PPV Card Finalized For Wilder-Ortiz II
Just under one-month until Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz have their highly anticipated rematch for the WBC world heavyweight title, Premier Boxing Champions and Fox Sports announced the remainder of the main card airing on Fox Sports Pay-Per-View.
Brandon Figueroa will make the first defense of his WBA super bantamweight title, as he goes up against former champion Julio Ceja, along with Luis Nery battling fellow former bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodgriguez, as the opening fights for the Pay-Per-View portion of the card airing from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Acting as the evening’s co-main event, former three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz will look for a fourth, as he goes for Miguel Flores’ WBA super featherweight title.
Figueroa, who has knocked out all but five of his twenty opponents during his undefeated pro campaign, returns to the ring for his fourth fight of the year, recently retaining what was an interim version of his title back in August by stopping Javier Nicolas Chacon. Following the win, the WBA installed him as the undisputed champion.
“This is probably going to be the biggest test of my career in the first defense of my title against a solid fighter like Ceja,” said Figueroa. “To be fighting on pay-per-view of the Wilder-Ortiz II undercard at MGM Grand is a dream come true. I’ve been working towards this moment my whole life. I attended Pacquiao vs. Thurman in July and the crowd was electric that night. I told myself while watching that fight ringside that I couldn’t wait to fight at MGM on a similar card, and now look at where we are. Ceja might have lost against Rigondeaux, but he put on a great fight and I know he’s going to come forward and brawl with me on November 23.”
“This is a great opportunity and I plan to win the world title again on November 23,” said Ceja. “I know what it takes to win and I will have the best training of my career for this fight. I hope Brandon Figueroa is prepared for fireworks. This title is coming back to Mexico for my country, my pride and my people.”
“I’m excited for another opportunity to perform on the biggest stage and show that I’m the best bantamweight in the world,” said Nery of fighting Rodriguez on Pay-Per-View. “Rodríguez is a tough competitor and he will help bring out my best on November 23. Mexico and Puerto Rico have a storied rivalry in this sport and I intend to make my mark in history with a spectacular win.”
“Switching opponents is no problem for me since we always train for different fighting styles,” said Rodríguez, who faces Nery after initial opponent Rau’shee Warren withdrew due to injury. “My Puerto Rican and Mexican people want to see a great fight and that’s what they will have on November 23. I know what Nery brings to the table and I’m ready for that. We are confident in victory and that in 2020 I will be crowned world champion again.”