IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship (vacant) – 12 Rounds
Subriel Matías – 139.2 lbs.
Jeremías Ponce – 139.6 lbs.
Referee: Mark Nelson; Judges: Patrick Morley (Ill.), Chris Wilson (Ariz.), Mike Fitzgerald (Wisc.)
Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Jamal James – 146.8 lbs.
Alberto Palmetta – 147 lbs.
Referee: Ernie Sharif; Judges: Chris Wilson (Ariz.), Ludy Webster (Minn.), Jon Schorle (Texas)
Super Lightweight Bout – 10 Rounds
Elvis Rodríguez – 139.8 lbs.
Joseph Adorno – 140 lbs.
Referee: Jon Schorle; Judges: Scott Erickson (Minn.), Patrick Morley (Ill.), Mike Fitzgerald (Wisc.)
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Welterweight Bout – 8/10 Rounds
Kudratillo Abdukakhorov – 146 lbs.
VeShawn Owens – 147 lbs.
Referee: Ernie Sharif; Judges: Kyle Shiely (Minn.), Scott Erickson (Minn.), Jon Schorle (Texas)
Welterweight Bout – Eight Rounds
Derrick Jackson – 149 lbs.
Willie Jones – 147.8 lbs.
Note: Contracted weight is 149 lbs.
Referee: Mark Nelson; Judges: Ludy Webster (Minn.), Mike Fitzgerald (Wisc.), Patrick Morley (Ill.)
Super Lightweight Bout – Four Rounds
Mikkel Spencer – 139 lbs.
Margarito Hernandez – 140 lbs.
Referee: Jon Schorle; Judges: Bobby Brunette (Minn.), Kyle Shiely (Minn.), Chris Wilson (Ariz.)
POST WEIGH-IN FLASH QUOTES
Here is what the fighters had to say following the weigh-in:
Subriel Matías
“I’m 30 years old and to this day, I don’t know what the canvas feels like. I’m going to be the one knocking him out. I told my mom ever since I was 12 or 13 years old that I was going to make her proud and become a world champion. This is my chance.
“It would be very exciting for me to win this fight by knockout, and I think that’s the way it’s going. The ‘Orgullo de Maternillo’ is going to win by knockout before the seventh round.”
Jeremías Ponce
“I didn’t come here on vacation. I want everyone to see that I’m here to win and prove that I’m the best. It’s going to be an outstanding fight. The fans are going to love it. We’re both winners and we both came here to win. You’re going to see an all-out battle.
“I’m very proud to write a new chapter in the Puerto Rico vs. Argentina rivalry. I’m looking forward to showing everybody what Argentina can do inside the ring on Saturday night. I’m going for the knockout.”
Jamal James
“It feels good to be back fighting at home. I think the people missed me. We put in the work and now, I just want to give a great show. This fight is very important, but every fight is important. You have to take every fight very seriously and you can’t underestimate anybody. I’ll go out there and leave everything in the ring. That’s what I intend to do.”
Alberto Palmetta
“I hope I can win some fans here in Minnesota. But I also want to congratulate Jamal James because I like the way that he supports his community. Boxing is not just about thinking about yourself, it’s also about thinking about others. That makes you a champion. I hope that after Saturday, Minnesota won’t be too mad at me.”
Elvis Rodríguez
“It’s going to be just like he said, somebody is getting knocked out. But I’m going to be the one knocking him out. I’m focused on this fight one hundred percent. But when I win this fight, I want the winner of the main event. It’s going to be hard rock in Minnesota on Saturday night. Elvis is in the building!”
Joseph Adorno
“He’s scared. He thinks I’m just a walkover and that’s not going to happen. I’m a 135-pounder but I came up to his weight just to prove that I can hang with the elites.”
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will handle blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Hall of Famers round out the telecast team – Emmy® award winning reporter Jim Gray, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. The executive producer is four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr., with Ray Smaltz III producing and Chuck McKean directing. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation® commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst.
The SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show is hosted by award-winning MORNING KOMBAT live digital talk show hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, who also serves as an analyst alongside Marquez on SHOBOX.
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ABOUT MATIAS VS. PONCE
Matías vs. Ponce will see top super lightweight contenders square off as popular knockout artist Subriel Matías meets undefeated Argentine Jeremías Poncefor the vacant IBF 140-pound World Championship on Saturday, February 25 live on SHOWTIME from The Armory in Minneapolis headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features the return of Minneapolis-native Jamal “Shango” James in the 10-round welterweight co-main event as he battles 2016 Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta. Kicking off the telecast, exciting super lightweight contender Elvis Rodríguez duels the hard-hitting Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno in a 10-round attraction.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
For more information visit www.SHO.com/sports, www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #MatiasPonce follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing.