oronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents live professional boxing action promoted by Golden Boy Promotions at Barclays Center in Brooklyn this Thursday, January 30, at 9 p.m. ET, featuring one of the best matchups of the year as former world champions “Vicious” Victor Ortiz and Brooklyn’s own Luis Collazo collide in a pivotal showdown for the WBA International welterweight title.
In the 10-round co-main event, New York phenom Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez will meet top Florida prospect Daquan “King” Arnett in a clash of junior middleweight unbeatens.
In the televised opener, undefeated top super featherweight contender Gary “The Lion” Russell Jr. faces Mexico’s Miguel “Yaqui” Tamayo.
“I’ve got a lot of friends and fans in New York and I’m excited about fighting at Barclays Center for the first time,” said Ortiz. “This is a big fight for me. I missed being in the ring and even though Collazo will be a tough challenge, I’m going to win in spectacular fashion.”
“Ortiz is a former world champion and you have to respect that, but Barclays Center is my home and he’s going to find that out the second he leaves the locker room,” said Collazo. “I need to win this fight and make a statement if I want to get a shot at a title and I plan on doing just that.”
“I have no excuse not to win,” said Gomez. “This is my city, my building and my people. If Arnett thinks he can come into my backyard and beat me, he is definitely mistaken.”
“You don’t see fights like this too often and I respect Gomez for stepping up and putting his ‘0’ on the line, just like I am,” said Arnett. “This is going to be a great fight between two of boxing’s top young prospects and I have no doubt that I’m going to leave the ring with the victory.”
One of boxing’s most charismatic young stars, 26-year-old “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO’s) fighting out of Ventura, Calif. has made headlines in and out of the ring, not only as a fighter, but also as an entertainer. First, as a former welterweight world champion who has engaged in memorable battles against the best in the boxing business including Floyd Mayweather, Andre Berto, Marcos Maidana, Antonio Diaz and Josesito Lopez proving that he will not back down from any challenge. He has also crossed over into the bright lights of Hollywood as a member of the cast of ABC’s hit series “Dancing With The Stars” and most recently as part of the film “Expendables 3,” which comes out next year. Now with his acting skills pushed aside, Ortiz has the gloves back on and on Jan. 30 he faces a stern test in Collazo.
A proud native of Brooklyn, NY, Luis Collazo (34-5, 17 KO’s) is a former WBA Welterweight World Champion who held the belt from 2005-2006. Since then, the 32-year-old southpaw has continued to fight and beat the best with back-to-back wins at Barclays Center and a recent victory in September of this year on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes. Now making his second appearance on the new hit sports network and fourth appearance at Barclays Center, Collazo is more ready than ever to step into the ring as he makes his case for a world title shot when he battles Ortiz.
Twenty-one-year-old Eddie Gomez (15-0, 10 KO’s) is the latest Bronx, NY product to make his mark on the boxing world. The young star is showing no signs of slowing down as he prepares for what is likely to be the biggest year of his professional career. Fresh off of wins over Javier Gomez, Luis Hernandez and Steve Upsher Chambers, Gomez is ready for all comers, beginning with Arnett on Jan. 30.
Hailing from Winter Park, Fla., 20-year-old former amateur star Daquan Arnett (11-0, 7 KO’s) has already garnered rave reviews for his talent and his willingness to test himself against tough competition every time he steps in the ring. In 2013, Arnett defeated then unbeaten Brandon Quarles and once-beaten Miguel Zuniga, putting him in a big co-main event against Gomez to kick-off 2014.
The non-televised undercard features top local standouts “Sir” Marcus Browne, Emmanuel “Manny” Gonzalez, Zachary Ochoa, Rafael Vazquez and Steven Bujaj.
Ortiz vs. Collazo is a 12-round fight for the WBA International welterweight title presented by Golden Boy Promotions. Fight Network’s televised broadcast airs live at 9 p.m. ET.
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