Announcements
Salita Promotions Hits The Road to Puerto Rico Friday on DAZN
A full night of boxing presented by Salita Promotions is set for Friday, October 18, from Puerto Rico’s new marquee arena, the iconic Coca-Cola Music Hall.
“BIG TIME BOXING PUERTO RICO” is promoted by Salita Promotions in collaboration with PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) and 21 Events and is part of Salita Promotions’ burgeoning “Big Time Boxing USA” series, the leading developmental series for promising prospects and young contenders on their journey toward a world championship.
Main Event Features Lightweights
Joshua Pagan trains at the historic Kronk Gym in Detroit. Photo: Salita Promotions
Undefeated Joshua James Pagan of Michigan (10-0, 4 KOs) will take on will take on hard-hitting veteran Haskell Rhodes (31-6, 16 KOs) in a 10-round bout in the lightweight division.
Pagan, age 24, is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pagan has impressed fans and pundits through his first ten pro bouts. Pagan holds the Junior NABF Super Lightweight title belt and is trained by his father, Victor Pagan, a former boxer who grew up in Puerto Rico.
“This is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid watching fights on Showtime and HBO,” said Pagan. “I am beyond blessed and excited for the opportunity to headline my first fight card and to do so in Puerto Rico is even more special.
Pagan has a large extended family in Puerto Rico.”I will be ready to put on a show for my family back home. I couldn’t do any of this without God, my dad, and the support of my whole family.
Carrillo vs Castillo for IBF Light Heavyweight Latino Title
The IBF has officially sanctioned the co-featured bout. Unbeaten Argentine prospect Juan Carrillo (12-0, 9 KO) steps up against veteran Lenin Castillo of Miami (25-5-1, 19 KO) for the vacant IBO Latino light heavyweight belt in a 10-round bout.
The hard-hitting Carrillo is a 31-year-old southpaw from Barranquilla, Colombia. Carrillo looked impressive in his last outing in March as he knocked out Quinton Rankin in the third round in a “Big Time Boxing USA” main event. Carillo competed in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
“I am excited to be back in the ring, especially against a very durable but most of all an experienced fighter,” said Carrillo. “This is my chance to prove to everyone that I am ready to take things to the next level and beyond.
“I am trying to go all the way to the top. A win against Lenin Castillo legitimizes my skills as a serious prospect, and it will show that I am not just some undefeated fighter with a padded record. I have been asking for big fights, and I believe a win here will get me a step closer to a world title opportunity.”
Lenin Castillo, age 36 is a native of the Dominican Republic. Castillo competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2019, Castillo challenged world champion Dmitry Bivol for his WBA Super Light Heavyweight title, losing by unanimous decision. In July, Castillo recorded a unanimous decision over Reynaldo Acevedo Carmona.
“I feel very happy to return to Puerto Rico to fight,” Castillo said. “I have many friends there, and I hope they are with me. Puerto Rico is a boxing country, and I know they will be supporting us.
“Carrillo is a good boxer. I’ve seen him fight several times and I think it’s going to be a good fight. We have similar styles. The only difference is he is a southpaw. But I think that my experience and having faced guys like Bivol is going to be an important factor.”
Coming off the results of the unification fight in the division between the new champion Artur Beterbiev and his challenger Dmitry Bivol, with another top-level contest between David Benavidez and David Morrell on the schedule, the winner could put himself in position for a mandatory challenge.
Middleweights Open The DAZN Broadcast
In the opening bout, Salita Promotions’ popular and undefeated Da’Velle Smith of Taylor, Michigan (9-0, 7 KOs) returns to the ring to contest a middleweight bout at six rounds against Brazil’s Gilberto Pereira dos Santos (16-15, 12 KOs).
Smith is coming off an impressive fourth-round stoppage over Esau Herrera De La Cruz in Flint, Michigan last month on DAZN. Smith is also managed by Aaron Samson.
Hometown San Juan fighter Kiria Tapia (4-0, 0 KOs) will take on Hungary’s Beata Dudek (4-4, 4 KOs) in a junior lightweight special attraction.
The card airs globally on DAZN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Corey Erdman will handle the blow-by-blow call, with International Boxing Hall of Famer announcer Al Bernstein and former IBF Junior Middleweight world champion Raul Marquez handling the commentary.
“Historically, San Juan has been one of boxing’s world capitals,” said Salita Promotions president Dmitriy Salita. “We are proud to bring the Puerto Rican heat to the world with these high-stakes matchups on DAZN.
“Joshua Pagan is facing the fifth undefeated fighter of his career in just his 11th pro fight. He will take a big step toward stardom with a win over Trevor Thonson. Thonson is a great opponent and a tough match-up for anyone in this division.
“Likewise, the power-punching Juan Carrillo is determined to make a statement against a battle-tested Lenin Castillo. In victory, two of these men will make a name for themselves among the elites in their respective divisions. It will be a great night of fights with significant implications for each fighter,” concluded Salita.
If you’re going to be in San Juan PR: Doors open at 5 p.m. ET with the first fight to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketera.com and the venue’s official website: www.cocacolamusichall.com.
