Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Fight Card and TV Schedule for June 12
The UIC Pavilion in Chicago will host the latest Premier Boxing Champions card as a light heavyweight slugger and super welterweight champion will be featured in the Spike TV doubleheader. Light heavyweight contender and knockout artist Artur Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KO) will take on Alexander Johnson (16-2, 7 KO) in the first televised bout.
When: Friday, June 12, at 9 p.m. ET
Where: UIC Pavilion in Chicago
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TV: Spike, per PBC
WBA super welterweight champion Erislandy Lara (20-2-2, 12 KO) will defend his title against Delvin Rodriguez (28-7-4, 16 KO) in the main event.
Beterbiev is looking to continue his destructive path through the 175-pound division. He's had just eight professional fights, but because he's knocked out everyone he's faced, the 30-year-old Russian is grabbing attention.
Despite his massive strength, Beterbiev claims slugging isn't his strategy in the ring, per Jason Bracelin of PBC.
"I don't think about knockouts," Beterbiev said. "I don't plan on knockouts."
Well, they certainly seem to just happen. Beterbiev isn't just knocking opponents out; he's doing it quickly. No one he's faced as a pro has lasted beyond the fourth round. In his last fight, Beterbiev stopped usually rugged veteran Gabriel Campillo viciously in the fourth round. Beterbiev will be looking to deal Johnson the same blow.
The 33-year-old Johnson has also had limited professional experience, but he doesn't pack nearly the punch that Beterbiev does. Perhaps his southpaw stance can give Beterbiev a hard time. If not, he may become the next victim of the hard-hitting Russian contender.
In the main event, Lara will attempt to deliver a strong showing against Rodriguez. Lara's last two fights haven't excited fans. The 32-year-old Cuban is known for his slick boxing, but he has picked up the boring label throughout his relatively short professional career.
Kelsey McCarson of the Sweet Science wrote this of Lara in January:
"Other fighters avoid facing him like The Plague. They know he has the goods. He's just too damned skilled at he does to be worth the risk no matter how big the associated payday might be. There's always someone else to fight, someone less risky. And to hell with whatever the alphabet gang says about him, fighters know he's the toughest fight in the division.
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In his last bout, he easily outpointed former champion Ishe Smith in a masterful boxing exhibition but less than dynamic showing. Prior to that, Canelo Alvarez wore down and defeated Lara in a much-anticipated fight that didn't live up to its billing.
Even with that said, there are few fighters in the world as skilled as Lara. However, because he doesn't have the polarizing persona to compensate for the lack of action that casual fans crave, they ignore and disrespect him.
He's going to come out looking to impress in this bout. It may make this fight a bit more exciting than it has to be, but it's a means to an end. If Lara can be impressive and exciting, he will have laid the groundwork for a bigger bout the next time out.
On the other side of the ring, Rodriguez's image as a legitimate contender is hanging by a thread. Who am I kidding? That string broke when the 35-year-old Dominican fought journeyman Joachim Alcine to a draw in his last bout in May 2014.
Against Lara, Rodriguez figures to be overmatched, but strange things happen in this sport from time to time. Could Friday night's card be the next site of such an occurrence? We'll soon find out.
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