four-round unanimous decision over Sergio Aguilar in a super bantamweight bout.

Barbosa of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice to raise his mark to 6-3-1.  Aguilar of Homestead, Florida is 2-8.

Romuel Cruz bloodied the nose of Bryann Perez on his way to a four-round unanimous decision in a super bantamweight bout.

Cruz of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 to stay undefeated at 2-0.  Perez of Carolina, Puerto Rico falls to 2-10-1.

New King's Promotions signee, Anvar Yusunov shook of a flash knockdown to win a four-round unanimous decision over Deo Kizito in a super featherweight bout.

In round three, Kizito landed a straight left that made Yusunov's glove hit the canvas.  It was Yusunov's power shots that bloodied the nose of Kizito, and was the difference in the fight.

Yusunov, who is a three-time Olympian from Tajikistan won by scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-37 to improve to 2-0.  Kizito of Dubai, United Arab Emirates is 3-2.

Jerrod Miner and Desmond Moore battled to a four-round split draw in a bantamweight contest.

Each fighter won a scorecard 39-37 and a third card was even at 38-38.

Miner of Philadelphia is 1-1-2.  Moore of Bethlehem, PA is 1-0-1.

In the fight of the night, Joshafat Ortiz got off the deck in round one, to come back to stop Jordan Peters in round two of their scheduled four-round super featherweight bout.

Peters dropped Ortiz in the first frame with a vicious right hand.  Ortiz was not only able to shake that off, but come back and land a booming right hand that dropped Peters in next frame.  Peters got up, but ate a huge combination, and the fight was stopped at 2:13.

Ortiz of Reading, PA is 4-0 with 2 knockouts.  Peters of Washington, DC is 2-2-1

Michael Coffie remained undefeated by stopping Lamar Lewis in the first round of their scheduled four round heavyweight bout.

Coffie landed a big combination to the top of the head that sent Lewis down, and the fight was stopped 75 seconds into the fight.

Coffie of Brooklyn is 3-0 with 2 knockouts.  Lewis of Conway, Arkansas is 0-2.

Joel Flores of Christopher Burgos fought to a spirited four-round majority draw in a junior lightweight bout.

Flores of Passaic, New Jersey won a card 39-37, but that was overruled by two 38-38 cards.

Flores is 0-0-2.  Burgos of Philadelphia is 0-2-1.

Warrington’s Nathan Wheatley (9-0) defeated Lewis van Poetsch (7-69-1) over four-rounds at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool on a VIP Promotions show.

“The Wire” dropped the former soldier, known as “Poochi”, in the third round with a long right hook to secure a 40-35 points victory.

It was the unbeaten middleweight’s second fight under the tutelage of world title contender Matthew Hatton.

The ex-army man opposing Wheatley, who served in the notorious Helmand Province in Afghanistan 2011, hasn’t been stopped now in his last 22 fights, since he met with Frank Warren prospect Lerrone Richards (7-0) in July 2017, so the 29-year-old prospect was pleased with the knockdown he scored in the penultimate round.

“Yeah, was happy with that, I know he hasn’t been stopped for a while,” Nathan said. “Everyone was saying to me afterwards about how good it was.”

The experienced “Poochi”, a 77-fight veteran, has ruined the record of five unbeaten fighters in the past and came close to claiming the Challenge belt on two occasions recently against Charlie Shane in 2017 and Paul Hilz in 2016, both times missing out by just two points from the away corner.

“I knew he was a tough opponent and not been stopped in a while,” Wheatley praised. “I did what we planned to do in the gym, been working on different shots with Matt, I felt powerful and landed some solid shots.”

The former Bridgefoot ABC student was only in action on March 31 when he defeated Casey Blair (4-38) at the Preston Guild Hall on the undercard of Liam Conroy’s second successful English light-heavyweight title defence to challenger Miles Shinkwin, live on Box Nation TV.

That Easter Saturday bout was his first appearance in over a year after an extended absence recovering from a shoulder injury, initially damaged during a sparring session back in 2015.

Now fully fit, the rejuvenated boxer plans to stay active with his next fight – his first six-rounder – already scheduled for July 27, which will serve as his third outing in just 17 weeks.