The slew of boxing postponements due to the coronavirus pandemic, including multiple world title fights, continued Monday.
Top Rank postponed three events, most notably an ESPN card due to take place on March 28 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada, headlined by unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev’s mandatory defense against Meng Fanlong.
A Top Rank spokesman also said that two other events that were on the verge of being formally announced were also postponed.
One was an April 11 ESPN card due to take place at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. It was to have been headlined by junior bantamweight world titlist Jerwin Ancajas defending against Jonathan Rodriguez, with featherweight Adam Lopez taking on Luis Coria in the 10-round co-feature.
The other was an April 17 ESPN card slated to take place at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Junior bantamweight Andrew Moloney, recently elevated from an interim titlist to secondary world titleholder, was going to make his first defense against Israel Gonzalez, who was going to challenge for a world title for the third time, in the main event. Welterweight Chris van Heerden would have faced former lightweight world titlist Antonio DeMarco in the co-feature.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced that his DAZN event scheduled for April 17 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, has been canceled.
“Matchroom Boxing USA is exploring alternative options around staging the event, including on a rescheduled date,” Matchroom Boxing said in a statement. “Fans should visit their point of sale for ticket refunds.”
That deep card was to have been headlined by the much-anticipated fight between former junior welterweight world titleholders Regis Prograis and Maurice Hooker meeting in a 12-rounder. The card was also due to include a vacant lightweight world title bout between Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna; undisputed women’s welterweight world champion Cecilia Braekhus defending against unified junior welterweight titlist Jessica McCaskill; top heavyweight prospect Filip Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, against Jerry Forrest; and welterweight prospect Daniyar Yeleussinov, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, stepping up his opposition against former unified junior welterweight world titlist Julius Indongo.
Also called off:
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The March 28 Premier Boxing Champions tripleheader slated to take place at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. The Showtime tripleheader was to have been headlined by former bantamweight world titlist Luis Nery against Aaron Alameda in a junior featherweight title elimination bout with heavyweight Apti Davtaev taking on Lucas Browne in the co-feature, and a rematch between light heavyweights Joseph George and Marcos Escudero in the opener.
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An MTK Global event scheduled to take place March 28 in Magdeburg, Germany, and stream on ESPN+. It was to have been headlined by interim light heavyweight titlist Dominic Boesel against Zac Dunn with heavyweight Agit Kabayel against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach in the co-feature.