Krystal Rosado is armed with an all-star team for her pro debut.
The former amateur standout for Puerto Rico’s national team will face Michigan’s Tarrethia Dixon in a scheduled four-round, junior bantamweight bout this Friday on DAZN from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The bout is part the second installment of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) prospect-based series, headlined by fellow Boricua prospect Nestor Bravo, who faces Will Madera in a junior welterweight bout.
Rosado is managed by record-setting, seven-division and reigning undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano, who will be in her corner on fight night. Both hail from Carolina, Puerto Rico, a mere part of the instant connection that prompted the legendary Boricua southpaw to manage Rosado and bring her to the MVP family.
“I met Krystal years ago in Puerto Rico when she was 15 years old. Krystal and her mother used to attend each of my boxing matches and over time, we became incredibly close,” Serrano said of her 20-year-old protege. “She has an immeasurable amount of untapped potential and her growth as an athlete is already remarkable. We’ve spared a few times over the years and now at the age of 20, she has the skills necessary to make it in this business.
“Even [MVP co-founders] Nakisa [Bidarian] and Jake [Paul] were very impressed by her tenacity and determination in the ring. It’s an honor to help her as she embarks on this next part of her career and I look forward to being there Friday night as she makes her debut.”
Rosado is the third female boxer to sign with MVP, joining Serrano (45-2-1, 30KOs) and super middleweight contender Shadasia Green (13-0, 11KOs). She will be the first to appear on the DAZN-exclusive prospect-based series which first launched in May and now carries Celsius as its exclusive energy drink sponsor, from which Rosado will benefit early in her career.
Hardly a soft touch is applied to her pro debut. Kalamazoo’s Dixon (1-0, 1KO) enjoyed a quick hit in her first fight, a June 24 1st round knockout of Natalie Gray, another former talented amateur boxer, on the road in Aurora, Colorado.
“MVP started this series to promote and provide a stage for the most promising, young talent out there, no matter what gender,” noted Bidarian and Paul in a joint statement. “Amanda has been the biggest supporter of female athletes and it’s a privilege to watch her offer her advice and expertise to Krystal. August 18th will be a big night with a lot of surprises coming out of the ring.”
Rosado will serve in supporting capacity to Arecibo’s Bravo (21-0, 15KOs) in his DAZN debut.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox