WBC 168-Pound champion Badou Jack "The Ripper" of Las Vegas, NV by way of Stockholm, Sweden (20-1-1, 12 KO's) will make his second defense of his title against former IBF world champion Lucian Bute of Laval, Quebec, Canada by way of Peches, Romania (32-3, 25 KO's). Current IBF champion James "Chunky" DeGale of London, United Kingdom (22-1, 14 KO's) will also defend his title for the second time when he takes on Rogelio "Porky" Medina of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico (36-6, 30 KO's). Both bouts are slated for 12 rounds.
Frankly, there is not a strong Beltway presence on this card. There are boxers who have ties to the area, however many are either starting out their careers, making returns to action or are originally from the area but no longer live here.
Making his pro debut on this card will be DC-based lightweight Keegan "Sandman" Grove, one of the latest Al Haymon signees from the Beltway region. Grove will take on Anthony Napunyi of Canal Point, FL by way of Kenya. Napunyi (14-18, seven KO's) makes his second straight appearance this month at the DC Armory. Napunyi lost a four-round unanimous decision to Gerald Tucker on the April 1 card.
The card will also mark the return of Richmond, VA super welterweight Moshea Aleem who will battle fellow undefeated boxer Martez Jackson of Valdosta, GA in a four-round contest. Aleem (4-0, two KO's) returns to boxing after a two-year hiatus in which his last bout was a four-round unanimous decision over Eddie Cordova in April of 2014 in Rancho Mirage, CA. Aleem is the older brother of Immanuwel Aleem who just won a bout on national television last week. Jackson (2-0-1, one KO) competes out of Georgia for the first time, having stopped Bilah Barnes in the second round on February 20 in Macon.
In a four-round female middleweight contest, Latondria Jones of Las Vegas, NV battles debuting Kamika Slade of Virginia. Jones (2-0, one KO) was born in DC, however, her family moved to South Carolina when she was eight years old. Jones is reportedly the first female boxer to turn pro out of the Mayweather Boxing gym in Las Vegas. Jones's last bout saw her win a four-round unanimous decision over Latashia Burton on February 16 in Las Vegas.
In a 10-round middleweight bout, Christopher Pearson of Trotwood, OH will take on returning Joshua Okine of Silver Spring, MD by way of Accra, Ghana. Pearson (13-1, 10 KO's) looks to bounce back from suffering his first loss -- an eight-round unanimous decision to Eric Walker on December 18 in Las Vegas. Okine (28-6-1, 17 KO's) fought on the April 1 card at the Armory and lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Demond Nicholson. Okine was the first boxer to take Nicholson the distance in a bout.
Former world lightweight contender Sharif "The Lion" Bogere of Las Vegas by way of Kampala, Uganda will face off with Samuel "Bruno" Amoako who is also from Silver Spring by way of Accra, Ghana. Bogere (27-1, 1 NC, 19 KO's) had a no-contest in his last bout against Daniel Ruiz on August 15 in Quintana Roo, Mexico when Ruiz caught a shot in the back of the head in the second round and could not continue. Bogere's only loss came when he challenged Richar Abril for the WBA Lightweight title in March of 2013. Bogere lost a 12-round unanimous decision. Amoako (21-9, 15 KO's) will be looking to break a five-bout losing streak that includes a six-round unanimous decision loss to Mike Reed on March 18 in Philadelphia, PA.
Light heavyweight Carlos Gongora of Brooklyn, NY by way of Esmeraldas, Ecuador will be in a six-round contest against Zachariah Kelley of Earlsboro, OK. Gongora (4-0, three KO's) is coming off a fourth-round stoppage of Derrick Adkins on January 16 in Brooklyn. Kelley (5-14, five KO's) has lost his last three bouts, all by knockout.
The doors open at the Armory at 5 PM ET and the first bout will be at 5:45. The Showtime telecast gets underway at 10 PM ET.
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