Hard-punching welterweight prospect Derrieck Cuevas says he’s not bothered by the number of fans his upcoming opponent Ed “The Lion” Paredes of Pembroke Pines will have in-house for their showdown.
Cuevas (18-0-1, 14 KOs), originally from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and now living in Miami, will face popular long-time Florida resident Paredes (38-7-1, 25 KOs) on Friday, March 1, in the 10-round main event of The Heavyweight Factory’s, in association with All Star Boxing, “Rumble at the Rock IV” at the Hard Rock Event Center at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and live on Boxeo Telemundo.
Tickets for “Rumble at the Rock IV” cost $60, $100, $150, $250 and $500 and are available through ticketmaster.com.
“It doesn’t bother me,” said Cuevas of Paredes’ fan following. “At the end of the day, it’s only me and him, and they can’t fight for him. I look forward to giving him a world-class beating in front of all his fans.”
Cuevas, 24, is coming off an impressive, unanimous decision victory over respected gate keeper Breidis Prescott last November, but says Paredes represents his biggest fistic challenge. Paredes, 33, is a 14-year pro, who once held the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE), WBO Latino Welterweight, WBA-NABA Welterweight and WBC Youth World Welterweight Championships.
“Paredes is the toughest fighter I’ve faced in my career. He’s a savvy veteran who has never been knocked out. But I’m coming to represent Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican boxing fans. Come March 1, I plan to be the first man to knock Ed Paredes out.”
Working hard to make that happen, Cuevas is working with trainer Jesse Robinson, a former Emanuel Steward protege.
“He’s been teaching me a lot of new things,” said Cuevas. “My explosivity and body punching will be really different for this fight. Jesse knows how to get the most out of a fighter’s strong points.
Director of Boxing for The Heavyweight Factory Henry Rivalta says Cuevas’ performance against Paredes will reveal a lot about the young prospect’s future in the sport.
“Paredes is someone only great fighters can get past,” said Rivalta. “He’s never been knocked out and he’s beaten lots of very good fighters. Plus, he’s coming in well-rested and free of injury. If Derrieck can look good against him, or be the first to knock him out, we will know he has a very bright future in professional boxing. This is truly a midterm exam for this up-and-coming fighter.”
On fight night, the Hard Rock Event Center doors open at 6 p.m., and the action starts at 7 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Fla.
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About Hard Rock Event Center
Hard Rock Event Center is the newly constructed 3,600-seat venue located in the northwest corner of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood. As part of the $1.5 billion property expansion, the former Hard Rock Live arena will be razed and replaced with a state-of-the-art 6,500-plus-seat venue in a theater-style configuration, slated to open in 2019. In the interim, a full schedule of concerts, comedy shows and other events will take place in the Hard Rock Event Center. Seminole Hard Rock has hosted some of the hottest musical acts such as John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Andrea Bocelli, Tim McGraw and Carlos Santana; top comedians including Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, George Lopez and the late Robin Williams; as well as major sporting events and events of major sports stars, from UFC matches to charity galas for Jason Taylor, Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and more. For additional information, please visit www.myhrl.com.
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is a world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts A-list entertainers, comedy and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open in fall 2019 will bring 638 luxury guestrooms to a first-ever, iconic, guitar-shaped hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations in an adjacent hotel tower overlooking a lush, “Bora Bora” style, private cabana environment; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water-focused experience for sunbathing, swimming, kayaking, sailing and paddle boarding; 21 distinctive restaurants, bars and lounges; an expanded gaming floor featuring 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space; and 26,000 square feet of new retail space. The highly anticipated 6,500 seat Hard Rock Live theater-style concert venue will feature headline performances and live broadcast capabilities. The resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood Seminole Reservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441). The resort is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us:
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