The March 7 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights will feature up-and-coming Lightweight contender Rustam Nugaev (26-6, 16 KOs) and former Lightweight world title challenger Marvin Quintero (25-4, 21 KOs) in the 10-round Lightweight main event.
Friday’s show, from Pala Casino in Pala Calif., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Main Event:
Russia’s Nugaev, who resides in Los Angeles, has won his last four fights by knockout and is coming off a first-round knockout win over Mario Hermosillo. In his previous fight, he scored a fifth-round knockout win over Jose Hernandez on Friday Night Fights. After that fight, ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael wrote: “Nugaev is a fun fighter to watch. He’s an aggressive brawler who lets it all hang out when the bell rings, and it was no different in his methodical destruction of Hernandez, who gave it his all but was simply outgunned. It was a good action fight.”
Mexico’s Quintero is looking to rebound from a 12-round split decision loss to IBF titlist Miguel Vazquez. Quintero said of Friday’s fight, “I think the Russian (Nugaev) is strong, a brawler. He has a pretty good reach and huge experience.”
Co-Feature:
Friday’s eight-round co-feature will pit undefeated Bantamweight Roman Morales (17-0, 9 KOs) against Khabir Suleymanov (16-3, 6 KOs). California’s Morales is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision win over Roberto Castaneda, while California’s Suleymanov is looking to continue his winning ways following an eight-round unanimous decision win over Juanito Rubillar.
Opening Fight:
Friday’s show will open with a six-round bout between undefeated Welterweight Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (19-0, 10 KOs) and Michael Balasi (10-3, 7 KOs).
