Premier Boxing Champions returns to prime time network television with a match up between Omar Figueroa Jr (26-0-1, 18 KOs) against bruiser Robert Guerrero at 147 pounds at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
In the primary undercard we’ll see Marcus Browne (19-0, 14 KOs) take on fellow undefeated 175-pounder Seanie Monaghan (28-0, 17 KOs).
This is one of two boxing shows and live blogs tonight. After the Figueroa – Guerrero fight, I’ll be switching over to the two title fights on HBO. As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from the PBC.
Former champions Figueroa, Guerrero set for crucial 147-pound showdown
If ever there have been two former world champions arriving at the same point from distinctly different directions, they are Omar Figueroa Jr. and Robert Guerrero.
Before taking the last year and a half off because of injuries, Figueroa, 27, was a dominant presence in the ring, winning a world title at 135 pounds and chalking up an unbeaten record with an exciting, aggressive style.
Guerrero, 34, has won world titles at 126 and 130 pounds along with interim championships at 135 and 147, and battled the toughest boxers of his generation, but “The Ghost” now must show he’s still a formidable foe after losing three of his last four fights.
With both men having much to prove, Omar Figueroa Jr. (26-0-1, 18 KOs) and Robert Guerrero (33-5-1, 18 KOs) are set to battle Saturday night in a 147-pound showdown at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York (FOX, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
The 10-round bout headlines a card that also features Marcus Browne vs Seanie Monaghan in a matchup of 175-pound contenders and Artur Szpilka vs Adam Kownacki in a battle of Polish heavyweights on the FOX broadcast.
Coverage of the card will continue on FS1 and feature Jamal James vs Jo Jo Dan in a 147-pound bout and 118-pound prospect Brandon Figueroa, the younger brother of Omar, taking on Fatiou Fassinou.
At Friday’s weigh-in, both fighters came in under the limit for the main event with no issues, as Figueroa hit the scale at 146.4 pounds and Guerrero was 146.6.
Fighting for the first time in 19 months, Figueroa will be competing at 147 pounds for the first time in his career. In a pair of unanimous decisions over Ricky Burns and Antonio DeMarco in his last two bouts in 2015, “El Panterita” weighed 141½ and 151, respectively, after never fighting above 139 pounds previously.
While the Weslaco, Texas, native plans on ultimately competing in the 140-pound division, he is not looking past Guerrero. Instead, he is relishing the opportunity to begin his quest for another world title against a proven ring warrior.
“Guerrero is one of the toughest challenges for any boxer,” Figueroa said. “He is a tough fighter, he doesn’t back down and he doesn’t quit. You have to go into the fight knowing it’ll go the [distance] and there won’t be any easy moment in the fight. But I’m prepared for that.”
While Guerrero is 2-4 in his last six fights after starting his career 31-1-1, it’s worth noting that three of those most recent losses came in 147-pound title bouts against unbeaten world champions Floyd Mayweather Jr., Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia.
The fight is on your local FOX affiliate at 8 p.m. Watch it with me.
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