BILOXI, Miss. (March 5, 2021) – Fort Worth (TX) middleweight John “The Phenom” Vera stopped Cleotis Pendarvis in the opening round of last night’s RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS main event at Biloxi Conference Center in Biloxi, Mexico.

RJJ Boxing was streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

Vera vs. Pendarvis suddenly and surprisingly ended midway through the opening round, when Pendarvis (21-8-2, 9 KOs), a former USBA champion, stopped throwing punches and went to his knees. He was counted out with what is believed to be a hand injury.

“Well,” Vera (20-1, 12 KOs) said after the fight, “the way my fight ended was anticlimactic. I was feeling really good and calm in there. I was just finding my range, establishing my jab and calculating. He threw a jab to the body and I blocked it with my elbow. I felt his knuckle hit my elbow. Sucked ut ended that way, but what can you do?”

Vera has now won his last two fight since suffering his only loss as a professional back in 2018, when he traveled to France as a world rated fighter to take on Michel Soro (31-2-1) for the WBA Interim junior middleweight title, in which Vera lost a 12-round unanimous decision.

In Vera’s previous fight this past in August, “The Phenom” won a 6-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas over Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-2), a former world-rated fighter from Uzbekistan.

“I would like to get in the ring as soon as possible,” Vera added. “I wanted rounds, so it’s time to get right back in there. I’m unscathed and in shape.”

In the co-featured event, ABF West super lightweight champion Christon Edwards (12-2, 6 KOs) won a 6-round unanimous decision from Texas welterweight Jonathan Steele (9-7-1, 6 KOs) in a non-title fight.

Eridson Garcia (11-0, 7 KOs), of Houston by way of the Dominican Republic, won a split decision against Jose Miguel Diaz Valenzuela (6-1, 1 KO), of Phoenix, in a battle of undefeated super featherweights. Scoring, though, was odd as Garcia won 60-54 and 59-55, but the third judge scored it a draw, 57-57.

Tennessee super lightweight Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin remained undefeated, improving to 10-0 (6 KOs) with a quick stoppage of over-matched Venezuelan veteran Ricardo Ocampo (12-11, 7 KOs), who was knocked out at the 53-seconds mark of round one.

Official results below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – WELTERWEIGHTS
John Vera (20-1, 12 KOs), Fort Worth, Texas
WKO1 (1:38)
Cleotis Pendarvis (21-8-2, 9 KOs), Lancaster, California

CO-FEATURE – WELTERWEIGHTS
Christon Edwards (12-2, 6 KOs), Houston, Texas
WDEC6 (59-55, 58-56, 58-56)
Jonathan Steele (9-7-1, 6 KOs), Duncanville, Texas

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS
Eridson Garcia (11-0, 7 KOs), Houston, Texas
WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 57-57)
Jose Miguel Diaz Valenzuala (6-1, 1 KO), Phoenix, Arizona

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS
Tyler Tomlin (10-0, 6 KOs), Ashland, Tennessee
WTKO1 (0:55)
Ricardo Ocampo (12-11, 7 KOs), Curuzu Cuatia, Valenzuela

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufcfightpass.com
Facebook: /KeithVeltre, /UFCFightPass
Twitter: @Keith_Veltre, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial, @UFCFightPass
Instagram: @KeithVeltre, @RoyJonesJrBoxing, @UFCFightPass

NEW YORK (March 4, 2021) -TONIGHT!!! Former NABA Super Welterweight champion, Split-T Management’s John Vera will be back in action tonight as he takes on veteran Cleotis Pendarvis in the main event of a card at the Civic Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Vera, 33 years-old of Fort Worth, Texas, has a record of 19-1 with 11 knockouts. The nine-year professional has wins over Alberto Robles (3-0), Radmir Akhmediyev (7-0), Joey Ruelas (10-1-1), Miorad Zizic (12-1), Daniel Rosario Cruz (11-2), Sunday Ajuwa (13-2) and his last bout when he won a unanimous decision over Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-1) on August 2, 2019 in Las Vegas.

