BROOKLYN (December 30, 2015) – A full night of hard-hitting preliminary action comes to Barclays Center on Saturday, January 16 in an event headlined by two heavyweight world title fights live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. ET).
The stacked undercard features popular former world champion Amanda Serrano (26-1-1, 19 KOs) fighting in her hometown against Ghana’s Helen Joseph (12-3-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the WBO Featherweight World Championship while unbeaten Notre Dame alum Mike Lee (15-0, 9 KOs) enters the ring in an eight-round cruiserweight fight against an opponent to be announced and unbeaten Polish heavyweight Adam Kownacki (12-0, 10 KOs) faces Danny Kelly (9-1-1, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
Undefeated WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder makes the third defense of his title against Polish brawling contender Artur Szpilka in the main event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING doubleheader. Plus, undefeated challengers Charles Martin and Vyacheslav Glazkov will battle in the co-feature for the vacant IBF World Championship in the first heavyweight title fights in Brooklyn in 115 years.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Warriors Boxing and Sferis Knockout Promotions, start at $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.comor by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Purchase before January 1 and receive a 10 percent discount. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.
In a card already stacked with international talent with Szpilka and Glazkov, unbeaten Polish middleweight Maciec Sulecki (21-0, 6 KOs) takes on Ghana’s Isaac Tordjro Selom (21-5-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round bout while Brooklyn-based Ukrainian prospect Ivan Golub (9-0, 7 KOs) competes in an eight-round welterweight attraction and fellow Ukrainian Ramil Gadzhiev (1-0, 1 KO), now living in Boca Raton, Fla., and training with John David Jackson, faces Botirsher Obidov (3-0-1, 1 KO)of Kissimmee, Fla., in a four-round middleweight scrap.
Adding to the local flavor and rounding out the card are a pair of Brooklyn natives. Twenty-six-year old Carlos Gongora (3-0, 2 KOs) from Ecuador competes in a six-round light heavyweight battle and 19-year-old Mexican Julian Sosa (3-0-1, 1 KO) will be featured in a four-round junior welterweight affair.
A former world champion in the junior lightweight and lightweight divisions, Serrano will look to add a third world title belt to the legacy that has already made her a popular fighter in her native Brooklyn. A New York Golden Gloves champion, she turned pro in 2009 and was undefeated in her first 15 fights. The 27-year-old traveled to Argentina in 2014 to win her lightweight world title via a sixth-round knockout of Maria Elena Maderna. This time, she will have the advantage of fighting at home as she hopes to make it 13 wins in a row on January 16 when she takes on the 26-year-old Joseph.
A proud graduate of Notre Dame’s esteemed Mendoza College of Business, Lee took a less traveled road when he began his pro boxing career in 2010. The Chicago-native has galvanized the enormous Fighting Irish alumni network and has been a popular draw throughout the country. He has been as good in the ring as he was in the classroom, sporting a perfect 15-0 record including two stoppage victories in 2015. The 28-year-old looks to put on a show for his faithful supporters in his Barclays Center debut.
A two-time New York Golden Gloves champion, Kownacki had a big 2015, notching four victories including knockouts of Maurenzo Smith and Randy Easton. Born in Lomza, Poland, the 26-year-old now calls Brooklyn home. He is opposed by the 24-year-old D.C.-native Kelly, who has won three fights in a row.