DETROIT – March 13, 2024 – Recent world-title challenger Shohjahon Ergashev, of Uzbekistan, and now living in Detroit, will face Panama City veteran Juan Huertas in the just-added 10-round super lightweight co-main event of “Big Time Boxing USA” on Thursday, March 28, at Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit and streamed live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

Also announced on the televised undercard is a six-round super lightweight matchup between undefeated Joshua James Pagan of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Santo Domingo, Ecuador’s Luis Porozo.

Presented by Salita Promotions, the second installment of the “Big Time Boxing USA” series is topped by 2016 Colombian Olympian Juan Carrillo putting his unbeaten record on the line against veteran Quinton Rankin in a 10-round light heavyweight bout. Also featured on the telcast is IBF No. 2 super middleweight contender Vladimir Shishkin returning to battle the always tough Mike Guy in a 10-round attraction.

“Ergashev vs. Huertas is going to be an exciting addition to our talent stacked fight card,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “A healthy Shoh is a force to be reckoned with in the 140-pound division and Huertas is a great test in a crossroads fight for both.”

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Wayne State Fieldhouse Box Office.

Fighting under the tutelage of renowned trainer SugarHill Steward, the IBF #14-ranked Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs), will be entering the ring for the first time since suffering his lone career defeat, a sixth-round stoppage loss against Subriel Matias for his IBF World Super Lightweight Championship in November of last year. A celebrity in his homeland, the 32-year-old slugger had previously, at times, looked unstoppable while dominating other then-undefeated prospects in nationally televised showdowns, including a TKO 3 over unbeaten Sonny Fredrickson and a unanimous decision over Mykal Fox. 

“I am excited about getting back in the ring fully recovered and ready to go,” said Ergashev. “I look forward to putting on a great performance in Detroit. It’s a city where I started my U.S. boxing journey. My goal of being a world champion has never been stronger and I will show it with my performance on March 28.”

In his nearly 11-year boxing career, 31-year-old Huertas (17-4-1, 13 KOs) has held several national and regional championships, including the Panamanian Super Featherweight, WBA Fedecentro Super Featherweight, WBA Fedelatin Super Featherweight, and WBO Latino Lightweight titles. His most recent ring appearance came in July of last year when he scored a second-round knockout over Colombia’s Argenor Cuero.

“Fans can expect a fire filled fight since we are both known for our knockout power,” said Huertas. “I’ve been training since January staying ready. I’m glad to have a full eight-week camp for this fight.”

The 2021 U.S. Amateur Welterweight National Champion, 24-year-old Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) turned pro in January 2022.

Showing steady improvement, Pagan was last seen in October of last year, when he scored a unanimous six-round decision over respectable veteran Braulio Rodriguez at Motor City Casino in Detroit.

Porozo (17-9, 9 KOs) is a 2008 Olympian who had 500+ amateur fights after starting fighting at the age of 10 in his hometown of Santo Domingo, Ecuador. Porozo was part of the Ecuadorian National Boxing team before turning pro in late 2015.

As a professional, he won his first 14 fights before going on a losing skid, albeit against top-level competition.

#         #         #

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. 

NEW YORK–Teofimo Lopez became a two-division world champion with an emphatic 12-round unanimous decision over Josh Taylor to win the WBO Junior Welterweight title before a Madison Square Garden record crowd of 5,151.

The fight began with a fast pace with Taylor working the body. Lopez was able to land some “show me” right hands. Lopez started to foreshadow of things to come by landing quick and pinpoint right hands that was able to stop Taylor in his tracks. That assault came in rounds three through five, with round four being a big frame for “The Takeover” as he rocked Taylor. The two fighters took turns over the next four-rounds.

Lopez was terrific over the next three rounds as he dominant as hand speed proved to be too much. His right hand continuously found a home on the face of Taylor. In round 12, Lopez sealed the deal by hurting Taylor twice, with the latter being from a perfect right to the body that hurt Taylor.

Lopez, who was the undisputed lightweight champion, becomes a two-weight division champ by scores of 117-111 and 115-113 and is now 19-1. Taylor of Scotland is 19-1.

Xander Zayas remained undefeated by stopping Ronald Cruz in a eight-round junior middleweight bout.

