Undefeated welterweight contender Rashidi ‘Speedy’ Ellis 24-0 (15) will face Roiman ‘Flaco de Oro’ Villa 25-1 (24) in a 12-round IBF welterweight title eliminator at Capital One Arena in Washing DC on Saturday night.
The bout will take place on the undercard of the fight between WBA ‘regular’ lightweight titleholder Gervtonta ‘Tank’ Davis 27-0 (25) and WBA super featherweight champion Hector Luis Garcia 16-0 (10).
The 29-year-old Ellis from Lynn, Massachusetts, has been steadily moving up the ranks and believes he is ready for the top boxers in the talent-rich 147-pound division.
“I’m coming to take over the 147-pound division and show I’m the big dog in this division. We’re always ready and Saturday is no different,” Ellis said.
“We’re going to see who’s top dog. Villa is in here talking crazy, so I’m going to have to beat him down for it.
“Everybody knows what I want to do. I want the smoke. Give me the best fighter available and I’m gonna get into that ring.
“This is a great stage for me to display my talents. I know that I’m the future of this division, I just need the opponents in front of me that will let me show the whole world.
“You could definitely say that is the biggest fight of my career, but at the end of the day, I’m treating this like another shift at the office. I’m coming to work.
“This is gonna be a great fight. He’s a strong, tough guy who’s gonna come forward and try to hit me with a lucky punch. If he wants to fight differently against me, then I’ll be ready for that too.”
Villa, 29, who hails from Rosario, Venezuela, but hold Columbian citizenship, made his US debut in September when he gave Janelson Figueroa Bocachica 17-1-1 (11) his first loss via eight round unanimous decision at Bally’s Event Centre in New Jersey, New York.
He says he is ready to take Ellis down a notch on Saturday night.
“Talk is cheap. Whatever he wants to say, he’s entitled to it. But I’m all about coming here to do my job and give the fans the show that they want to see. You’ll see the action in the ring on Saturday night,” Villa said.
“I’m no fortune teller. I’m just going to control what I can control and let it be what it may be. I’m 100% ready for this fight.
“I’m confident in my training. I’m much more prepared this time than I was for my last victory, so my belief is sky high. If Ellis is underestimating me, he’s going to be in trouble.
“I come here to represent not just my country, but the whole Latin community. We’re here to make them proud and that’s what we’re going to do on Saturday night.
“I studied in school, I’m not here to study anybody. I’m going to come after him and be aggressive. No matter what happens, I’m going to be myself.
“I want to stay humble, but I want to see if that smile that he’s got on his face right now will remain after Saturday night.”
