Boxing Prospect Daniel Jacobs Hits Hard Rock Casino March 27

Long considered one of boxing’s top young talents, 23-year-old Daniel Jacobs took a step to the next level in 2009 with five impressive victories.

On Saturday, March 27, “The Golden Child” will step into the ring for the first time this year to face Colombia’s Jose Rodriguez-Berrio in the main support bout to a championship doubleheader at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In the HBO Boxing After Dark-televised co-featured bouts, interim WBA Super Lightweight World Champion Marcos Maidana defends his title against unbeaten Dominican Republic star Victor Cayo, and in the co-featured attraction of this compelling doubleheader, South African standout Ali Funeka and unbeaten former two division World Champion Joan Guzman and look to settle the score after their 2009 draw when they meet again in a 12 round fight for the vacant IBF lightweight championship.

In addition to Jacobs vs. Rodriguez, undercard action at the Hard Rock will also feature a Fab Five selection of prospects – Adrien Broner, Jermell Charlo, Omar Figueroa, Keith Thurman and Diego Chavez – that own a combined 57-0 record with 47 knockouts).

A former amateur star who has been touted as boxing’s “next big thing” for years, Brooklyn middleweight Daniel Jacobs (18-0, 15 KO’s) began on his road to the championship in 2009 with wins over Michael Walker, George Walton and Ishe Smith. Now ranked sixth in the world by the WBO and WBA and eighth by the WBC, Jacobs is closing in on a title shot in the coming months.

Hoping to keep him from moving further up the ranks is Colombia’s Jose Rodriguez-Berrio (12-4-1, 6 KO’s), a veteran who guarantees that he will take Jacobs into deep water when they meet in an eight rounder this weekend.

Just 20 years old, Cincinnati lightweight Adrien Broner (14-0, 11 KO’s) has been wowing fight fans since his days in the amateur ranks and he has continued to build his fan base in the pro ranks with an exciting style that is capped off by true knockout power. Currently riding a five fight KO streak that most recently saw him taking out Roberto Acevedo in January, Broner will face an opponent to be named in an eight round matchup.

A gifted boxer who shows poise in the ring way beyond his 19 years, Houston’s Jermell Charlo (10-0, 5 KO’s) has started to show off some new aspects of his game in the last year, as he’s knocked out two of his last three opponents, including 6-0 prospect Abdon Lozano in his most recent fight last December. Charlo will make his first appearance of 2010 this Saturday in an eight rounder against Provo, Utah’s Gerardo Prieto (6-8-1).

In junior welterweight action scheduled for six rounds, Weslaco, Texas’ 20-year-old power puncher Omar Figueroa (8-0, 8 KO’s) has destroyed everyone in his path thus far, winning all of his bouts in three rounds or less. The Texas KO artist known as “Panterita” will face an opponent to be determined this weekend.

Speaking of knockout artists, welterweight Keith Thurman (12-0, 11 KO’s) of Clearwater, Florida looks for another early finish in his six rounder against Utica, NY’s Jamar Patterson (8-1, 4 KO’s) and fellow 147-pounder Diego Chavez (13-0, 12 KO’s) of Argentina makes his United States debut against Florida’s Edvan Dos Santos (10-8-1, 7 KO’s) in the card’s opener.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100 and $50 with a limited number of $250 VIP and $40 standing room tickets also available, are on sale now and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

Maidana vs. Cayo and Guzman vs. Funeka are presented by Golden Boy Promotions with Maidana vs. Cayo being presented in association with Maidana´s German Promoter Universum Box Promotions, Warriors Boxing Promotions and Sampson Boxing and Funeka vs. Guzman being presented in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing.

The world championship doubleheader will air live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark® beginning at 10:30pm ET (taped delayed on the West Coast at 10:30 PM PT). Doors open at 3:00 PM with the first bell ringing at 3:30 PM.