Former WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion Juan Carlos Payano's 10-round fight against undefeated Philippine "Magic" Mike Plania has been elevated to the co-main event at this Friday's "Rumble at the Rock" event at Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Payano (19-1, 9 KOs) vs. Plania (14-0, 7 KOs) will serve as the chief supporting bout to the 12-round WBA Interim World Bantamweight Championship main event between St. Louis' Stephon "Showstopper" Young (17-0-3, 7 KOs) and Reymart "GenSan Assassin" Gaballo (18-0, 16 KOs) from General Santos City, Philippines.
"Rumble at the Rock" is presented by Kris Lawrence and The Heavyweight Factory. Tickets are priced at $255, $130, $80 and $55. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Additional fees may apply.
Thirty-three-year-old southpaw Payano, a native of the Dominican Republic, who now lives in Miami, is in the third fight of his mission to regain his world championship. He has notched two solid victories since splitting a pair of championship fights with top-level bantam Rau'shee Warren. A victory over undefeated Plania would move him one step closer.
Twenty-one-year-old Plania is a mostly unknown commodity in North America, as he's never fought on this side of the ocean. He currently resides in Miami and is looking to make Payano the first big name on his growing resume. He is currently riding a three-fight KO streak.
"This is a tremendous match-up with world championship implications for the winner," said Henry Rivalta, Director of Boxing for The Heavyweight Factory. "Juan Carlos has said he wants no easy fights on his way to regaining his belt, and undefeated Plania will be a stiff challenge. Plania will be looking to make his mark in the US by defeating a recent world champion. He will be very determined to score this big win. I'm excited to see what plays out in the ring on Friday."
"Rumble at the Rock" is proudly sponsored by Armero Tequila. Special guests expected for the evening include former heavyweight champions Riddick "Big Daddy" Bowe and Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield. On fight night, Hard Rock Event Center will open its doors at 6 p.m. with the first bout starting at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Florida.
This past Saturday night at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, featherweight prospect Braulio Rodriguez (19-3, 17 KOs) locked horns with undefeated prospect Christopher Diaz in a battle for the WBO-NABO Super Featherweight title.
Through the first two-plus rounds, Rodriguez was holding his own with Diaz, until Rodriguez hurt his right hand.
Unfortunately Rodriguez could not continue, and the bout was stopped 28 seconds into round four.
Rodriguez was diagnosed with a Metacarpal fracture on his right hand.
"Braulio proved that he can compete with the top 130 pound fighters out there," said Rodriguez manager, Felipe Gomez of El Matador Management. "He suffered a freak injury before he could really get going. He was landing some good shots, and I feel he had a good chance of winning. When he heals, hopefully we can get a rematch or some big fight as I feel he should be in the mix for those opportunities.
Rodriguez is promoted by Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - Renowned Dominican boxer Yenifel 'El Rayo' Vicente (31-3-2, 23 KO’s) has been aware of the expressions made by Paul Dogboe, father and trainer of the Interim World Boxing Organization champion (WBO) 122 pounds, Isaac Dogboe (18-0, 12 KO's), who is scheduled to face WBO world champion, Mexican American, Jessie Magdaleno (25-0, 18 KO's), on April 28 in Philadelphia .
Paul Dogboe had expressed that his son not only will defeated Magdaleno, but deported the Mexican-American born in Las Vegas after the victory by throwing it on the wall that divides both countries and in the celebration, they will present the world title to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
"If Dogboe defeats Magdaleno, I will ask my promoter Lou DiBella to fight him," said Yenifel Vicente.
"If we have to fight in Ghana, we will be ready to travel and put the Latinos and people who respect others regardless of their race with a big victory for them. Those comments create hatred and divisions. We live in a world where we all breathe the same air and we are the same. I will not allow them to insult our Mexican brothers and others who work hard in search of a better quality of life, "said Yenifel Vicente.
Vicente has won six consecutive bouts, including the PBC’s Knockout of the Year, a three-round knockout over the undefeated favorite, Juan 'Baby Tito' Dominguez.
Vicente's manager, Raúl Patrana, President of the 'Spartan Boxing Club', is willing to help with the fight.
"If Dogboe wins, we are willing to make the necessary arrangements so that Dogboe's first defense can be against Vicente who is ranked 12th in the WBO and of course in the best coliseum available in Ghana. We wish the best of luck to Magdaleno. At the end, we hope both fighters make a good fight for the fans and leave healthy after that”.