Pendarvis is 21-7-2 with nine knockouts. The 17 year-veteran has wins over John Lewis (5-1), Hector Sanchez (18-0), Rgelio Del Torro (6-0) and Michael Clark (43-7-1),

Both fighters weighed in at 160 lbs.

The fight can be seen live at 8 PM ET on UFC Fight Pass.

Vera is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. promotions.

LAS VEGAS (February 15, 2020) — Texas middleweight John “The Phenom” Vera returns to the ring March 4th to headline the first 2021 show presented by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions, streaming on UFC FIGHT PASS® from Biloxi Civic Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The first 2021 installment of RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS® will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. To sign-up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

The 32-year-old Vera (19-1, 11 KOs), fighting out Forth Worth (TX), will take on California veteran Cleotis “Mookie” Pandarvis (21-7-2, 9 KOs) in the 8-round main event.

“We’re excited to kick-off our third year streaming our fights on UFC FIGHT PASS,” RJJ Boxing CEO/Co-founder Keith Veltre said. “We’re also happy to be going back to Biloxi. Promoting during this pandemic has been a major challenge, but we’re committed to providing a platform for boxing fans a watch competitive, entertaining action RJJ Boxing is known for in the industry.

“Our March 4th show will be headlined by middleweight John Vera against veteran Cleotis Pendarvis. John’s battle back to the top of the division has been slowed because of COVID-19 restrictions, but we believe this is the start of his special journey back to where he belongs. Top middleweights will be put on notice after this fight. We also have some of the best young talent in North America scheduled to fight on our March 4th card.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vera hasn’t fought since last August in Las Vegas, when he won a 6-round unanimous decision over Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-1). Vera is a former NABA USA (U.S.) super welterweight champion, while Pendarvis was a former USBA lightweight titlist.

“I’m happy to be headlining my first show back in more than a year,” Vera commented between training sessions. “It’s unfortunate I’ve had such a long layoff, but I’m ready to get back at it. 2020 was rough for everyone, but I’ve stayed active, healthy and in shape. Only thing I could do is roll with the punches, Fortunately, I live in Texas, so we didn’t go through much of a lockdown like other states. Physically and mentally I’m in the best place.”

In 2018, Vera traveled to France to fight Michel Soro (31-2-1) for the WBA Interim junior middleweight title, in which Vera lost a 12-round unanimous decision.

In the 8-round co-feature, Georgia light heavyweight Michael Seals (24-3, 8 KOs), who lost his last fight a year ago to Eleider Alvarez, faces Detroit’s upset-minded Demetrious Banks (10-9-1, 5 KOs), a former WBC Youth cruiserweight title challenger.

In a battle of undefeated super featherweights, Dominican prospect Eridson Garcia (10-0, 7 KOs) meets Jose Miguel Diaz Valenzuela (6-0, 1 KO), of Phoenix, in a 6-round match.

Roy Jones, Jr. protégé Michael ‘’Boy Wonder’’ Williams, Jr. (14-0, 10 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line in a 6-round bout against Michigan super lightweight Julius Dyis (10-3, 5 KOs). The 21-year-old Williams is trained by living legend Jones.

Scheduled to be in action on the undercard are three undefeated boxers in 6-round bouts: New Orleans super lightweight Jonathan Montrel (8-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ariel “La Guerro” Vazquez (14-28-3, 9 KOs), Texas welterweight Christian Edwards (11-2, 6 KOs) vs. Jonathan Steele (9-6-1, 6 KOs), and Tennessee super lightweight Tyler “Short Fuse” Tomlin (9-0, 5 KOs) vs. TBA. Slated to make his pro debut vs. TBA is Mississippi super welterweight Randy Blythe in a 4-rounder

All fights are subject to change.

