Golden Boy Boxing: Explosive Undercard For Diaz vs. Malignaggi

Houston’s finest will be out in force at Toyota Center on the Saturday, August 22 HBO Boxing After Dark undercard, as unbeaten hometown rising stars Hylon Williams and Jermell Charlo will be featured on the hottest night of the boxing summer.

Joining Williams and Charlo on this stacked card will be fellow Houstonians Marcus Johnson, Adam Richards and Darlington Agha, as well as Philadelphia’s undefeated rising star Danny Garcia, unbeaten power hitter Adrien Broner, Philadelphia’s Mike Perez and Texas’ Omar Figueroa.

In the August 22 HBO BAD main event, former Three-Time Lightweight World Champion and Houston hero Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz takes on former 140-pound world titleholder Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi of Brooklyn, New York, while the co-featured bout sees IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Malcolm Klassen challenged by heavy-handed Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero as he looks for a world title in a second weight class.

Opening up the HBO telecast is unbeaten rising middleweight star Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs in a stern test against ‘Contender’ alumnus Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith.

Lightweight sensation Hylon Williams (10-0, 3 KO’s) of Houston has barely lost a round in his professional career thus far, with a shutout win over 41-fight veteran Derrick Moon in April being one of his most impressive wins.

Fresh off of a hard fought victory over Khadaphi Proctor in June, Williams will face Los Mochis, Mexico’s Baudel Cardenas (18-17-2, 6 KO’s)in an eight round lightweight bout.

Williams’ Houston stablemate, junior middleweight Jermell Charlo (8-0, 4 KO’s) is already veteran of the fight game despite being only 19 years old. A former amateur star, Charlo has progressed steadily through the pro ranks, most recently showing his power by stopping Federico Flores in eight rounds in June.

Charlo will be making his third appearance at the Toyota Center when he takes on Glendale, California’s talented Vardan Gasparyan, who has compiled a stellar 11-1-4, 5 KO’s record in his four year career. They will meet in a six round bout.

Also proudly representing Houston on August 22 will be super middleweight Marcus Johnson (16-0, 13 KO’s), 28-year-old heavyweight prospect Adam Richards (22-2, 15 KO’s) and debuting Sugar Land heavyweight Darlington Agha.

Another of Houston’s rising boxing stars, Johnson has been on a tear since turning pro in 2004. Only three of his opponents have heard the closing bell when facing him and all three left the ring disappointed with decision losses. On the 22nd Johnson will face Matt Gockel (12-10, 7 KO’s) of Topeka, Kansas in a six round fight.

A four-time National Amateur Champion, Adam Richards has won 20 of his last 21 fights and after his stoppage of Gustavo Enriquez in April, he’s eager to keep moving up the heavyweight ranks in an eight round fight against Harvey Jolly (9-10-1, 4 KO’s) of Adrian, Missouri.

Rounding out the Houston contingent will be Agha squaring off against Long Beach, California’s Joseph Rabotte (5-6, 2 KO’s) in a four round bout.

The line-up of impressive fighters participating in the event does not end with local standouts.

Rising star Danny Garcia (13-0, 7 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport today, will square off against former world title challenger Oscar Leon (28-9, 18 KOs) of Miami, Florida in a six-round junior welterweight bout.

Another rising young standout, Adrien Broner (10-0, 7 KO’s) has made an immediate impression on fight fans with his exciting style and fight-ending power. In May, Broner pounded out an eight round decision win over unbeaten fellow prospect Fernando Quintero and topped that performance with a sixth round knockout of then 15-1 William Kickett in June.

What’s next for the Cincinnati cyclone? We’ll find out when he faces Midland, Texas’ Edgar Portillo (5-2, 3 KO’s) in a six round junior lightweight battle.

Decorated amateur star Mike Perez (3-0-1, 2 KO’s) of Philadelphia returns to action in a four rounder at Toyota Center. After starting his career with three wins in his first four professional bouts, he’s looking to put on a show for Southwest fight fans. Perez will face Jaime Rodriguez (4-5-3, 2 KO’s) of Reno, Nevada in a four round lightweight battle.

Houston isn’t the only part of Texas represented, as Weslaco’s lightweight knockout artist Omar Figueroa (6-0, 6 KO’s) will face Jeremy Marts (5-7, 3 KO’s) of Ottumwa, Iowa in a four round bout.

All three bouts, which are presented by Golden Boy Promotions, with Diaz vs. Malignaggi and Jacobs vs. Smith being presented in association with DiBella Entertainment and Klassen vs. Guerrero being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions, will air on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 8:45 pm CT (9:45 pm ET/PT).

The evening of boxing is sponsored by Quaker State, Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. Doors open at 3:30pm CT and the first bout begins at approximately 3:30pm CT.

Tickets, priced at $250, $125, $70, $45 and $25, are on sale now, and may be purchased online at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX, at the Toyota Center Box Office and select Houston area Randalls locations.