WBO Champ Quillin Gets Fernando Guerrero Defense

WBO Middleweight Champion and New Yorker Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will make his first title defense against Fernando Guerrero in the co-featured bout to the world title clash between Unified Super Lightweight Champion Danny “Swift” Garcia and Brooklyn native Zab “Super” Judah at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, February 9 live on Showtime Championship Boxing.

In addition to Quillin and Garcia, the stars of last October’s inaugural boxing event at Barclays Center will return to the sport’s most popular new venue.

Showtime Extreme will start the televised action with a 10-round junior middleweight bout between Brooklyn’s Dmitriy Salita and Hector Camacho Jr. along with a 10-round middleweight fight featuring boxing’s most inspirational fighter, Brooklyn’s Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs, who continues his comeback following a successful battle against cancer against an opponent to be named.

Other undercard fights will feature the New York professional debut of Staten Island’s 2012 United States Olympian Marcus Browne in a four-round light heavyweight fight as well as crowd- pleasing Boyd Melson, whose dedication to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries makes him a true champion, who will fight in a six-round middleweight bout against an opponent to be named.

“We’re happy to be back in Brooklyn with the great main event of Danny Garcia vs. Zab Judah and a stacked undercard that has something for every boxing fan, from championship bouts to crossroad fights, to appearances from New York’s best,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “This will be another great night at Barclays Center.”

“The inaugural fight card at Barclays Center last October was a rousing success as we teamed with Golden Boy to bring championship boxing back to Brooklyn for the first time in more than 80 years,” Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said.

“We expect an even more exciting event on February 9, as we continue to offer great title fights while giving emerging New York fighters the opportunity to showcase their talents in Brooklyn’s grandest ring.”

“It’s a great feeling to be back in Brooklyn for my first title defense and I am going to give fans what they are looking for again,” said Quillin. “The crowd at Barclays Center pushed me to another level last October when I won my title and I can’t wait to win for them again on February 9.”

“This is the moment every fighter dreams of and I feel like everything is finally aligned for me to win my first world championship on February 9,” said Guerrero. “Quillin is an exciting, aggressive fighter like me and we’re going to put on a show for the great fans in Brooklyn.”

“It’s a special feeling to be able to fight in my home borough again,” said Jacobs. “This was an extra special holiday season for me and my family. To look back on last October when I had the chance to return to the ring and continue my career was an early Christmas present that no one can ever take away from me. My fight on February 9 gives me the opportunity to continue my championship quest.”

“I love fighting in Brooklyn and to now face Hector Camacho Jr., another legendary New York name, the stakes will be extremely high on February 9,” said Salita. “I look forward to the opportunity and feel confident that I will be victorious that night.”

“It is going to be an exciting, but very emotional night for me on February 9 when I fight at Barclays Center,” said Camacho. “I am fighting for myself, but it will also be a tribute to my dad who was loved throughout all of New York. I plan to honor and represent the family name with a win of Dmitriy.”

“This moment is what I’ve been waiting for since I first started boxing and I just can’t wait to fight,” said Browne. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of my fans and make my hometown debut at Barclays Center. Everyone on Staten Island and in New York City has shown me a tremendous amount of support and I’m ready to put on a great show on February 9.”

With an exciting style and a flair for the dramatic, Quillin (28-0, 20 KO’s), who lives in Manhattan, carried the momentum from his June 2012 win over Winky Wright into Barclays Center on October 20, winning the WBO middleweight title with a six-knockdown performance against previously unbeaten former World Champion Hassan N’Dam. Ready to top that epic win with an encore performance, Quillin will make the first defense of his crown against Guerrero.

Long one of the most popular fighters on the East Coast, Guerrero (25-1, 19 KO’s) took his show on the road in 2012, and with wins over Jason Naugler (TKO 4) in Mexico, Jose Medina (W10) in Las Vegas, and J.C. Candelo (TKO 6) in Texas, he showed the development of his game and his readiness for a world title shot. On February 9, the hard-hitting southpaw gets the opportunity he’s been waiting for.

Following a harrowing but victorious fight against cancer that kept him out of the ring for over a year, Jacobs (24-1, 21 KO’s) returned to action on October 20 and scored an emotional first-round knockout win over Josh Luteran. In December, the 25-year-old Jacobs halted tough Chris Fitzpatrick in five rounds and he expects similarly positive results in his next bout at Barclays Center.

One of New York’s most popular fighters, Salita (35-1-1, 18 KO’s) is ready for another world title shot and a win over Camacho Jr. on February 9 will move him one step closer. A decision winner over Brandon Hoskins at Barclays Center last October, the 30-year-old Salita aims to keep his five fight-winning streak and his championship dreams alive with a win over Camacho Jr.

The son of the late, great “Macho” Camacho, Hector Camacho Jr. (54-5-1, 29 KO’s) will undoubtedly be looking to leave an impression and score a victory in his father’s home city on February 9. The winner of 11 of his last 13 bouts, the 16-year veteran of the sport has been waiting for an opportunity like this in the Big Apple. In his first local bout since 2001, the 34-year-old from San Juan can’t wait to hear the bell ring.

A member of the 2012 United States Olympic team, Marcus Browne (2-0, 2 KO’s) proudly represented Staten Island in London, and now that he’s back home, he’s ready to impress his growing number of fans. Undefeated in his two fights as a pro, the 22-year-old southpaw dispatched of both Codale Ford and Ritchie Cherry in his first two bouts.

31-year-old middleweight Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson (10-1-1, 4 KO’s) got a scare from underrated Jason Thompson at Barclays Center last October when he hit the deck early in the bout, but the talented and resilient Army veteran battled back to earn a six-round draw in one of the most exciting fights of the night. On February 9, the New Yorker vows to leave the ring victorious in a six-round middleweight fight.

Opponents for Jacobs, Browne and Melson will be announced shortly.

Opening the event will be two four-round bouts featuring Manhattan junior welterweight Zachary Ochoa (3-0, 3 KO’s) and Philadelphia bantamweight Miguel Cartagena (5-0, 3 KO’s) who will both compete against opponents to be named.

Garcia vs. Judah, a 12-round bout for Garcia’s Unified Super Lightweight World Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and supported by Golden Boy Promotions sponsors Corona and AT&T.

The Showtime Championship Boxing telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast, with preliminary fights to air live on Showtime Extreme at 7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast.

Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, are on sale now and are available for purchase at www.barclayscenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.