Keith Thurman, Lucas Matthysse, and Omar Figueroa will return to the ring and to Showtime Championship Boxing on April 26 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., for a triple-header event that should have good action.
Thurman (22-0, 20 KO) will face former lightweight titlist Julio Diaz (40-9-1, 29 KO) in a welterweight battle; Matthysse (34-3, 32 KO) will take on lightweight scrapper John Molina (27-3, 22 KO) in a junior welterweight bout; and Figueroa (22-0, 17 KO) will defend the WBC lightweight title against Jerry Belmontes (19-3, 5 KO), a spoiler pro and a former amateur rival of Figueroa's who beat the undefeated professional five times in the unpaid ranks.
Below are quotes from the fighters.
"To headline a show like this against a former world champion is something I've wanted to do for a long time, and that day is here. I respect Julio Diaz and I will not underestimate him. He knows that this may be his last shot, and I expect the best from him, but I'll be the one leaving with the victory."
JULIO DIAZ
"This is a big opportunity for me to face a fighter that is feared by many, but not by me. I have been in the ring with far more dangerous and experienced fighters in the past, and everyone knows that I come to fight. My previous opponents Amir Khan and Shawn Porter will tell you that."
LUCAS MATTHYSSE
"Molina is the kind of fighter I respect and always want to compete against. He shows up to fight and we're going to give the fans the kind of show they want to see. I don't think it will last long, but it will be something to see while it does."
JOHN MOLINA
"I'm excited to showcase myself against someone that I consider to be one of the best fighters in the world at 140 pounds. I am very well prepared to come in on fight night and do what I do best, and that is to be victorious."
OMAR FIGUEROA
"I am especially excited about this fight because I have wanted to get payback against Belmontes for longer than a decade. I fought him in the amateurs and he always beat me because I was always shorter than him. Now I am taller, stronger and bigger than him and I am looking to beat him the way he beat me in the amateurs."
JERRY BELMONTES
"I beat Omar 5 times in the amateurs but it was just that, the amateurs, we were young. We have taken different paths as professionals and finally they cross and we meet again... on April 26, he'll be beaten... for the 6th time".