DiBella Entertainment produced an official fight poster for the October 1 HBO co-feature rematch between middleweights Andy Lee and Brian Vera. The fight will be the TV opener on the Sergio Martinez vs Darren Barker card, and really is the one I think a lot more people are looking forward to in terms of seeing a competitive or exciting fight:
For those who missed the HBO main event poster, click here.
Ticket Discount Offered
Those who purchased tickets for the October 29 show at Boardwalk Hall featuring Andre Ward vs Carl Froch are being offered 30% off of a ticket for the Martinez vs Barker show at the same venue. As nice as this is, it has to be said that reports are that Martinez vs Barker tickets have moved at a lethargic pace. Whether this is because Sergio isn't building any real fanbase in AC, or because Barker has no name value in the States, or because the fight is seen as a mismatch, or all of the above, it's clear that Sergio is going to have to take a risk to become a big money fighter, either by going up or, with his idea, perhaps draining himself to make a 150-pound catchweight to face Pacquiao (or Mayweather, I guess).
Here's the full lineup for this show. Card, of course, subject to change:
Main Event - Middleweight World Championship, 12 Rounds
Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KO) vs Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KO)
Middleweights, 10 Rounds (Rematch)
Andy Lee (26-1, 19 KO) vs Brian Vera (19-5, 12 KO)
Light Heavyweights, 10 Rounds
Isaac Chilemba (17-1-1, 8 KO) vs Jameson Bostic (23-4, 13 KO)
Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Alex Perez (14-0, 8 KO) vs TBA
Super Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Sean Monaghan (8-0, 5 KO) vs Kentrell Claiborne (2-3, 1 KO)
Super Middleweights, 6 Rounds
J'Leon Love (8-0, 6 KO) vs Eddie Hunter (4-7-2, 2 KO)
Heavyweights, 6 Rounds
Magomed Abdusalumov (9-0, 9 KO) vs Kevin Burnett (13-4-1, 8 KO)
Junior Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Steve Martinez (10-0, 8 KO) vs Jay Krupp (14-4, 7 KO)
Junior Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Boyd Melson (5-0, 3 KO) vs Russ Niggemyer (2-3, 2 KO)
Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Israel Duffus (2-0, 2 KO) vs Troy Artis (2-2-1, 1 KO)
Junior Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Kevin Rooney Jr (2-0, 1 KO) vs Danny Lugo (0-1, 0 KO)