Bethlehem, PA- World-class boxing returns to the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem on Friday evening, June 14, when a blockbuster triple header of fights with international as well as national implications headlines a card which will be televised live by the NBC Sports Network as part of its popular Fight Night series, beginning 9pm ET.
In a 10-round heavyweight contest, fast-rising Bryant Jennings, of Philadelphia, PA, will come up against powerful Andrey Fedosov, of Shuya, Russia.
Knockout artist Sergey Kovalev faces Cornelius White of Houston, TX, in a 12-round mandated bout for the vacant number 1 position in the IBF light heavyweight world rankings.
In the opening bout, a 10-round welterweight match, Bethlehem's Ronald Cruzhopes to rebound from his first loss as a pro when he takes on rugged Jaime Herrera, of Franklin Park, IL.
Jennings, 28, broke into the world ratings in 2012 by winning all five of his fights (four of them televised by the NBC Sports Network), topped by wins over previously unbeaten southpaw Maurice Byarm, of Washington, DC, and former WBO heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich, of Vitebsk, Belarus. Those wins pushed Jennings' record to 16-0, 8 KOs, and landed him the # 3 spot in the world ratings by the IBF. Pretty heady stuff for a fighter who turned pro in 2010!
Fedosov, 27, also is riding high after knocking out veteran Darnell Wilson, of Takoma Park, MD, in his last fight April 20 in Hammond, IN, bringing his record to 24-2, 19 KOs.
Kovalev, 30, is currently ranked #4 by the IBF, 20-0-1,18 KOs and impressed Fight Night viewers in January with a dominant stoppage of former champion Gabriel Campillo. The highly anticipated test for Kovalev ended when Campillo made three trips to the canvas in round three. Since then, everyone has been buzzing about the Russian puncher, who now fights out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Kovalev's previous two starts were also televised by NBC Sports Network.
Cornelius "Da Beast" White, 31, is currently ranked #5 by the IBF and sports a record of 21-1, 16 KOs. The pair will enter the ring with rather similar records, but White will have the size advantage.
In the welterweight matchup, Cruz, 26, hopes to get back on the winning track after losing for the first time when he dropped a 10-round split decision to contenderAntwone Smith, of Miami, FL, in his last fight Sept. 21 in the same ring.
A pro since 2009, Cruz is 17-1, 12 KOs. Both Cruz-Brewer and Cruz's previous fight against Prenice Brewer were televised by NBC Sports Network.
Herrera, 24, likes to walk-in and bang, a style which should make his fight with Cruz a war. A pro since 2009, Herrera is 10-2, 5 KOs, but may have been unlucky to drop an eight-round decision to Adrian Granados, of Cicero, IL, in 2012. Many ringsiders felt Herrera did enough to beat Granados, who recently boxed a 10-round draw withKermit Cintron, of Reading, PA.
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KEVIN PERKINS, PACIFICCOASTNEWS.COM/KEVIN PERKINS, PACIFICCOASTNEWS.