Zayas dropped Cruz in the opening seconds with a powerful right hand. Zayas dominated the action and landed several hard flurry that had Cruz reeling on the ropes.

Zayas, 152.8 lbs of San Juan, PR won by scores of 80-71 on all cards and is now 16-0. Cruz, 152.4 lbs of Los Angeles, CA is now 18-3-1.

Said Zayas, “Thank you to all my Puerto Rican fans and to everyone that came out. This is a dream come true. I’m very happy to have fought during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. He was a tough guy. I was hitting him with everything. He didn’t want to go down. He was here to fight. He was motivated. He was tough. But we passed with flying colors. Unanimous decision. And we made the adjustments we needed to do.”

“He brought out the dog in me. I had to dig deep. I had to stay focused. I had to listen to my corner. And most importantly I had to have fun, which was the most important part. I had the crowd here cheering for me, so I was trying to stay as focused as possible.”

Robson Conceicao and Nicolas Polanco fought to a no-decision as a headbutt in round two deemed Polanco unable to continue.

Omar Rosario remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Jan Carlos Rivera in a junior welterweight bout.

Rosario, 139.2 lbs of Caguas, PR won by scores of 77-75 and is now 11-0. Rivera, 138.4 lbs of Vieques, PR is 8-2.

Damian Knyba won an eight-round unanimous decision over Hiamann Olguin in a heavyweight fight.

Knyba, 261.4 lbs of Wodzyn, POL won by scores of 79-73 on all cards and is now 12-0, Olguin, 256.8 lbs of El Dorado, MEX is 9-6-1.

Bruce Carrington battered Luis Porozo and stopped him in round eight of their eight-round featherweight bout.

Carrington hurt Porozo in round eight and the fight was stopped at 2:17.

Carrington, 126.8 lbs of Brooklyn is 7-0 with five knockouts. Porozo. 126.4 lbs of Santo Domingo, DR is 16-7.

Henry Lebron remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Carlos Rosario in a junior lightweight bout.

In round 10, Lebron dropped Ramos with a left hook.

LeBron, 129.2 lbs of Aguadilla, PR won by scores of 98-90 twice and 97-91 and is now 18-0. Rosario, 129.6 lbs Madrid, SPA is now 17-3.

Terence Crawford may have solidified himself as the best fighter in the world as he stopped Kell Brook in round four to retain his WBO Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Brook started off very well as he was very adept with his jab and started landing solid rights. Brook at the very least took two if not all three of the opening rounds.

That was short lived, as in round four, Crawford hurt Brook badly with a short right hook that staggered him to the ropes that was ruled a knockdown by referee Tony Weeks. Crawford, who may be the best finisher in the sport, saw blood and pounced on Brook and landed a vicious combination that forced the stoppage at 1:14.

Crawford, 146.4 lbs of Omaha, Nebraska, is 37-0 with 28 knockouts. Brook, 147 lbs of Sheffield, England is 39-3.

“I already said who I want {next}. I want Pacquiao. I want to revisit that fight,” Crawford said. “That was a fight that should’ve happened right now. But being that the pandemic happened, and they weren’t going to allow fans in the Middle East, they had to put a hold to that. Everything was 95 percent done. We had the venue. The money was almost there. It wasn’t quite there. That was the only thing we were waiting on.

“Kell is a tremendous talent. He came and he tried to take my title. He was in shape. He made the weight. There were no excuses to be put on the table. He came off of three wins.”

Added Brook, “Never in my career, nobody has ever done that to me in sparring or anything.

“It was one of them… I got caught with a shot I didn’t see. I’m gutted because nobody could’ve gotten me in better condition. I was bang on the limit. Maybe I could’ve been a bit more relaxed and loose and let the shots go.”

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said, “Terence Crawford showed, once again, why he is the best welterweight in the world. It was a dominating performance over a very good fighter in Kell Brook. Terence ranks up there with all the great welterweights I’ve promoted.”

Moloney and Franco Fight to No-Decision after Franco injures eye

In a rematch for the WBA Super Flyweight title, Andrew Moloney and reigning champion battled to a no-contest as an injury to the eye of Franco forced the fight to be stopped before the 3rd round.

