A pair of 10-round lightweight bouts have been added to the televised undercard of junior lightweight world titlist Gervonta Davis’ upcoming defense against mandatory challenger Ricardo Nunez.
Mayweather Promotions announced on Tuesday that the card on July 27 (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET) at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Davis’ hometown, would also include a fight between former world titleholders Yuriorkis Gamboa and Roman “Rocky” Martinez in the co-feature with former world titlist Jezreel Corrales taking on Ladarius Miller in the opener.
“While we know what the main event brings, both bouts leading up to it have high stakes written all over them as well,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said. “Any time you put former world champions and young hungry prospects in the ring, you know these fighters will be looking to get the win and ultimately put themselves in position for a shot at a title.”
Gamboa and Martinez, both experienced veterans on the backside of their careers, are hoping for another opportunity to fight for a title, perhaps against Davis if he wins the main event.
Gamboa (29-2, 17 KOs), 37, a 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist who defected and fights out of Miami, was a unified featherweight world titlist and held an interim belt at junior lightweight. He has won three fights in a row and is pleased to be on a major card.
“I’m in a great position in my career and I’m very happy to be back on this big stage again,” Gamboa said. “Rocky Martinez is a very tough and formidable opponent and we will make this a great fight for the fans. I know that I will make it past this challenge and on to more marquee opportunities. I’m looking at facing Gervonta Davis and becoming world champion again.”
Martinez (30-3-3, 18 KOs), 36, of Puerto Rico, is a former junior lightweight titlist. He lost his belt by blistering fifth-round knockout to pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko in June 2016 and retired. But he exited retirement and has fought once since, an eighth-round knockout of journeyman William Gonzalez on March 29.
“I’m happy for this opportunity and to have this chance to be near a world title fight again,” Martinez said. “I’m training to win against a good fighter in Yuriorkis Gamboa. It’s a fight that will define my future and I am fully prepared to become world champion again, and this time in another weight division.”
Corrales (23-2, 9 KOs), 27, a southpaw from Panama, lost his junior lightweight world title at the scale when he failed to make weight for an October 2017 defense against Alberto Machado. The next day, Machado knocked Corrales out in the eighth round. Corrales has fought just once since, registering a second-round knockout win over Onalvi Sierra on April 30.
“I’m very excited to have this opportunity and grateful that I have another chance to fight at the highest level,” Corrales said. “Miller is a very skillful boxer and I respect his abilities. I’m going to test him and see if he can fight off of his back foot. I’m going to prepare so that I have all the tools to get the victory on July 27.”
The 25-year-old Miller (19-1, 6 KOs), a southpaw fighting out of Las Vegas, has won 10 fights in a row, including a 10-round unanimous decision over Jamel Herring, who went on to win a junior lightweight world title.
“I’m coming to make a statement on July 27,” Miller said. “That’s the mindset I’ve been training for. I’m facing a former world champion and a win can solidify my name in the 135-pound division. I’ve been working hard and I know that Corrales won’t bring anything that I’m not prepared for. I’m excited to have this opportunity, take advantage of it and get one step closer to a world championship.”