Veteran mixed-martial-arts fighter Joe “Diesel” Riggs will make his professional boxing debut May 23rd on a card presented by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ Boxing) Boxing Promotions, to be streamed on UFC FIGHT PASS®, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, live from Casino Del Sol’s outdoor AVA Amphitheater in Tucson, Arizona.
Riggs, fighting out of Phoenix, is matched in a four-round fight opening the FIGHT PASS stream against heavyweight David Damore (1-6-3, 1 KO), of Glendale, Arizona.
Riggs, the former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) middleweight champion from Tucson, has been an MMA force during his nearly 18-year pro career, fighting in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and M-1 Global, among leading promotions. He’s also 3-0 in pro bare knuckles boxing.
Nick Diaz, Phil Baroni and Chris Lytle are among the 47 (47-18-1, 1 NC) MMA opponents Riggs has defeated.
Former World Boxing Council (WBC) International female lightweight champion Ikram Kerwat (9-1, 5 KOs), fighting out of Frankfort, Germany by way of her native Tunisia, headlines against a 9-time world title challenger Simone Da Silva (15-12, 6 KOs), of Brazil, in the 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Silver Female Lightweight Championship.
Unbeaten bantamweight Max “The Baby Face Assassin” Ornelas (12-0-1, 4 KOs), ranked No. 11 in the world by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) the reigning NABA USA bantamweight champion, meets Alex “Xhino” Rangel (17-9, 4 KOs), of Mexico, in the eight-round, co-featured event..
Southwest boxing talent will be showcased in two other fights being streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS. Tucson’s Alfonso Olvera (11-5-2, 4 KOs) faces Carlos “Silk” Villa (14-3-1, 6 KOs), of San Antonio, in the six-round Special Welterweight Attraction. Continuing RJJ Boxing’s tradition of matching undefeated prospects, Tucson middleweights Nicholas Rhoads (5-0, 2 KOs) takes on Eduardo Ayala (4-0, 1 KO), of Phoenix, in a four-rounder.
Off-FIGHT PASS, undefeated Kazakhstan fighter Madiyar Asjkeyev (11-0, 6 KOs) takes on Ceclo McCalla (21-3, 8 KOs) to open the show in a 10-round bout for the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super welterweight title.
The swing bout is a four-round clash between a pair of Tucson middleweights, Arturo Resendiz (2-0, 2 KOs) and Jose “Raging Bull” Pena (2-1, 1 KO).
Cards are subject to change.
Ticket prices range from $105.00 (VIP) to $17.00 (pavilion) and are available for purchase online at www.casinodelsol.com.
Doors open at 6 p.m. PT, first bout at 6:15 p.m. PT.
For more information about the event, please visit:
Websites: http://www.RoyJonesJrBoxing.com, www.casinodelsol.com, www.ufc.tv/page/fightpass
Twitter: @RoyjonesJRfa, @RoyJonesJrOfficial, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @CDSResort, @dieselriggsmma
Instagram: @RoyJonesJRboxing, @artofmusiclv, @rivalboxinggear, @UFCFightPass, @KeithVeltre, @casinodelsolresort
Facebook: /KeithVeltre, /UFCFightPass, /CasinoDelSol
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Full Court PRESS: Bob Trieger, (978) 590-0470, [email protected]
Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions: Lisa Veltre, (702) 522-1636, [email protected]
UFC: Stephanie Gorman, (702) 222-0854, [email protected]
Casino Del Sol: Malory Knutson, (408) 751-1007 X133, [email protected]
ABOUT ROY JONES JR, BOXING PROMOTIONS: Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing. RJJ has already made a huge impact in the boxing community in a few short years. Creating exhilarating content for CBS Sports, Showtime, ESPN and beIN Sports in some of the finest venues across the country, RJJ has proven it is conquering the sweet science of the sport.
Based in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable: former world champion bantamweight Joseph Agbeko, world junior bantamweight title challenger Aston Palicte, junior middleweights John Vera and Daniel Rosario Cruz, junior lightweight Randy Moreno, bantamweights Max Ornelas and Tony Lopez, cruiserweight Adrian Taylor and middleweight Shady Gamhour, featherweight Edward Vazquez, junior welterweight Kendo Castaneda and heavyweight Alexander Flores.
ABOUT UFC FIGHT PASS®: UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 17,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit https://www.ufc.tv/page/fightpass.
ABOUT CASINO DEL SOL: Located in southwest metropolitan Tucson, Ariz., the Pascua Yaqui Tribe is a federally recognized tribe with nearly 20,000 enrolled members. The Tribe owns and operates several enterprises including Casino Del Sol, a AAA Four Diamond casino resort and one of the Best Hotels in Arizona named by U.S. News & World Report; Casino of the Sun; AVA Amphitheater, a 5,000-seat open-air concert venue named Casino Arena/Amphitheater of the Year by Casino Entertainment Awards; Sewailo Golf Club, a par-72 championship course designed by Notah Begay III; and the Del Sol Marketplace. For more information, call 1-855-SOL-STAY (765-7829) or visit www.CasinoDelSol.com. Follow Casino Del Sol on Facebook and Twitter