In round one, Franco had swelling over his right eye from an accidental headbutt. The doctor looked at the rapidly swelling eye before round’s two and three, and Franco was deemed unfit to continue. Replays showed that the swelling was caused by a jab in the 1st round by Moloney..

The commission looked at the replay for over 25 minutes and settled on a no-contest.

Moloney said, “They took this away from me. The injury was caused by a punch. I can’t believe this.
 
“I was in control of the fight and on my way to a clear victory. I deserved this win. I landed 50 punches on that eye. It was not even close.”
 
Added Arum, “This is an absolute disgrace. There was no headbutt.  Andrew Moloney should be the new champion.”

Joshua Greer Jr. and Edwin Rodriguez battled to a majority draw in a eight-round bantamweight fight.

In round two, Greer began to bleed from his nose.

Rodriguez took a card 77-75 and two cards read even at 76-76.

Rodriguez landed 124 of 470 punches; Greer was 131 of 526.

Greer, 118.9 lbs of Chicago, IL is 22-2-2. Rodriguez, 118.9 lbs of Ponce, PR is 11-5-2.

Tyler Howard remained undefeated by winning an eight-round unanimous decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood.

In round two, Howard was cut over the left eye.

In round six, Leatherwood was deducted a point for holding. In round eight, Howard dropped Leatherwood with a body shot.

Howard landed 81 of 329 punches; Leatherwood was 74 of 244.

Howard, 161.2 lbs of Crossville, TN won by scores of 77-74, 76-74 and 77-73 and is now 19-0. Leatherwood, 161.9 lbs of Tuscaloosa, AL is 22-8-1.

Duke Ragan stayed undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Sebastian Gutierrez in a featherweight fight.

In round two, Ragan sent Gutierrez to the canvas with a nicely-timed right hand.

Ragan, 126 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is now 3-0. Gutierrez, 126.3 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 1-1.

Vegas Larfield stopped Jose Alberto Flores in a scheduled four round bantamweight bout featuring undefeated fighters.

It was a back and forth brawl for the opening two rounds. In round three, Larfield dropped Flores with a hard left hook. It was another right that sent Flores down for a 2nd time. Larfield finished off Flores with a big eight-punch combination and the fight was stopped at 1:07.

Larfield, 119 lbs of Brisbane, AUS is now 2-0 with two knockouts. Flores, 117.3 lbs of Monterrey, MEX is 2-1-1.

Raymond Muratalla stopped Luis Porozo in round three of their scheduled six-round lightweight bout.

In round three, Muratalla sent Porozo down from a body shot. Muratalla ended it moments later when he landed a crushing right that sent Porozo down in the corner and he fight was stopped at 2:40.

Muratalla, 137.3 lbs of Fontana, CA is 11-0 with nine knockouts. Porozo, 135.2 lbs of Santo Domingo, ECU is 15-5.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. kept up that pace of being one of if not the top prospect in boxing as he stopped Brad Solomon in round five of a scheduled 10-round welterweight bout at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round four, Ortiz dropped Solomon with a hard jab. In round five, Ortiz landed a hard jab that up a flurry of punches that put Solomon down for a 2nd time. Ortiz finished off Solomon with a hard right and left that made Solomon take a knee and the fight was stopped at 2:22.

Ortiz, 147 lbs of Grand Prairie, TX is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Solomon, 146.8 lbs of Douglasville, GA is 28-2.

“I have to give him [Solomon] some credit,” said Vergil Ortiz Jr. “He’s difficult to figure out and made me use my brain. I tried to take my time, and not rush things. I had to utilize my jab, figure out the right time to throw a punch. I think I tripped with him with my foot, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He came to fight.”

“I shouldn’t be chasing on the ropes like that. He let his guard now. Luckily, I did throw the right punch and hurt him. I knew he would be a tough cookie to break. Luckily, I have a good team behind me and all my smarts. I felt I was very patient, and needed to pick it up, can’t lay low. I did a good job. I would say high B or A on this one.”

Former world champion Alberto Machado moved up in weight and stopped Luis Porozo in round two of a scheduled 10-round lightweight bout.

In round two, Machado dropped Porozo with a left to the body. Seconds later, it was the same punch that sent Porozo to the canvas. Machado ended it with….you guessed, another left to the body that sent Porozo down for the 10-count at 2:59.

