GERVONTA DAVIS SEEKS TITLE IN A THIRD DIVISION AGAINST UNBEATEN MARIO BARRIOS

FOUR-TIME WORLD CHAMPION GERVONTA DAVIS SEEKS TITLE IN A THIRD DIVISION AGAINST UNBEATEN SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION MARIO BARRIOS HEADLINING A SHOWTIME PPV^® SATURDAY, JUNE 26 IN A PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS EVENT LIVE FROM STATE FARM ARENA IN ATLANTA

Top Contender Erickson Lubin and Former Unified Champion

Jeison Rosario Battle in WBC Tremendous Welterweight Title Eliminator in Co-Foremost Occasion

Former Unified Champion Julian Williams Takes On Rugged Contender Brian Mendoza and Arduous-Hitting Olympian Batyr Akhmedov Duels Former World Champion Argenis Mendez In

Tickets on Sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET!

Certainly one of boxing’s largest stars at simply 26-years-old, Davis strikes as much as 140-pounds for the primary time in his profession as he goals so as to add tremendous light-weight champion to his stellar resume. Davis has already captured titles at 130 and 135-pounds. With a victory, Davis will maintain world championships in three totally different divisions concurrently, a feat solely completed by a number of fighters in historical past, together with Henry Armstrong and Canelo Alvarez. Standing in his means is the undefeated 25-year-old Barrios, who owns a 9-0 report with eight knockouts throughout his 140-pound reign whereas holding a six-inch peak benefit over Davis.

“Gervonta Davis is seeking to grow to be a three-division world champion, and has a giant enterprise in entrance of him in difficult Barrios for his WBA title at 140-pounds,” stated Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Barrios is a warrior, and that is going to be Davis’ hardest combat up to now. Atlanta, be prepared for a present on June 26!”

Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) delivered a highlight-reel knockout in his final combat, producing one other sensational and memorable efficiency that has made him a well-liked draw all through the nation. Davis stopped four-division champion Leo Santa Cruz with one highly effective uppercut in that October 2020 combat and put Santa Cruz down and out for the primary time in his illustrious profession. Promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Davis will make his second headline look on pay-per-view as he has asserted himself as a must-see headline attraction in his first pay-per-view

Davis first burst onto the scene with an explosive knockout victory over Jose Pedraza to win the IBF Junior Light-weight World Title in a star-making efficiency on SHOWTIME^® in January 2017. On the time, he grew to become the youngest world champion in boxing at age 22. The Baltimore-native additionally owns knockout performances in world title fights over Jesus Cuellar in 2018 and Yuriorkis Gamboa in 2019. The 2019 overcome Gamboa got here at a bought out State Farm Area, throughout a 12 months that additionally noticed him fill venues in his hometown of Baltimore and Southern California.

“I’m excited to make historical past on June 26 in Atlanta and grow to be a three-division world champion,” stated Davis. “Atlanta welcomed me with open arms for my combat in opposition to Gamboa and I couldn’t wait to return again and headline a spectacular SHOWTIME PPV card. Mario Barrios is an undefeated champion, however he hasn’t ever confronted anybody like me earlier than. Transferring as much as 140-pounds is a giant problem however I’ve been working arduous in camp and I’ll be prepared. Thanks to my entire staff for making this historic boxing occasion doable. Ensure you get your tickets early as a result of this combat is certainly promoting out! Maintain supporting me and I’ll combat for you!”

Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) captured his 140-pound championship in September 2019, scoring two knockdowns and preventing via a lower to win a unanimous resolution over beforehand unbeaten Batyr Akhmedov. The San Antonio-native trains in Oakland, Calif., underneath the steering of famend coach Virgil Hunter. In his most up-to-date outing, Barrios knocked out Ryan Karl within the sixth-round of their conflict on the pay-per-view undercard of Davis vs. Santa Cruz.

“Combating on SHOWTIME PPV is a dream come true and a possibility that I’m going to take full benefit of,” stated Barrios. “Gervonta Davis is a pound-for-pound champion and it’s going to be an honor sharing the ring with him. This combat is my shining second and the top of the boxing world, on the largest stage doable. Boxing followers across the globe will likely be watching this combat and I’m coming to shock the world. To all my Mexican followers, I’m going to deliver this historic victory dwelling for La Raza.”

The 25-year-old Lubin (23-1, 16 KOs) has put collectively a formidable five-bout profitable streak since a loss to unified 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in 2017. In his most up-to-date outing, he defeated U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha by unanimous resolution in September of final 12 months. Previous to the victory over Gausha, he grew to become the primary individual to cease former champion Ishe Smith, along with a dominating victory over Nathaniel Gallimore in October 2019. A local of Orlando, Fla., Lubin is skilled by acclaimed coach Kevin Cunningham as he continues his quest towards one other title alternative. After a stellar newbie profession, Lubin turned professional at 18 years previous in 2013, finally being named “Prospect Of The Yr” by ESPN and Ring Journal in 2016.

