High-ranked light-weight contender “Prince” Lucas Bahdi is on a mission to deliver a world title to his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. That quest continues on June 1 on the Niagara Falls Conference Centre when he battles fellow world-ranked 135-pounder Juan Javier Carrasco, headlining an occasion aired dwell on DAZN globally, and in Argentina on TYC Sports activities.
Bahdi (15-0, 13 KOs) has separated himself from the pack within the Canadian boxing scene, rising as one of many nation’s true title hopefuls. A 3-time nationwide novice champion, Bahdi has developed a status not simply as a skillful technician, however as a real energy puncher. Two fights in the past, Bahdi entered the world rankings with a bloody stoppage victory over Jesus Amparan in his first look on DAZN. In his most up-to-date outing, he knocked out Eliot Chavez in 5 rounds in Montreal, Quebec.
During the last 12 months or so, Bahdi has referred to as out notable names resembling former WBA 140-pound titleholder Rolly Romero, however his imaginative and prescient could also be much more centered. Now ranked No. 12 by the IBF, forward of names resembling Andy Cruz and Angel Fierro, Bahdi finds himself in an IBF title image that’s changing into clearer by the week. On the identical night time he headlines in his hometown as soon as once more, Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos will battle for the vacant IBF title, giving Bahdi an apparent goal down the highway.
“Lucas Bahdi isn’t simply Canada’s potential subsequent world champion, he’s already one of the marketable fighters within the nation,” mentioned promoter Lee Baxter. “There’s a purpose he can headline in Niagara Falls, and there’s a purpose the tv cameras are beginning to observe him. Lucas has the potential to deliver not simply gold again to Canada, however some actually huge occasions together with it.”
The 30-year previous will battle Argentina’s Carrasco (20-1, 12 KOs), who’s on a seven-year undefeated run after struggling the one lack of his profession in 2017. Carrasco has loved dominant run because the South American light-weight champion—in reality, all 4 of his defenses of the title haven’t gone the gap. Because of this, he finds himself ranked No. 10 within the star-studded IBF rankings. With a wealth of expertise combating in 10 rounders, and extra pro-style expertise battling the highest amateurs on this planet resembling Arlen Lopez within the World Collection of Boxing, Carrasco seems to spoil the Prince’s homecoming and the long run plans that include it.
“It is a authentic High-15 light-weight battle,” mentioned Baxter. “This isn’t a state of affairs the place the hometown fighter has a cherry-picked opponent to make him look good. It is a battle in opposition to a High-10 ranked opponent to see who takes the subsequent step to mingle with the elite on the prime of the division.”
Within the co-feature, world-rated bantamweight Amanda Galle (9-0-1, 1 KO) will likely be again in motion for the primary time since capturing the IBO bantamweight title in December of final 12 months. Galle dominated Niorkis Carreno to seize the title, and now’s concentrating on the division’s prime names, resembling Dina Thorslund and Miyo Yoshida.
Within the males’s tremendous light-weight division, Steven Wilcox (10-1-1, 2 KOs) will likely be in motion, trying to construct again from his shut choice defeat in opposition to world ranked Mathieu Germain for the IBF Inter-continental belt. Steven believes this will likely be his do or die second to get again into rivalry.
The occasion was initially scheduled for Might 11, nevertheless, ongoing points concerning Canadian visas for overseas athletes plagued the group of the occasion, because it has for promoters throughout the nation.
“We needed to be honest to all fighters concerned, with out the specter of clerical selections cancelling a bout on the final minute, and determined that June 1 was one of the best date to make sure that every thing was cleared and so as nicely prematurely,” mentioned promoter Lee Baxter. “There are new hurdles on the subject of placing on a global caliber boxing occasion in Canada, however we’ve got the expertise and status to nonetheless be capable of deliver the top-level fights followers need to this nation.”
Reside motion will start at 9 PM ET on DAZN globally and TYC Sports activities in Argentina.
