One of the most highly anticipated fights of the year takes place Saturday night when WBA/WBO/WBC Franchise lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko takes on unbeaten IBF lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez. The fight takes place inside of “The Bubble” at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The fight card will be televised in its entirety by ESPN.
While the main event has captured the attention of the boxing world, the undercard also has some interesting fights. One of which pits Quinton Randall (6-0) against Jan Carlos Rivera (4-0).Randall has fought most of his career in the 150 pound range while Rivera has campaigned in the low 140s. This fight is set at a maximum of 147 pounds.
This is a big opportunity for both fighters and Randall, who is managed by Peter Kahn’s Fight Game Advisors, hopes that fighting on this stage will help him take his career to the next level.
“I am extremely excited and grateful and blessed to be on this card. This is a major card and it gives me an opportunity to showcase my skills in front of a large following. A lot of people are going to be watching. I am more excited that a lot of people are going to finally get to see me. I just needed the platform to show my skills and I have it now. So it is up to me to do the job so that they request to see me again,” explained Randall.
Rivera will be the 4th unbeaten fighter that Randall has faced in his young career. However for Rivera, this fight will be a big step up in class. Randall will be the first fighter that the 26 year old Puerto Rican has faced with a winning record.
“I watched my opponent. I am not the type of fighter who says I don’t watch my opponent. I watch my opponent 1 or 2 times and I see what I need to see and then I go work at the gym. My coaches put together my game plan and I am supposed to execute it. I didn’t want no walkover opponent. I didn’t want nobody that would just lay down for me because I am 30 years old,” Randall told itrboxing.com.
“The people that I beat have to have good records and be undefeated or have 1 or 2 losses that will help me get the recognition that I am asking for. In order for me to get where I want to be, I have to fight contenders and not guys who will lay down. I have to fight dogs. I am on the fast track.”
Randall’s claim to fame is a win over Clay Collard in just his third professional fight. The former mixed martial artist has had a breakout year fighting inside The Bubble. Collard has now won 5 fights in a row including 3 versus undefeated fighters.
The win over Collard occurred in Randall’s third professional fight. The two have now became good friends and plan on sparring together in the future. Randall credits a lot of his success to his preparation and his will to win.
“I have been 100% prepared for this ride. That is why I don’t cheat in camps or cut corners. If it comes down to a war it will be a battle of attrition. I knew I had to take fights where people thought I was going to lose. All I ever asked for is a fair shot. Just treat me fair and judge the fight accordingly,” said Randall.
Send questions or comments to [email protected] can follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter