Three showdowns featuring a top rising prospect, an all-action contender and a former title challenger will highlight the Showtime Boxing Countdown show this Saturday, August 12 from The Theater at MGM National Harbor in an event Presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Action live on the Showtime Sports YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing Facebook page will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and is topped by top rising prospect Michael Angeletti dueling fellow unbeaten Jonathan Lopez in an eight-round bantamweight affair. The lineup will also see all-action contender Jose Benavidez Jr. facing Sladan Janjanin in a 10-round middleweight bout, plus former title challenger Damien Vazquez battles the Philippines’ Jeronil Borres in an eight-round bantamweight showdown. The live stream is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show host Luke Thomas.
These fights precede a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader headlined by former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez take on streaking contender Melvin Lopez for the vacant IBF Bantamweight World Championship. The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also features undefeated rising star Gary Antuanne Russell taking on fellow unbeaten Kent Cruz in the 10-round super lightweight co-main event, plus sensational top prospect and Travon Marshall duels unbeaten two-time Olympian Gabriel Maestre in the 10-round welterweight telecast opener.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through www.mgmnationalharbor.com/.
A highly skilled technician with blazing speed, Angeletti (8-0, 7 KOs) has upped his competition in recent outings, dominating the previously unbeaten Jeremy Adorno in October 2022 before stopping the experienced Michell Banquez in round eight of their May clash on Showtime Boxing Countdown. Originally from New Orleans and now training in Spring, Texas, Angeletti carries a six-fight knockout streak into Saturday night. He faces Puerto Rico’s Lopez (8-0-2, 4 KOs), who will be fighting in the U.S. for the second time as a pro. The 26-year-old made his U.S. debut in February, fighting fellow unbeaten Eduardo Diogo to an entertaining majority draw.
Phoenix’s Benavídez (27-2-1, 18 KOs) is the older brother of unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavídez and is trained by his father Jose Sr. A long-established contender, Benavídez moved up to super welterweight after dropping a 2018 world title challenge to Terence Crawford and most recently lost a close decision to two-division champion Danny Garcia last July. He will take on the 32-year-old Janjanin (36-15, 26 KOs), who won his most recent outing via decision in April. A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Janjanin has fought in 14 different countries, often facing top contenders and rising prospects, including a point’s loss to former interim champion Martin Murray in 2019.
The 26-year-old southpaw Vázquez (16-3-1, 9 KOs) was born in Thornton, Col. and now fights out of Las Vegas. The younger brother of former two-time champion Israel Vázquez, he challenged Brandon Figueroa for a 122-pound world title in September 2020. After dropping an August 2021 showdown against former champion Rau’shee Warren, Vázquez returned to the ring in March by stopping Francisco Bonilla Zambrano in three rounds. He will be opposed by the 28-year-old Borres (12-8-2, 6 KOs), who has fought professionally since 2014. Representing Catarman, Camiguin, Philippines, Borres most recently dropped an April clash against unbeaten Abraham Perez.
The non-televised undercard lineup will feature Philadelphia’s Jesse Hart (28-3, 22 KOs) facing Argentina’s Elio Trosch (15-10-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight clash, Washington, D.C.-born prospect David Whitmire (2-0, 1 KO) stepping in for a four-round super welterweight bout against Jordy Tientcheu (0-1) and unbeaten super middleweight Daniel Blancas (6-0, 4 KOs) battling New York’s Devaun Lee (11-9-1, 6 KOs) for six-rounds of action.