INFORMATION:

Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufcfightpass.com
Facebook: /KeithVeltre, /UFCFightPass
Twitter: @Keith_Veltre, @RoyjonesJRfa @RoyJonesJrOfficial, @UFCFightPass
Instagram: @KeithVeltre, @RoyJonesJrBoxing, @UFCFightPass

LAS VEGAS (August 3, 2019) – World Boxing Council (WBC) female World super featherweight champion Eva Wahlstrom retained her title by fighting to a 10-round split draw last night with challenger Ronica “Queen” Jeffrey at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Wahlstrom vs. Jeffrey was the main event on another RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS series installment, which was streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports

RJJ Boxing Promotions offered free admission to reward its loyal Las Vegas fans and 5,400 turned out to watch the action.

Wahlstrom (22-1-2), fighting out of Finland, was coming off a loss by decision to undefeated Irish star Katie Taylor this past February at famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. The skilled Finn has been the WBC titlist since 2015 and this was her fifth successful title defense.

Jeffrey (17-1-1, 1 KO), a former IWBF world champion from Brooklyn, was riding a four-fight win streak going into last night’s fight against Wahlstrom.

Wahlstrom (L) and Jeffrey put on a good show in the main event

Wahlstrom and Jeffrey are both tactical, pure boxers who fought that way last night, going back and forth without either being hurt. It was an even fight that could have gone either way with judge Tim Cheatham scoring it a draw (95-95), Richard Ocasio slightly favored Walstrom (96-94), and Lisa Giampa inexplicitly had Jeffrey winning all 10 rounds (100-90).

In the co-featured event, former top 10 rated junior middleweight John “The Phenom” Vera (19-1, 11 KOs) moved up to middleweight, after losing for the first time as a pro last March in France to Michel Soro by way of a 12-round decision. Vera, fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas, won a six-round decision against his Uzbek opponent, Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-2, 13 KOs), the former WBA FEDALATIN welterweight champion.

John Vera (R) looked good in his return last night as a middleweight

Las Vegas-based super bantamweight Jamie “The Miracle” Mitchell (5-0-2, 3 KOs) and Virginian Britain Hart (3-3-2, 2 KOs) battled to a six-round majority draw.

Local favorite Trevor Covington won his professional debut, taking a four-round unanimous decision in the Fight of the Night against Los Angles super flyweight Ming Freeman (1-4-1), who had a point deducted for a low blow.

Official results below:

MAIN EVENT – WBC WORLD FEMALE SUPER FEATHRWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Eva Wahlstrom (22-1-2, 3 KOs), Champion, Helsinki, Finland
SD10 (96-94, 95-95, 90-100)
Ronica Jeffrey (17-1-1, 1 KO), Challenger, Brooklyn, NY
(Wahlstrom retained world title)

CO-FEATURE – MIDDLEWEIGHTS
John “The Phenom” Vera (19-1, 11 KOs), Fort Worth, TX
WDEC 6 (58-56, 58-56, 58-56)
Ravshan Hudaynazarov (17-2, 13 KOs), Las Vegas, NV by way of Uzbekistan

SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS
Jamie Mitchell (5-0-2, 3 KOs), Las Vegas, NV
MD6 (589-56, 57-57, 57-57
Britain Hart (3-3-2, 2 KOs), Roanoke, VA

SUPER FLYWEIGHTS
Trevor Covington (1-0), Henderson, NV
WDEC4 (37-36, 37-36, 37-36)
Ming Freedom (1-4-1), Los Angeles, CA

INFORMATION:
Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.ufc.tv/page/fightpass, www.thomasandmack.com
Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa, @RoyJonesJrOfficial, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @ThomasAndMack, @wahlstrom_eva
Instagram: @RoyJonesJRboxing, @artofmusiclv, @rivalboxinggear, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @ThomasandMack, @eva_wahlstrom
Facebook: /KeithVeltre, /UFCFightPass, /Thomas&MackCenter, /EvaWahlstrom