“I’m so prepared for this combat and we’ve been working arduous in preparation for Rosario,” stated Lubin. “This combat is one other step nearer to getting that world title shot. Coach Cunningham and I’ve a fantastic recreation plan in place. We all know that is going to be a tricky combat and the followers are going to see a much-improved model of myself. I’ve taken my coaching to the following degree throughout this coaching camp. Rosario is a former world champion who I do know goes to deliver his finest, which goes to make for a fantastic night time of boxing. This card is stacked, however I’m going to steal the present with an unbelievable efficiency. I cannot be denied, I’m popping out on high. It’s Hammer Time!”

Rosario (20-2-1, 14 KOs) will look to climb again into world title rivalry after dropping his 154-pound belts to Jermell Charlo of their September 2020 conflict. The 26-year-old captured the WBA and IBF belts by stopping Julian Williams in one among 2020’s largest upsets. Born within the Dominican Republic and now preventing out of Miami, Rosario rode an eight-fight unbeaten streak into the showdown with Williams, together with victories over 154-pound contenders Jamontay Clark, Justin DeLoach, Jorge Cota and Marcos Hernandez. Coming into the Charlo matchup, Rosario had established his energy by incomes a stoppage victory or scoring a knockdown in seven of his earlier 9 contests.

“I make no excuses for dropping the combat to Charlo, however that was then, and that is now,” stated Rosario. “I’ve turned to a brand new web page in my profession with my new coach Herman Caicedo. I cannot lose once more, particularly on this combat in opposition to Lubin. He’s a fantastic contender, and I respect his skills, however I’ll knock him out on June 26.”

Philadelphia’s Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs) grew to become a unified world champion at 154-pounds in Could 2019 when he upset Jarrett Hurd in one of many 12 months’s finest fights, profitable a close-quarters brawl by unanimous resolution. The 31-year-old dropped the titles in his first protection, dropping to Jeison Rosario in January 2020. Williams had been driving a five-fight profitable streak going into the Rosario matchup, during which he added victories over former champion Ishe Smith and hard-hitting contender Nathaniel Gallimore to his ledger.

“This has been the longest layoff of my profession, so I’m excited to get again within the ring,” stated Williams. “Mendoza is an honest fighter. I’ve even been within the fitness center with him and he’s a very good man. However on June 26, it’s going to be all enterprise. I simply want to return out on high. He doesn’t have something that I haven’t seen earlier than. I do know he’ll be prepared as a result of that is just like the Tremendous Bowl for him. So I do know he’ll be prepared, however I’ll be prepared too. If I’m capable of get the win, then it’s on to greater and higher alternatives. However I’m undoubtedly not wanting previous Brian as a result of I understand how severely he’s taking this combat.”

Mendoza (19-1, 13 KOs) earned a profession best-victory in his final outing, beating veteran contender Thomas LaManna by unanimous resolution in August 2020. The 27-year-old has fought professionally since 2014, along with his solely defeat coming by a slim split-decision in November 2019 in opposition to Larry Gomez. Mendoza was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the place he gained two New Mexico Golden Gloves Championships as an newbie, and presently fights out of Las Vegas.

“This combat in opposition to Julian Williams is simply the combat I’ve been ready for,” stated Mendoza. “I’m planning to take full benefit of the chance. Julian Williams is a good fighter, however after June 26, the entire world goes to know that I belong at this degree.”

Born in Uzbekistan and now preventing out of Los Angeles, Akhmedov (8-1, 7 KOs) represented Turkey on the 2016 Olympic video games. The 30-year-old turned professional in 2017 and gained his first seven professional fights, with six coming by knockout. His lone blemish got here in an action-packed title combat in opposition to Mario Barrios in September 2019, the place he was capable of survive two knockdowns to make it an in depth combat, earlier than finally dropping by resolution. Most just lately, Akhmedov blasted out Ray Perez within the first spherical of their September 2020 conflict.

“I can’t wait to get again within the ring for a giant combat on June 26,” stated Akhmedov. “I’ve been coaching arduous to get one other shot on the title. I do know that if I make a giant assertion and defeat a former world champion in Mendez, I anticipate my subsequent combat will likely be for the title. I’m all the time in thrilling fights that followers love, and this matchup goes to be no totally different.”

A former tremendous featherweight champion, Mendez (25-6-3, 12 KOs) has a popularity for offering stiff challenges to the game’s finest and has confirmed to be a sturdy contender at 140-pounds, together with his most up-to-date outing that noticed him drop a split-decision to Richardson Hitchins final December. In 2019, Mendez fought to back-to-back attracts in opposition to tremendous light-weight contenders Anthony Peterson and Juan Heraldez. Born in San Juan de La Maguana, Dominican Republic, Mendez now fights out of Yonkers, N.Y. and owns victories over Eddie Ramirez, Ivan Redkach and former titlist Miguel Vazquez. He has additionally gone toe-to-toe with former champions Rances Barthelemy and Robert Easter Jr.

“I’m prepared for something Akhmedov brings after which a world title combat after,” stated Mendez. “I imagine that I beat Hitchins in my final combat, although I used to be coming off an extended layoff. I’m in nice form proper now. Akhmedov is a tough puncher, however the followers are going to see me shine in opposition to him. There’s a lot left in my tank and that will likely be apparent to everybody on June 26.”