Mayerlin Rivas defends her junior featherweight title against Erika Cruz on Nov. 18

Mayerlin Rivas will defend her WBA junior featherweight title in opposition to Erika Cruz on the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday November 18, stay worldwide on DAZN.

Rivas (17-4-3 11 KOs) places the title on the road for the third time in her second outing of 2023, with the primary ending prematurely in a technical draw after her Argentine opponent Nazarena Romero suffered a minimize from an unintentional headclash within the fifth spherical of their struggle in Buenos Aires in June. The Venezuelan turned a two-weight titlist when she gained the vacant title in February 2020 in Panama Metropolis in opposition to Laura Ledezma and defended it for the primary time in June 2022, forcing Karina Fernandez to stop on her stool after three rounds in Guadalajara, Mexico. The 35 12 months previous turned WBA bantamweight titlist in June 2015 and made three defenses, profitable two and drawing one.

Cruz (16-2 3 KOs) is aiming to match Rivas and grow to be a two-weight champr in her personal proper having beforehand reigned at featherweight. The Mexican dropped down in weight following her epic undisputed battle with Amanda Serrano in February in New York after which broadly outpointing Melissa Oddessa Parker in Tijuana in September. The 33-year-old beforehand landed the WBA 126lbs belt in opposition to Jelena Mrdjenovich, ending the five-year rule of the Canadian on the playing cards after an unintentional headclash halted the competition after seven rounds in April 2021. Cruz efficiently defended the belt in Puerto Vallarta in November through break up determination over Melissa Esquivel, after which met Mrdjenovich once more in Hermosillo in September 2022, profitable as soon as once more to arrange the conflict with Serrano.

“To start with, I thank God for this chance to defend my world title once more and debut in the USA with a world-class rival like Erika Cruz,” mentioned Rivas. “I’m getting ready very properly to placed on a terrific present, I’m very glad for this chance, I’m going for victory after which going for unification.”

“With the assist of the Nationwide Guard, I’m getting into the ring as soon as extra, and you may wager it’s going to be a battle,” mentioned Cruz. “I’ll proudly deliver my second title to Mexico, fueled by willpower.”

Serrano’s bloody determination over Erika Cruz Hernandez made her an undisputed champ. (Picture by Al Bello/Getty Pictures)

Marc Castro will kick off the principle card stay on DAZN as he fights over ten rounds for the primary time in opposition to Gonzalo Fuenzalida (12-2 3 KOs). Castro (10-0 7 KOs) moved into double figures within the professionals in April, recording a seventh stoppage win in his third eight-round contest in San Antonio. The Fresno expertise now meets the Las Vegas-based Chilean over ten as he takes the newest step in a professional journey that started in December 2020.

“November 18, we’re again at it,” mentioned Castro. “I’m grateful to be returning to the ring, particularly in my house state. That is my first time combating as a professional in LA and I’m anticipating a ton of assist and plan on placing on a sensational efficiency in my first scheduled 10 rounder.

“I’m seeking to shut out my 2023 in spectacular trend as we glance to take it to the following stage in 2024.

Criztec Bazaldua steps by way of the ropes for the third time in his profession when he takes on Pedro Angel Cruz (3-3 2 KOs). Bazaldua (2-0) has been faultless in his first two 4 rounders to this point, his debut in Culiacan, Mexico in March and his second bout in New Orleans in June, and it’s a primary hometown exhibiting within the professional ranks for his third struggle, once more over 4 rounds at Light-weight.

“I really feel immensely privileged to have the ability to showcase my talents in entrance of a house crowd so early on in my profession,” mentioned Bazaldua. “It’s a testomony to the alternatives I knew Matchroom may present me with each domestically and in Latin America. To even be on the undercard of an enormous brother in Diego Pacheco, having grown up collectively in South Central, Los Angeles and loved the identical novice tournaments and boxing circuit is a blessing. I can’t wait to see so many acquainted faces within the crowd, the assist for this present will likely be electrical.

“It’s been a banner 12 months for Girls’s boxing, and that is one other good struggle so as to add to the listing of epic battles we’ve seen,” mentioned Eddie Hearn. “Rivas and Cruz has bought battle written throughout it, with Mayerlin defending her title and Erika aiming to grow to be a two-weight champion – neither will take a backwards step so the followers are going to be the winners.

“Marc makes an enormous step in his training as he fights over ten rounds for the primary time within the paid ranks, Criztec will get a hometown struggle in simply his third motion within the professionals and there’s extra fights to be added as we shut in on our return to LA.

“In fact, that is all on the undercard of one of the thrilling skills within the sport, with Diego Pacheco headlining for the third straight occasion of his blossoming profession in opposition to Marcelo Coceres – an opportunity for Diego to point out that he’s the way forward for the tremendous middleweight division and a significant star within the making for American boxing.”

A press launch by Matchroom Boxing was used on this article.