Our second of three Premier Boxing Champions events this week and one of four big boxing shows for the week.
In the main event, Devon Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs) takes on Aron Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) in a comeback fight after Alexander lost his WBC Silver welterweight title to Amir Khan back in December.
The primary undercard is practically a generational bout between Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs) defending his IBF featherweight title against Fernando Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs).
Scroll on down for the live blog or keep reading for some preview information.
Here’s the entire card from ESPN.com
At Glendale, Ariz. (PBC on ESPN/ESPN Deportes): Devon Alexander vs. Aron Martinez, 10 rounds, welterweights; Lee Selby vs. Fernando Montiel, 12 rounds, for Selby’s IBF featherweight title; Ivan Redkach vs. Erick Martinez, 10 rounds, lightweights; Damien Vasquez vs. Francisco Lapizco, 6 or 8 rounds, flyweights; Alexis Santiago vs. Gustavo Molina, 8 rounds, junior featherweights; Lionell Thompson vs. Thomas Hanshaw, 8 rounds, cruiserweights; Kevin Newman vs. Jay Williams, 6 rounds, super middleweights
And here’s the preview info in the first fight from PBC’s website.
Not long ago, Devon Alexander was a two-time world champion who boasted a 25-1 record and a growing reputation as a dominating force in the 147-pound division. But after dropping two of his last three decisions, the St. Louis native now finds himself at a bit of a career crossroads.
On October 14, Alexander (26-3, 14 KOs) will begin trying to rebuild his reputation when he takes on Aron Martinez in a scheduled 10-round Premier Boxing Champions bout from Glendale, Arizona.
Alexander, who won titles at 140 and 147 pounds, will be returning to the ring for first time since December, when he ended up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision against Amir Khan in Las Vegas. The 5-foot-9 southpaw’s only other fight last year was a 10-round unanimous-decision victory over Jesus Soto Karass in June.
That triumph came six months after Alexander, 28, was dethroned as 147-pound champ, losing a 12-round unanimous decision to Shawn Porter.
Like Alexander, Martinez (19-4-1) enjoyed a very successful start to his career, only to fall into a bit of a funk lately.
The Mexico-born, Los Angeles-based fighter started out 18-1-1, but has dropped three of his last four contests. Most recently, the 33-year-old Martinez suffered a narrow 10-round, split-decision loss to Robert Guerrero on June 6.
That came on the heels of a five-round TKO loss to Josesito Lopez in April 2014. Martinez has just one victory—an eight-round majority-decision win over Alberto Herrera—since mid-2012.
And here’s the preview for the undercard.
Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs) will put his 126-pound title on the line October 14 in a 12-round battle against former three-division champ Fernando Montiel (54-4-2, 39 KOs). The fight is the co-main event to the Devon Alexander vs Aron Martinez clash in Glendale, Arizona.
Selby, 28, who hails from Wales, will carry a 17-fight winning streak into his U.S. debut. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old Montiel will be looking for his ninth consecutive victory, the last eight coming in his homeland of Mexico.
“It’s been my dream since I was a young boy to win the world title and then to box in a major fight in the U.S.,” said Selby, whose last two victories came by knockout. “I have the upmost respect for Fernando Montiel. He’s a three-time world champion, and we all know over here in the U.K. how tough the Mexican fighters are.”
The fights are on ESPN at 9 p.m. Watch them with me.
