Middleweight Jahi Tucker isn’t any stranger to robust competitors, constantly dealing with formidable opponents all through his younger profession. In his final six bouts, Tucker (11-1-1, 5 KOs) has challenged fighters with a mixed document of 70-10-2.
This Saturday, Tucker will face Santiago Fernandez (8-1-1, 4 KOs), a talented fighter coming off a disputed split-decision loss in Quebec Metropolis, Canada.
The 21-year-old Tucker, from Deer Park, New York, has already shifted weight lessons a number of instances, debuting in welterweight earlier than shifting to junior middleweight, the place he suffered his solely defeat. Fernandez, 31, lately contested Alexandre Gaumont in Shawinigan, Quebec, narrowly shedding in line with fan scoring on BoxRec, suggesting a aggressive matchup for Tucker’s thirteenth skilled battle.
“I’ve studied his fights,” Tucker remarked at Thursday’s press convention. “He is received nothing. This will probably be a transparent domination.”
Notably, he has squared off in opposition to Nicklaus Flaz, who handed Tucker his first defeat, and fought to a draw with Francisco Veron, who now competes within the OTX Boxing junior middleweight event. Tucker additionally bested junior middleweight Nikoloz Sekhniashvili, a sparring associate of Xander Zayas.
“It is about steady development and energy,” Tucker emphasised. “This battle represents one other step ahead, one other win this yr, and I am ready.”
Tucker, who rebounded from a loss and a draw with a victory over Quincy LaVallais in his middleweight debut, sees the upcoming bout as one other alternative to solidify his standing within the division.
“I’m one of the best fighter on this planet,” Tucker stated. “That is going to be an instance, I’m going to have to simply show it.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and creator of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (obtainable on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
