A pair of all-action, high-stakes showdowns will prime a stacked four-fight pay-per-view occasion as two-time world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman duels rising star and reigning world champion Tim Tszyu in the primary occasion whereas 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero and Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz meet within the co-main occasion on Saturday, March 30 within the inaugural PBC Pay-Per-View out there on Prime Video from T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas.
The cardboard marks the debut occasion for PBC Pay-Per-View out there by means of Prime Video for the reason that events introduced a landmark, multiyear rights settlement in December. Along with the PPV being out there for buy on Prime Video, no matter Prime membership, followers may also be capable to proceed to entry the telecast by means of conventional cable and satellite tv for pc retailers.
The pay-per-view may also see Cuban star and reigning WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara defend his belt towards No. 1 rated obligatory challenger Michael Zerafa, plus all-action tremendous welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will meet streaking contender Serhii Bohachuk within the pay-per-view opener.
*Ticketing info to be introduced shortly. The occasion is promoted by TGB Promotions. The principle occasion is promoted in affiliation with No Restrict Boxing.
“This primary present with PBC on Prime Video is jam-packed with fan-friendly matchups that includes stars who’re established as one of the best of their technology and new stars who wish to make a declare to guide the subsequent technology of champions,” stated Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Keith Thurman vs. Tim Tszyu provides every fighter an opportunity to debut 2024 with an announcement, whereas ‘Rolly’ Romero and ‘Pitbull’ Cruz can ship their ascending inventory skyrocketing by rising victorious. With two extra clashes rounding out the pay-per-view, this strains up as one other night time from T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas that you simply’ll need to keep glued to your seat for.”
“That is an historic occasion and places the Tszyu title proper again on the pinnacle of boxing the place it belongs,” stated George Rose, CEO of No Restrict Boxing. “Tim solely needed the large names, legacy fights, and Keith Thurman is strictly that. It doesn’t finish effectively for Thurman although because the world goes to understand Tim Tszyu is about to take over the game. Thanks Premier Boxing Champions, TGB Promotions and Prime Video for what’s going to be an unimaginable night time of boxing.”
*KEITH THURMAN VS. TIM TSZYU*
The principle occasion will see the previous unified world champion Thurman, a long-time stalwart at welterweight, take his first crack on the tremendous welterweight division as he faces the undefeated reigning WBO 154-pound World Champion Tszyu in a 12-round non-title showdown.
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) earned his “One Time” moniker by speaking the discuss and delivering with highlight-reel KOs. He has assembled one of the crucial spectacular resumes among the many prime welterweights of this technology, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero. That showdown with Garcia noticed him grow to be a unified world champion in a uncommon unification bout between undefeated welterweight world champions. Thurman’s solely blemish got here in a 2019 Combat of the 12 months towards boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the incorrect aspect of a slim split-decision. Most not too long ago, Thurman bested former world champion and present extremely ranked welterweight Mario Barrios by unanimous choice in February 2022.
“I’m again in motion and I’m joyful to be part of this primary occasion with PBC on Prime Video,” stated Thurman. “Tszyu stands out as an distinctive fighter, and I’ve all the time held admiration for his performances. His distinctive fashion supplies the right stage for me to exhibit the relentless dedication I’ve poured into coaching, refining my expertise, and fortifying my psychological sport. This struggle guarantees a spectacular showdown between two of essentially the most electrifying fighters within the sport, an occasion that calls for consideration. Good issues come to those who wait. Them days are over, vibrant lights and motion are up forward. Let’s shake up the world of boxing yet another time on Prime Video.”
The son of Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Famer Kostya Tszyu, the 29-year-old Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) comes off a red-hot 2023 marketing campaign that noticed him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds whereas defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, prime contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A local of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut towards U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, incomes a unanimous choice. Tszyu grew up taking part in soccer, however quickly gravitated towards boxing. The choice led to him following within the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“I’ve been prepared and ready to headline a historic occasion like this within the U.S. for a really very long time and it’s an honor that I don’t take calmly,” stated Tszyu. “My father did it, and was on the prime of the world for a decade, now it’s my flip. Thurman is a good struggle, he’s tough, powerful and he’s combined it with the easiest the game has seen. This can be a new period now. It’s the Tszyu period. On March 30, everybody who tunes into this pay-per-view goes to see for themselves.”
*ROLANDO ROMERO VS. ISAAC CRUZ*
The WBA Tremendous Light-weight World Champion Romero will make the primary protection of his world title in a 12-round matchup towards the highest light-weight contender Cruz, who will look to debut at 140-pounds with a championship-winning efficiency within the night time’s co-main occasion.
A part of the Mayweather Promotions secure, Romero (15-1, 13 KOs) is thought for his brash discuss that he backs up with energy in each palms in addition to an thrilling, distinctive fashion that makes him a must-see every time he steps between the ropes. The 28-year-old rose to the ranks of world champion in his final outing, stopping Ismael Barroso in spherical 9 to win the title in Might. It was Romero’s first return to the ring since a Might 2022 defeat towards three-division champion Gervonta Davis. Previous to the Davis struggle, the Las Vegas resident Romero received an interim title in August 2020 by incomes a detailed however unanimous choice over then unbeaten Jackson Marinez.
“That is gonna be Rolly versus the Chihuahua within the ring on March 30,” stated Romero. “I’m gonna keep world champ and be the primary famous person on Prime Video. Simply ensure you purchase your tickets or tune in on pay-per-view, don’t miss this one.”
