Cruiserweight contender Ryan Rozicki will end a year-plus layoff on March 7 when he faces Gerardo Mellado at Centre 200 in his hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), will be making his first appearance since his majority draw against Yamil Peralta in December of 2024 for the WBC interim cruiserweight title. The 30-year-old Rozicki sat out all of 2025 due to a number of factors, despite being named mandatory challenger for the WBC title. After being unable to secure a title opportunity against Noel Mikaelian, he was scheduled instead to fight the then-elevated Champion in Recess Badou Jack in May, before withdrawing due to a bicep injury. Rozicki was instead scheduled to return in October against Akani Phuzi, but had to withdraw from that fight after reinjuring his bicep.
“I have been sidelined for more than a year now due to this injury and I haven’t knocked anybody out in nearly two years,” said Rozicki, who is rated no. 2 by the WBC at 200lbs. “It’s frustrating but I can now say I’m 100 percent and ready for what’s to come. I need to get this fight to get me back in the swing of things and then I’m coming for those world title belts. I’m not overlooking my opponent, either. He can crack. He’s also tough and has been much more active than me.”
Mellado, 12-4 (7 KOs), of Valdivia, Chile last fought in April, losing a unanimous decision to Juergen Uldedaj in England. Mellado is currently 0-2 in fights outside of Chile, and is looking for his first win abroad.
“Coming into hostile territory isn’t new to me,” Mellado said, “My last fight was in England and I took it on less than two weeks’ notice. I will be coming to Canada for a knockout, not leaving it to the scorecards like my last fight. And, of course, I want to take Rozicki’s rating with me back to Chile. Lots of people duck Ryan, but not me; I’m a fighter coming to ruin his night in his country.”
Daniel Otter, whose company, Three Lions Promotions, will promote the event, says he has been pleased with what he has seen from Rozicki in training.
“Although he had a slow 2025 due to injury, we are confident 2026 will be an active one and before the end of 2026, Ryan will be cruiserweight champion of the world. He looks great in training and is dialed in,” said Otter.
In other fights slated for the card, Brett Beaton, 6-4 (4 KOs) and David Logue, 4-1 (4 KOs), will meet in a ten-round super middleweight fight, while Meilyn Sanchez Martinez, 3-0 (1 KO), will meet Silvia Duran, 4-3, of Costa Rica in a six-round junior featherweight fight.
