At stake is a rapid rise up the welterweight division is at stake as two top contenders, former Olympian Sadam "World Kid" Ali (24-1, 14 KOs) and former Interim WBA World Super Lightweight Champion Johan "El Terrible" Perez (22-3-4, 15 KOs,) will slug it out over 10 rounds. They will fight for the vacant NABA Welterweight title in the main event of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN on July 29 from Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.
Ali, a 28-year-old member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team who holds impressive wins over Francisco "Chia" Santana and Luis Carlos "El Potro" Abregu, is coming off back-to-back victories after falling short in his first attempt at a world title last year.
"A win in this fight puts me right back in position to compete for a world championship," Ali, who fights out of Brooklyn, New York, said. "I can't wait to get back in the ring and demonstrate the speed and power that has led me to be a top contender in the welterweight division."
Perez, a 33-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela who has held the interim WBA World Super Lightweight Championship and regional titles in the welterweight division, has defeated a number of top fighters including contender Yoshihiro "El Maestrito" Kamegai and former world champions Steve "2POUND" Forbes and dealt Paul "The Pittsburgh Kid" Spadafora the first and only defeat of his career.
"The time has come for me to re-establish my name in the welterweight division, and that's exactly what I'm planning to do on July 29," Perez said. "Whether it's by knockout or decision, when the fights comes to an end, I know I will have my hand raised in victory."
Numerous prospects are also scheduled to appear on the undercard.
The July 29 event is sponsored by Tecate, Born BOLD and Hennessy "Never Stop, Never Settle." ESPN Deportes and ESPN2 will air the fights at midnight / 9 p.m. PST. ESPN3 live stream of the undercard fights will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m. PST.
