(JUNE 18) LAS VEGAS –
Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions will give away the house
August 2nd on another installment of RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT
PASS®, offering free admission to its loyal fanbase, at the
famed Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
World Boxing Council (WBC) female World super featherweight
champion Eva Wahlstrom (22-1-1, 3 KOs), fighting out of Finland,
will headline in a 10-round bout against challenger Yareli
“Chocolita” Larios (13-2-1, 3 KOs), of Mexico.
“We want to give back to the Las Vegas boxing community because
RJJ Boxing started and remains based here in the boxing capital
of the world,” RJJ Boxing CEO/co-founder Keith Veltre explained.
“What better way to do it than to headline the card with a world
title bout? There will be a very limited number of ringside
seats on sale. All other tickets will be FREE! This is our way
of saying thank you to Las Vegas boxing fans for their
tremendous loyalty to RJJ Boxing the past five-plus years.”
Former European champion Wahlstrom captured her WBC female World
super featherweight title in 2015, when she won a 10-round
decision over Natalia Vanesa del Valle Aguirre. She followed
with four successful title defenses to date, all by way of
10-round decisions, versus Dahiana Santana (35-7), Anahi Esther
Sanchez (14-0), Mayra Alejandra Gomez (18-5) and Melissa St. Vil
(10-2-4).
Last December, Wahlstrom traveled outside her native Finland to
fight for the first time as a professional, at Madison Square
Garden in New York City, moving up in weight to challenge
undefeated IBF/WBA lightweight champion Katie Taylor (11-0), the
2012 Olympic and 5-time AIBA World Amateur Championships gold
medalist from Ireland. Wahlstrom extended Taylor, now 14-0 (6
KOs) and undisputed world lightweight champion, the full
10-round distance, albeit in a losing effort.
She returns to America for her second pro fight, as well as her
fifth WBC world title defense.
“When I found boxing as a 15-year-old,” Wahlstrom explained,
“Roy Jones Jr. was the first boxer I watched and who I was
inspired by. It feels almost unreal that over 20 years later he
wants to sign me, but maybe that is the reward for two decades
of hard work. I'm very thankful for this opportunity. I've had a
few dreams during my career and fighting in the fight capital of
the world, Las Vegas, is one of them.
“It has been a tricky road to arrange this fight and I would
like to thank Natlyn Jones (Roy’s wife), who has fought for me
and this fight, regardless of setbacks or obstacles. To be
fighting in the main event of a high-level event like this feels
incredible, especially as a woman boxer. The way Natlyn and RJJ
Boxing have shown me trust and loyalty in recent months has also
built a foundation for future cooperation.”
Yareli, a former WBC FECOMBOX super featherweight champion, will
be fighting outside of her native Mexico for only the second
time. In her last fight this past February, Larios lost an
eight-round decision in Hinkley, Minnesota, to North American
Boxing Federation (NABF) champion Mikaela Mayer (10-4, 4 KOs), a
2016 U.S. Olympian.
I'm excited to meet Yareli Larios,” Wahlstrom said. “She is a
young, dangerous opponent who will surely come very well
prepared for this title fight. Her father is an ex-WBC champion,
so this fight surely has extra importance for their entire team.
We must be well prepared for whatever they bring. I wish her all
the best for her preparation.”
Scheduled to fight on the Aug. 2nd FREE RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT
PASS card in the 10-round, co-feature is undefeated, WBA No.
14-rated junior welterweight Kendo “Tremendo” Casteneda (16-0, 7
KOs), the reigning North American Boxing Association (NABA)
champion from San Antonio, Texas.
All fights and fighters are subject to change. Opponents and
other fights will soon be announced.