Machado, 135 lbs of San Juan, PR is 22-2 with 18 knockouts. Porozo, 134 lbs of Santo Domingo, ECU is 14-2.

On the 3rd knockdown: “It’s a shot we were working on in camp,” Alberto Machado.”He was a fighter that would open up, so we worked on that in camp, going to the body. They told me to put my hands up, be more passive with my offense, throw my jab more, and as you could see he had a chaotic style. Thank god we got the victory we were looking for.”

“No because I actually was trying to land to the head, but saw the opportunity to the body, so took advantage of it. I was landing that good hand. I only had ten seconds till the end of the round, so wanted to end on a good note, and threw my hands, and got the win.”

On his performance: “I think I did well, made good adjustments. He’s a good fighter, I know the style he has. I think I did well because of the adjustments I made. I’m happy I ended the year on a positive note with the victory. I’ve been through very difficult situations that all of us boxers go through, some changes in camp, and in my weight. I’m ready for this division and the big challenge. I’m ready for another big fight against a former world champion, Mexico vs Puerto Rico, come on Francisco Vargas, let’s do it.”

Bektemir Melikuziev won a 10-round unanimous decision over Vaughn Alexander in a super middleweight bout.

In round seven, Melikuziev was cut around the left eye from a headbutt.

Melikuziev, 167.4 lbs of Indio, CA won by scores of 100-90 on all cards, and is now 4-0. Alexander, 166.4 lbs of St. Louis is 15-4.

Melikuziev out-landed Alexander 253-34.

Joel Diaz (trainer) on behalf of Bektemir: “I’m happy that he went rounds and was able to get in the ring with a veteran and break him down.”

Alexis Rocha stopped tough Roberto Valenzuela after round five of their scheduled 10-round welterweight bout.

Rocha had a few anxious moments in round two, but was able to get through and dominate the next several rounds that forced Valenzuela to bow out of the fight.

Rocha, 146.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 15-0 with 10 knockouts. Valenzuela, 146.8 lbs of Sonora. MX is 17-2.

“He caught me in the second round,” said Alexis Rocha.”I got lazy. It’s my fault. I started letting my hands go after the third, and then I kept hurting him. It was important that I finished the fight. It’s a learning experience.”

Luis Feliciano remained undefeated with a 10-round unanimous decision over Herbert Acevedo in a junior welterweight bout.

In round three, Feliciano sent Acevedo to deck with a right hand. Feliciano was cut around the left eye.

Feliciano, 140 lbs of Milwaukee won by scores of 100-89, 99-90, and 97-92 and is now 14-0. Acevedo, 139.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 16-3-1

“I give props to Herbert Acevedo,” said Luis Feliciano.”He’s a tough and rugged fighter. I thought he was out when I dropped him in the third round. I tried to get the finish, but he weathered the storm. I’m happy to finish year with a win, and we are on to the next.”

Eric Bazinyan stopped Saul Roman in round three of a scheduled eight-round super middleweight bout.

In round two, Roman was cut over his left eye from an accidental headbutt. In round three, Bazinyan landed a perfect right that sent Roman down and out at 46 seconds.

Bazinyan, 167.2 lbs of Quebec, CAN is 24-0 with 18 knockouts. Roman, 164.8 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 45-14.

“I learned from fighting a veteran, someone with almost 60 fight,” said Erik Bazinyan.”I tried to show my skills and fight my fight. The timing was right, so I got him out of there.

Jermain Franklin Jr. remained undefeated with a 10-round split decision over Jerry Forrest in a heavyweight bout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington.

It seemed that Forrest may have landed the better shots and deserved the nod, but two judges ruled in favor of Franklin by 97-93 tallies, while Forrest took a card 96-95.

Franklin, 240 1/4 lbs of Saginaw, MI is 19-0. Forrest, 222 3/4 lbs of Newport News, is 25-3.

“I didn’t think it was that close,” said Franklin, widely regarded as the top American heavyweight prospect who was the 2014 National Golden Gloves Champion. “I won more rounds. I think you could give him a couple rounds, but it wasn’t that close. Even when they said split decision I knew it wasn’t that close. I wasn’t worried.”

