Mikkel LesPierre: record, next fight and profile →
The Las Vegas experience is not a new one for Puerto Rican boxer José "Sniper" Pedraza . However, yesterday's arrival was very different from the previous occasions. Pedraza arrived yesterday, Sunday, at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, which serves as "bubble" for promoter Top Rank, for the Thursday card that will be broadcast on ESPN.
Don’t blink. Top Rank on ESPN’s summer schedule resumes with a trio of shows, commencing Tuesday, June 16, with the return of bantamweight contender Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer Jr. in a 10-rounder against 23-year-old Filipino upstart Mike Plania at the MGM Grand Conference Center – Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas.
Joshua Greer Jr. and Jason Moloney were supposed to meet in an important bantamweight bout April 25, but they’ve temporarily taken divergent paths. According to an ESPN.com story Saturday, those 118-pound contenders will face different opponents in upcoming bouts ESPN will televise beginning June 9 from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Altogether, ESPN.com revealed six main events or co-features Saturday that weren’t previously reported by BoxingScene.com or other outlets.
Former two division world champion Jose Pedraza is training hard for a planned fight in the month of June. Top Rank is planning several boxing cards in Las Vegas, at a ballroom in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Fights involving former world titleholders Jessie Magdaleno and Jose Pedraza are on tap for June cards that Top Rank is in the process of putting together as it plans to bring boxing back with no spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maurice Hooker, Lespierre Fight Photos Gallery - Fight Photos Gallery - WBA Light Heavyweight Titlist Dmitry Bivol defended his belt in a technical fight against Joe Smith Jr., and Maurice Hooker retained his WBO Lightweight Title after going the distance with Mikkel LesPierre who hit the canvas once. Callum Johnson, with his eyes on a title shot, stopped Sean Monaghan in three rounds with a dominant performance in a Light Heavyweight battle.
VERONA, New York – Maurice Hooker didn’t have nearly as much difficulty dealing with Mikkel LesPierre as he did making weight. Dallas’ Hooker comfortably beat LesPierre by unanimous decision to retain his WBO junior welterweight title at Turning Stone Resort & Casino. DAZN streamed Hooker’s 12-round victory as part of the Dmitry Bivol-Joe Smith Jr. undercard.
Of all the fighters who’ve aligned themselves with Eddie Hearn and DAZN in recent months, Maurice Hooker is one of the few who’s still been forced to fight on other platforms and in hostile territory. The unbeaten super lightweight will make his DAZN debut this weekend and—with any luck—a long awaited homecoming soon thereafter, assuming all goes well this Saturday versus Mikkel LesPierre.
Maurice Hooker, Mikkel LesPierre Weights Photos Gallery Turning Stone - WBA WBA World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol makes his fifth title defense against Joe Smith Jr. at Turning Stone Resort and Casino on March 9. WBO Super Lightweight titlist Maurice Hooker will also be defending his belt against undefeated challenger Mikkel LesPierre, and Callum Johnson will be taking on Sean Monaghan. The bouts will be broadcasted live on DAZN. (photos by Ed Mulholland).
VERONA, New York – The fourth time was the charm for Maurice Hooker. Hooker came to the scale for the third time Friday night and made weight for his 140-pound title defense scheduled for Saturday night. Dallas’ Hooker officially weighed in at 140 pounds at Turning Stone Resort & Casino after failing three times to get down to the limit for the second defense of his WBO junior welterweight title.