One of the vital thrilling fighters in boxing, the 25-year-old Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) has racked up three consecutive victories since dropping a aggressive and entertaining choice towards undefeated famous person Gervonta Davis in December 2021. A local of Mexico Metropolis, Cruz shot up the light-weight rankings in 2020, saying his presence with an electrifying first-round knockout over veteran Diego Magdaleno in October earlier than including dominant selections over Francisco Vargas and Jose Matias Romero. After stopping former champion Yuriorkis Gamboa in April 2022 and veteran contender Eduardo Ramirez in September 2022, Cruz returned this previous July to show away the beforehand unbeaten Giovanni Cabrera by choice.
“I’m very joyful and intensely motivated to have this chance to struggle for the world title,” stated Cruz. “I’ve labored extraordinarily exhausting to earn this shot. I’ve tried to struggle different huge names, however ‘Rolly’ was the one one to step up and settle for the problem. He’s obtained energy and braveness, and he involves knock you out. That’s going to make this an awesome struggle on March 30. I’m grateful to my promoter Manny Pacquiao and my complete workforce for serving to safe this struggle for me. I’ll go away the ring as world champion on March 30.”
*ERISLANDY LARA VS. MICHAEL ZERAFA*
Unbeaten in two fights at middleweight, Lara will defend his WBA Middleweight World Championship towards the WBA’s top-rated obligatory challenger Zerafa in a 12-round attraction on the pay-per-view lineup.
Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion earlier than he misplaced a tricky split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Combat of the 12 months” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that struggle and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an thrilling attract one other slim struggle that might have gone Lara’s method. Lara most not too long ago moved as much as middleweight, capturing his WBA title with a primary spherical knockout of Thomas LaManna in Might 2021, earlier than KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan in Might 2022. Lara confronted a slew of the highest 154-pounders within the sport, together with Canelo Alvarez, forward of his middleweight debut.
“I’m trying ahead to getting again within the ring and defending my title, particularly on this primary occasion with PBC on Prime Video,” stated Lara. “I really feel like I’m the trendy day Bernard Hopkins and that I can hold doing this for years. I do know that Zerafa has been ready patiently for this chance, so he’s going to be hungry on struggle night time. However he’s going to understand that he’s now on the world class stage dealing with one of the best fighter within the division. It’s an honor to be on this nice card that’s going to be motion packed from begin to end.”
Melbourne, Australia’s Zerafa (31-4, 19 KOs) is lengthy established as one in all his nation’s prime contenders and has received four-straight to earn the title struggle on March 30. Zerafa has cut up a pair of matchups towards former champion and Australian rival Jeff Horn along with a primary spherical knockout of longtime contender Anthony Mundine. The 31-year-old beforehand fought stateside in 2015, as he dropped a contest to former middleweight champion Peter Quillin. The veteran has additionally challenged former champion Kell Brook and defeated beforehand unbeaten fighters Danilo Creati and Isaac Hardman in his final two fights.
“That is lengthy overdue ever since I turned the obligatory,” stated Zerafa. “I’m very grateful to everybody who made this struggle occur. Come struggle night time, the world will see why I deserve this chance and Australia could have a brand new world champion.”
*SEBASTIAN FUNDORA VS. SERHII BOHACHUK*
Already established as a must-see attraction, Fundora will return to face fellow extremely ranked tremendous welterweight Bohachuk in a 12-round struggle for the vacant Interim WBC Tremendous Welterweight Title to kick off the pay-per-view telecast.
Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) rocketed to the highest of the tremendous welterweight division with a fan-friendly fashion and bruising toughness within the ring. His unbeaten streak got here to an finish in his final outing, as he obtained caught and was defeated by Brian Mendoza in April of final 12 months. At practically 6-foot-6, the 26-year-old southpaw from Coachella, Calif., towers over his opponents, however has displayed an urge for food for toe-to-toe fight from quick vary. Fundora confirmed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin straight away 2022 Combat of the 12 months contender. Regardless of each males hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall ultimately, prompting Lubin’s nook to cease the struggle on the finish of the ninth spherical. Fundora represents a boxing household, as he’s skilled by his father Freddy alongside his youthful sister, IBF Flyweight World Champion Gabriela.
“Coaching camp goes nice and I’ve been working exhausting to prepare for this struggle,” stated Fundora. “I prepare 100% for each struggle, so it’s been getting again to work as ordinary for me. I do know I’ll win as a result of my goal remains to be the identical as earlier than, to grow to be world champion within the tremendous welterweight division.”
A 28-year-old from Ukraine, Bohachuk (23-1, 23 KOs) now resides in Los Angeles, the place he’s fought out of since turning professional. The 28-year-old has received five-straight outings, together with 2023 stoppages of Nathaniel Gallimore and Patrick Allotey. This run has come after a defeat to Brandon Adams in March 2021 and has seen him rise again up the 154-pound rankings. He received his first 18 fights after turning professional in 2017 following an in depth beginner profession.
“I can’t look ahead to this chance to struggle for the title,” stated Bohachuk. “I’ve labored my total profession for the prospect to achieve my dream on this sport. I’ll give all the pieces to win this struggle, as a result of I’m not simply preventing for myself, but in addition for my war-torn nation of Ukraine.”
