ALBUQUERQUE (Oct. 7, 2026) – Undefeated light heavyweight contender Atif Oberlton will face Deon Nicholson in a matchup of hard-hitting 175-pounders on Saturday, Nov. 7 live exclusively on DAZN from Albuquerque. The 10-round showdown will serve as the co-main event to Abraham Perez’s homecoming title defense against Yankiel Rivera at Kiva Auditorium.
Tickets for the Nov. 7 event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions and Legacy Boxing Promotions in association with Wynn Records, are available on ticketmaster.com.
Philadelphia’s Oberlton (17-0, 14 KOs) is ranked in the top 15 by all four major sanctioning bodies and placed in top 10 by both the IBF and WBA. He scored a shutout unanimous decision over Roamer Alexis Angulo on the Claressa Shields undercard on Aug. 15, going the distance for the first time since 2024 after knocking out eight straight opponents. The 28-year-old southpaw, who is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Tom Yankello Jr., will face his toughest opponent to date in Nicholson, a fellow power-puncher who was previously scheduled to face former undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev. The 6-foot-3 Oberlton looks to make a statement against Nicholson to prove he belongs amongst the world’s top light heavyweights, with an eye toward bouts against Dmitry Bivol, Ben Whitaker and the other top 175-pounders in the wide-open division.
“My focus is the same as it’s always been, but every fight is another step up,” Oberlton said. “Going 10 rounds for the first time in my last fight gave me even more confidence. Nicholson doesn’t present anything I feel I can’t handle. Every fight is a step up and beating him on November 7 will keep me climbing the light heavyweight division and moving closer to a world title shot. I’m coming to show why my name belongs with the best.
“Since signing with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, I’ve been active, and that’s exactly where I wanted to be. Having that support pushes me to keep getting better because I know what we’re working toward. I always knew the time would come for the world to see who Atif Oberlton really is. Nicholson is the next step, and I’m coming to put myself one step closer to a world title shot.”
Nicholson (23-1, 19 KO), of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is a power-punching product of Jay Deas, the original and long-time trainer of former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in Tuscaloosa. Nicholson was scheduled to fight Arthur Beterbiev on a Riyadh Season card in Saudi Arabia in November of 2025 before Beterbiev reportedly pulled out of the fight. The 36-year-old has knockouts in six of his last nine fights, and owns a career-best win over Craig Baker, who had previously fought Edwin Rodriguez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for,” Nicholson said. “I’ve been in camp, ready to fight, and I’m already in shape. This win will put the boxing world on notice that I deserve the biggest opportunities.”
Said promoter Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions: “Atif Olberlton is one of the best light heavyweights in the world, with a unique style, a standout personality and a burning desire to become a world champion. Representing the historic fight city of Philadelphia, he is ready to join boxing’s elite with a statement performance against the hard-hitting Deon Nicholson on Nov. 7.”
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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.
Check the?Salita?Promotions?YOUTUBE CHANNEL?for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.
ABOUT WYNN RECORDS:
Wynn Records is a full-service talent and music agency specializing in artist development, management, brand partnerships, distribution, marketing, and touring. With strong expertise in music administration, digital strategy, licensing, and industry trends, Wynn provides tailored career guidance to help clients grow and succeed. Rooted in innovation and long-term vision, the company empowers artists, creatives, and athletes to maximize their visibility, revenue, and impact.
