Weekend Preview
Two major cards this week, and they both take place on Saturday in the US. Two WBO world titles will be on the line in Stockton, California. In the evening's main event, undefeated champ Zhanibek Alimkhanuly 13-0 (8), will defend his middleweight title against battle-tested Canadian contender Steven Butler 32-3-2 (26). Butler picked up a highly-impressive win in December when he dominated Joshua Conley. The Canadian has now recorded four straight wins since his back to back 5th round stoppage losses in 2019 and 2021 to Ryota Murata and Jose de Jesus Macias. Alimkhanuly, last fought in November and outpointed Denzel Bentley. In the evenings co-main Jason Maloney looks to capture the Bantamweight world title as he puts his 25-2 (19) record on the line against upset-minded contender Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines, 18-3-1 (13) for the vacant belt. Astrolabio has wins over Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nikolai Potapov.
In the other action in Las Vegas, Nevada, fan-favorite knockout artist Rolly Romer, 14-1 (12), looks to bounce back from his first career defeat, a knockout loss to Tank Davis, as he battles Ismael Barroso. Barroso, 24-3-2 (22), has won four consecutive fights, including his most recent win, a fourth-round KO of veteran Fernando David Saucedo this past August. This bout is somehow for the WBA lightweight title. In the evening's co-main is a crossroads fight as two fighters look to get into the world title picture. "El Relámpago" Omar Juarez, of Brownsville, Texas, 14-1 (5), looks to continue his three-fight winning streak and score the biggest win of his young and promising career against Rances Barthelemy of Havana, Cuba, 29-2-1 (15), Barthelemy has held world titles at both 130 and 135. He nearly captured a world title at 140 but had to settle for a draw with Robert Easter in a lackluster affair in 2019. The Cuban last fought in July and was stopped by Gary Antuanne Russell in six rounds. Juarez last fought in December and scored a highly impressive unanimous decision over long-time contender Austin Dulay.
