Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents the latest installment of the acclaimed Golden Boy Live! boxing series this Friday, Feb. 27 at 10:30 p.m. ET, as Golden Boy Promotions invades Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
Former world champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (28-4-1, 21 KOs) of Tlalnepantla, Mexico and the hard-punching Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu (18-1, 17 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic will face off in an explosive welterweight 10-round showdown as the main event.
Fight Network’s broadcast will air live exclusively in Canada.
The Golden Boy Live! co-main event features Diego De La Hoya (8-0, 6 KOs) fighting against Manuel “Suavecito” Roman (17-3-3, 6 KOs) in an eight-round super bantamweight bout. The imposing Chinese heavyweight sensation, Taishan (2-0, 2 KOs) makes his second appearance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino looking to continue his winning streak in his first bout in 2015 when he faces Roy McCary (3-2, 3 KOs) in the opening four-round televised bout. Also, newcomer Nick Arce (1-0, 1 KOs) will fight in his second professional match against Lyonell Kelly (1-4-1) of Los Angeles in a four-round lightweight swing bout hoping to make airtime.
Coming off a first round technical knockout win against Tijuana’s Jorge “Pantera” Silva on Feb. 7, former WBA Interim Super Lightweight Champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano is ready to continue his winning streak and give fans an explosive night of boxing when he faces Juan Carlos Abreu on Feb. 27. A stellar contender out of Tlalnepantla, Cano is one of Mexico’s best hopes for future world title honors. An experienced battler who has taken on tough fighters like Sugar Shane Mosley, Erik “El Terrible” Morales, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and Johan “El Terrible” Perez, Cano is ready to go the distance in 2015 and become a world champion again.
A professional since 2011, Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu, of the Dominican Republic, has quickly risen up the boxing chain winning the IBF youth junior lightweight title early in his career. At just 27 years old, the hard punching fighter has gotten a reputation as a knockout artist winning all but one of his bouts via knockout. Most recently, Abreu fought and quickly won fights against Basilio Silva and Ruddy Acasio winning both bouts via knockout before the fourth round. This former champion is looking to move up the ranks to boxing’s elite when he faces former World Champion Pablo Cesar Cano on Feb. 27.
With boxing fans around the world waiting to see what he could do in the ring, 20-year-old Diego De La Hoya (8-0, 6 KOs) has yet to disappoint; impressing audiences from the time of his professional debut in 2013 with poise, power and exciting style. In 2014, the Mexicali native put together six wins, four by knockout and after defeating the likes of Miguel Tamayo and Ali Gonzalez, he’s looking forward to stepping up even more this year as he begins competing in eight-round bouts.
Manuel Roman (17-3-3, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles is a tough fighter ready to prove to critics that he is mainstay in the sport. A professional since 2004 the hard hitting veteran was a former sparring partner to WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz, and also fought Santa Cruz in a title defense bout on the undercard of Mayweather vs. Maidana II. The last time Roman was seen at Fantasy Springs he went up against hometown favorite and current IBF bantamweight champion Randy Caballero and is looking to return to the venue to take on the rising star Diego De La Hoya.
Seven-foot-tall heavyweight Taishan, has garnered a lot of attention for being one of the most imposing fighters in his division. His two professional bouts thus far have proven that there’s substance behind the hype as he’s knocked out both Alex Rozman and Tommy Washington Jr., getting fight fans even more excited for the 26-year-old Beijing native’s first fight of 2015 on February 27.
Roy McCary (3-2, 3 KOs) of Houston is a rising heavyweight boxer who has gone up against the hard hitting Mario Herendia and Eric Newell. Looking to continue to build a reputation, the newcomer will face Taishan hoping for victory in February.
A member of the Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, 18-year-old lightweight Nick Arce is a former amateur standout who entered the pro boxing world in style in November of 2014 with a fourth round knockout of Adalbert Valenzuela. Now he will attempt to make it two straight as he competes in one of the sport’s most competitive weight classes.
A gritty competitor who hopes that his first professional win over Francisco Javier in January was the sign of good things to come for his career, Lyonell Kelly will step through the ropes once more on February 27 to face the unbeaten Nick Arce. At 23, Kelly has a bright future ahead of him if he can upset Arce and string some wins together.
Cano vs. Abreu is a 10-round welterweight bout promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Fight Network’s live broadcast airs at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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