Hitchins vs Zepeda Undercard CONFIRMED
- Richardson Hitchins Headlines For The First Time In His Career In A Big Step-Up
- Two-Time World Title Challenger Jose Zepeda In The Opposite Corner
- Britain’s Ryan and US’s McCaskill Collide On Hitchins vs Zepeda Undercard
MATCHROOM returns to Florida as World-rated Super-Lightweight Richardson Hitchins takes on Jose Zepeda for the WBC Silver and IBF North American Super-Lightweight titles.
Hitchins (16-0 7 KOs) shone in his last outing in his home city, putting New Jersey’s John Bauza on the canvas during a shut-out win at Madison Square Garden, and the Brooklyn ace now lurks with intent at #6 with the WBO and #7 with the IBF in the 140lb rankings.
Zepeda (36-3 27 KOs) represents a significant barrier to Hitchins’ plans to move into World title contention though, and the Californian, who has challenged for World titles at both 135 and 140lbs, will be eyeing Hitchins’ lofty standings to reignite his own World championship plans.
Hitchins vs Zepeda UK Time, Fight Date, TV Channel
Date: Saturday, September 23
Venue: Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, USA
TV Channel: DAZN
UK Time: 1 am BST (8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT)
Ring Walks: 4 am BST (11 pm ET/ 8 pm PT)
Hitchins vs Zepeda Undercard
Conor Benn vs Rodolfo Orozco
British boxing star Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) will make his much-anticipated ring return against Mexico’s 24-year-old Rodolfo Orozco (32-3-3, 24 KOs) in the co-feature.
Benn-Orozco, which was announced just days before the card, will be a 10-round fight at 154-pounds and a warm-up for Benn before he goes into a big fight later this year.
The 26-year-old Welterweight was last seen in action last April where he demolished Chris Van Heerden inside two rounds. A mega-fight with Chris Eubank Jr was announced for Oct 8 2022 but cancelled on fight week after the BBBofC refused to sanction the bout due to Benn’s failed test.
In July, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) ruled in favour of Benn ending his provisional suspension with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
As a result, he is now cleared to fight both in the UK and abroad. UKAD/BBBofC have since announced that they have appealed the ruling from the independent NADP.
Jessica McCaskill vs Sandy Ryan
NoSmokeSport was first with news of this fight: Jessica McCaskill-Sandy Ryan Unified Title Fight Will Land On A Matchroom Show On Sep 23 In Orlando
WBA/WBC champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3, 5KOs) and WBO title holder Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2 KOs) collide in the co-feature for three welterweight titles.
The unification clash sees a transatlantic, matchup between the #1 and #2 fighters at 147 pounds.
McCaskill, who previously held the Undisputed titles, has recently signed a new promotional deal with Matchroom and will target a Chantelle Cameron rematch should she emerge victorious.
The American was ordered to face Ivana Habazin by the WBC but the bout never materialised after Piranha Promotions forfeited the rights to the fight and then Matchroom were planning to stage the contest on June 24 in NYC but Habazin instead stepped in on six days’ notice, for a higher purse, to face Terri Harper.
McCaskill is coming off a ten-round decision loss to Cameron, a defeat she would like to avenge at the Welterweight limit in the U.S. Their first fight took place at 140 in the UAE.
Ryan decisioned Canada’s Marie Pier Houle in April to win the championship. Her sole defeat came at the hands of Erica Farias last March, who she beat in an immediate rematch.
Ammo Williams vs Steve Rolls
A third fight for the bill in Orlando sees Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams press his claims for World title action at Middleweight as he tackles Steve Rolls.
Williams (14-0 10 KOs) is back in the States having taken out River Wilson-Bent in eight rounds in London in April – his third fight in England – and the Middleweight contender is right on the cusp of landing a World title shot sitting at #2 with the WBA, #10 with the IBF and #11 with the WBC.
Rolls (22-2 12 KOs) will test those ambitions to the fullest though, having shared the ring with Gennadiy Golovkin and Edgar Berlanga in his 24-fight career, and the Canadian will look to get back into contention himself with the WBA International and IBF North American titles on the line.
Orestes Velazquez vs Mohamed Soumaoro
Orestes Velazquez (7-0 6 KOs) will defend his WBA International Super-Lightweight title and look to build on his #9 ranking in the WBA in the process.
The Cuban amateur standout, who had over 160 fights for the national team before defecting and moving to Florida, is in his fourth straight ten-round contest and went the distance for the first time in his last outing when vastly experienced Argentine Marcelino Lopez extended the 30-year-old to the final bell in Las Vegas in March.
Mohamed Soumaoro (13-1 6 KOs) will be looking to hand a first defeat to Velazquez and take his third ‘0’ in as many fights in Florida.
The Canadian-Guinean comes into the bout on the back of impressive upset wins over unbeaten pair Jusiyah Shirley (PTS 6) and Angel Lupercio (TKO 8) in December and March, and the 30-year-old will aim to crash into the top ten by completing a hat-trick of big victories.
Khalil Coe vs Kenmon Evans
Khalil Coe (6-0-1 4 KOs) continues to rise through the ranks at Light-Heavyweight, and ‘Big Steppa’ will be looking for his own hat-trick as he hunts a third KO win of 2023 in Orlando.
The Jersey City man put Buneet Bisla away in the seventh round of his first eight-round battle in June in New York, and the 27-year-old will meet Kenmon Evans (10-1-1 3 KOs) over that distance on September 23, with the Florida man looking to bounce back to winning ways.
Other Fights
Three Floridians looking to make an impact on the big stage, with Super-Welterweight Jeovanny Estella and Super-Flyweight Jasmine Artega tasting action over eight rounds while Bantamweight Roberto Rivera Gomez kicks the whole night off over four rounds.
Estella will face Luis Caraballo Ramos (6-1-1) whilst Gomez battles Carlos Andre Dos Santos Rocha (3-1) in his fourth pro contest.
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