“My big chance on SHOWTIME was well deserved and I proved I belong in this league,” Forrest said. “I said before the fight that I have already been doing this for years. Now more people know about it. My people knew what was up already.”

Giovanni Cabrera Mioletti remained undefeated by pounding out a 10-round unanimous decision over Luis Porozo in a junior lightweight bout.

Mioletti, 129 1/2 lbs of Seattle, WA won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93, and is now 17-0. Porozo, 129 1/2 lbs of Santo Domingo, ECU is 14-1.

“It took me a couple rounds to relax,” said Cabrera Mioletti, who was fighting in Tacoma for the 11^th time in 17 career bouts. “My whole strategy was to stay relaxed, but in the first couple rounds, the cameras got to me a bit. But once I started getting my rhythm and working my jab, I started to take control.”

“I didn’t feel his punches, but I felt his head,” said Cabrera Mioletti, who was born in Seattle but currently lives in Chicago. “That guy has a head like a rock. He butted me a bunch of times and that’s what cut open my eye, but I don’t think about that I just focused on what I had to do.

“I started to hear him breathing heavily when I’d hit him to the body, not even that hard and that’s when I knew he wanted to fight a much slower pace. Once my jab started landing a lot, I knew I had him.”

Porozo said he simply ran out of gas in the later stages of the fight. “I lost because I moved too much and didn’t throw enough punches,” said Porozo, who had more than 500 amateur fights. “I give him credit. I felt some of his power shots. I was winning for the first five rounds. After that I got tired. I feel bad. I’m very disappointed. I could have done so much more.”

STATEMENT FROM SALITA PROMOTIONS REGARDING OTTO WALLIN vs. B.J. FLORES HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT

”As part of the licensing process in the state of Washington, the doctor appointed by the boxing commission to oversee tonight’s event reviewed medical tests and determined that B.J. Flores would not be medically cleared to compete. Based on that opinion, Washington State Department of Licensing spokesperson Gigi Zenk notified Salita Promotions this afternoon that they would not issue B.J. Flores a license to fight against Otto Wallin tonight.  Due to medical privacy requirements we are unable to provide further information at this time.”

STATEMENT FROM WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING SPOKESPERSON GIGI ZENK:

“Benjamin Flores was not medically cleared to compete.”

Tonight on the un-televised undercard of the SHOWTIME televised “Battle at the Boat 122” at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, cruiserweight contender Constantin Bejenaru (14-0, 4 KOs) got back to business after a year and a half away by pounding out a sixth-round TKO (time 2:02) over Mexican veteran Jose Corral.
The southpaw Bejenaru looked sharp and won every minute of the fight with his crisp, fast hands and excellent work to the head and body.
“It felt good to be back,” said Bejenaru, “I’m happy that I’m back in the title hunt and in good shape. After a year and a half, I felt a little rusty for a little bit in the beginning, but I came back pretty quick.”
Bejenaru says he’d have liked to go the full eight-round distance but did enough to know he won’t be needing another tune-up fight before getting back in the mix.
“I am ready for a big fight next. I kept myself in good shape the whole time I was away. I wasn’t sure if I needed one or two tune-up fights, but I felt really good in the ring. Thank you to my opponent for lasting as long as he did and thank you to my team and my new promoter. I’m hoping for a title fight as soon as possible.”
Bejenaru, from Ungheni, in the Republic of Moldova and now living in Brooklyn, is a former 10-time Romanian champion, a Bronze Medalist at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in 2006, a Finalist in the European Union Championships in both 2006 and 2007, and a Gold Medalist at World Combat Games in 2010.
After turning professional in 2012, Bejenaru has gone on to score wide decision victories on ShoBox: The New Generation over previously undefeated Alexey Zubov (10-0, 6 KOs) and Stivens Bujaj (16-0-1, 11 KOs), and in his most recent fight (broadcast on NESN), a decisive points victory over previous world title challenger Thabiso Mchunu (18-3, 11 KOs).
In his seven-year career, he has held both the WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight Title and the WBC International Cruiserweight Championships.
“We hoped he might have to go all eight rounds to make him breathe and to make him feel the ring,” said trainer Ilia Masishchev, “but once he lands a few punches, he tries to finish. That’s how he is.”
Battle at the Boat 122 is presented by Salita Promotions and Brian Halquist Productions.