By Rick Reeno
Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz has advised BoxingScene.com that he's interested in staging a televised tripleheader on a March date, potentially in New York City, with several key bouts involving fighters from his stable.
The first bout would involve a final WBC featherweight eliminator between Marvin Sonsona (19-1-1, 15KOs) and unbeaten Jayson Velez (22-0, 16KOs). Lewkowicz has already spoken with Gaby Penagaricano of Cotto Promotions to make the fight.
The World Boxing Council hit featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez with two mandatory obligations. The reason, said WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, is because the last time a fighter made a mandatory defense of the featherweight title was two years ago.
The first final eliminator takes place on January 26th at the Cowboys Dance Hall in San Antonio, Texas - when Robinson Castellanos (20-10, 13KOs) takes on Rocky Juarez (30-10-1, 21KOs) for the WBC's Silver title. Gonzalez will have to face the winner of that fight first.
The winner of Velez vs. Sonsona would face the winner of Gonzalez vs. Juarez/Castellanos.
The second fight of the tripleheader would involve WBC super featherweight title eliminator between unbeaten Javier Fortuna (26-0-1, 19KOs) and British contender Stephen Smith (20-1, 12KOs).
Fortuna, who recently signed with adviser Al Haymon, saw action three times in 2014. He began the year with a fourth round TKO of Francisco Lorenzo in March, followed by a ten round unanimous decision over Juan Antonio Rodriguez in May and then a fifth round knockout of Abner Cotto in November.
Smith, promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sports, stopped Mauricio Munoz in the eight round in May and then won an eight round decision over Pedro Navarrette in July.
The third fight would have Oscar Escandon (24-1, 16KOs) defend his interim-WBA super bantamweight world title against a tough contender from Mexico, who will be named a later date. Escandon, who also recently signed with Haymon, holds a knockout victory over the dangerous Jesus Cuellar.