Junior welterweight prospect Antonio “Relentless” Orozco and contender Jermall Charlo will open up one of the most exciting nights of the boxing year at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., as they compete in Showtime Extreme bouts before the Showtime tripleheader on Saturday, April 26.
In the Sho Extreme headliner, scheduled for 10 rounds, Orozco faces the stiffest test of his young career in longtime contender Martin “El Brochas” Honorio. Also televised will be Charlo’s 10-round bout against Hector “The Hurricane” Munoz. Time-permitting, the EXTREME portion of the card will also air the United States debut of 2012 Brazilian Olympic Bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao against Carlos Badaldua.
San Diego’s Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (19-0, 15 KOs) has been making a steady, yet spectacular rise up the junior welterweight ladder, with his power earning him plenty of respect from his peers. Currently on a seven-fight knockout streak, the 26-year-old Mexican standout is coming off of a second-round finish of Miguel Angel Huerta on January 24.
Perhaps the biggest test of Orozco’s career, Mexico City’s Martin “El Brochas” Honorio (32-8-1, 16 KOs) is a former USBA, NABF and NABO champion who has fought the best in the game for years, with notable victories over Steve Luevano, Giovanni Andrade and John Molina. Winner of three of his last five, Honorio wants to stop Orozco’s rise by any means necessary.
Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs) expected to be wearing a championship belt at this moment, but after his March 8 meeting with IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Carlos Molina was cancelled due to Molina’s legal issues, the 154-pound contender from Houston will have to wait a little longer for his shot at the crown. In the meantime, the talented 23-year-old will stay busy with a 10-round bout against Hector Munoz.
Albuquerque’s Hector “The Hurricane” Munoz (22-12-1, 14 KOs) is an experienced competitor who has shown that when he’s on, he’s a tough out for anyone at 154 pounds. A 12-year pro, Munoz’ most recent victory was over Hector Camacho Jr. on September 11, 2013, and an upset of Charlo would sit just right with this hard-nosed warrior.
Brazil’s best hope for world title honors in the coming years, 26-year-old Sao Paulo native Yamaguchi Falcao (0-0) makes his United States debut following a controversial no contest in his pro debut in January. Engaging in a four-round middleweight bout against debuting Tijuana, Mexico native Carlos Badaldua, the 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist will be looking to impress.
In an intriguing eight-round super bantamweight matchup, Joseph Diaz (9-0, 7 KOs) gets the big fight he’s wanted in the form of veteran Luis Maldonado. Fighting out of South El Monte, Calif., 2012 U.S. Olympic team member Diaz has been impressive since turning professional in 2012, so much so that the 21-year-old is already in a position where he’s demanded even more established opposition. In Calexico, Calif.’s Luis Maldonado (38-11-1, 29 KOs), Diaz gets his wish, and though the 36-year-old Ocotlan native has hit a rough patch in recent bouts, he would like nothing better than to end Diaz’ winning streak.
Also making a step up in competition will be Diaz’ Olympic teammate Terrell Gausha (8-0, 5 KOs), as the Cleveland native squares off with Miami veteran Charles Whitaker (40-14-2, 24 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight bout. The 26-year-old Gausha has stopped five of his opponents in two rounds or less, and no win would be bigger than if he can do the same thing to Whitaker. Winner of 16 of his last 18 bouts, including a recent stoppage of Juan Manuel Marias, Whitaker is one of the most underrated fighters in the 154-pound division, a fact he will remind Gausha of on April 26.
Long considered to be boxing’s top prospect, 22-year-old welterweight Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez (16-0, 12 KOs) took only 1:56 to halt 18-3 Prince Doku Jr. in his last bout on Dec. 14, and the East Los Angeles phenom plans on making it an early night as well in front of his hometown fans. Not about to go away quietly though is Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s Orlando Vasquez (12-3-1, 6 KOs), a solid puncher in his own right, with half of his wins coming by knockout.
A former captain of the Ugandan national team who now makes his home in Las Vegas, Sharif “The Lion” Bogere (23-1, 15 KOs) has been yearning to get back into the ring after his tough decision loss to Richar Abril in their WBA Lightweight Title fight in March of 2013, and he plans to unleash all his power on April 26 in his eight-round bout against Mazatlan, Mexico’s Arturo Urena (26-16-1, 22 KOs).
In junior middleweight action scheduled for four rounds, Lehigh Acres, Fla.’s Bryant Perrella (3-0, 2 KOs) faces Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Roberto Crespo (4-3).
In the 12-round main event, Florida power-puncher Keith “One Time” Thurman defends his interim WBA World Welterweight Championship against former lightweight world titleholder Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. In other televised bouts on SHOWTIME, Argentine knockout king Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse returns in a 10-round matchup against hard-hitting Californian John Molina and Omar “Panterita” Figueroa Jr. defends his WBC Lightweight World Championship against fellow Texan Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes.
