UNBEATEN PUERTO RICAN REYNALDO OJEDA TO HEADLINE AGAINST LONGTIME CONTENDER MONTY MEZA CLAY
FAST-RISING SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CONTENDER LUIS ROSA TO BE SHOWCASED IN THE CO-FEATURE
New York, NY / Hartford, CT (4/30/15) – On Friday, May 15th, 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, in association with Universal Promotions, will present that week’s exciting addition of ESPN Friday Night Fights.Headlining the card will be undefeated Puerto Rican lightweight Reynaldo Ojeda (16-0, 9KO’s) taking on longtime contender Monty Meza Clay (36-4, 22KO’s) in the 10-round main event.
In the co-feature bout of the evening, Connecticut’s own fast-rising and world-rated contender Luis Rosa (19-0, 9KO’s) will put his undefeated record and world rating on the line an eight-round super bantamweight matchup. An opponent for Rosa will be announced very shortly.
“I’m excited to once again bring another fantastic night of boxing to Connecticut. Lou DiBella and I have put on some great events and I’m looking forward to co-promoting with him again,” said 50.
“In what promises to be a tremendous action-packed main event, Meza Clay will certainly provide a stern test for the up-and-coming undefeated Puerto Rican star Reynaldo Ojeda,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “We will also have a stacked undercard to highlight the evening, and I look forward to promoting this event along with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson’s SMS Promotions, in association with Universal Promotions.”
“This is our final Friday Night Fights that required matchmaking-given that our last fight is the Boxcino Final on May 22-so we wanted to send it off by doing what we’ve done countless times before,” said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “ESPN has a long history of identifying future stars with this series and Rey Ojeda certainly fits that bill. Conversely, Friday Night Fights has also had its share of delivering future stars their first losses and Monty Meza Clay is just the guy to do it in what promises to be an action fight.”
The college graduate Ojeda, co-promoted by Universal Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, was a two-time national champion as an amateur before turning pro in 2009. Ojeda took some time away from the sport at the end of 2009 to pursue his degree, before returning in 2011. The bout on May 15th will be the talented 26-year-old’s first time under the bright lights of national TV, and he is looking to impress against the very dangerous and much more experienced Meza Clay.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to fight on ESPN,” said Ojeda. “I appreciate the work of my promoters Javier Bustillo, Lou DiBella, my manager Margaro Cruz and my adviser Al Haymon. I know I’ll have a tough test, but I’m ready to show the world that my name is on the list of the top fighters in my division. On Friday, May 15, on ESPN, the boxing world will witness that the grade is given by the teacher.”
The bout against Ojeda is a must-win for Meza Clay. Unlike his opponent, the 34-year-old Philadelphian has been featured a number of times throughout his near 13-year career in the national spotlight. Clay is coming off a decision loss to the world-rated Rod Salka in his most recent outing, but had won eight consecutive bouts before that. Meza Clay knows that if he is going to make another run at competing for a world title, he has to get by Ojeda.
“It’s game time,” said Meza Clay. “I’ve been working hard in training camp and I’m already on weight. This is the best I’ve been prepared for a fight in a long time. I’m coming to make a statement. I know Ojeda’s an undefeated fighter, but I’m focused and fully confident in my game plan. A win here will help get me closer to a title shot.”
Live coverage will begin at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and will also be available through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One via an affiliated video provider. In addition, ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates will carry the fights live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+.
Tickets are currently on sale and are priced at $100, $65 and $35 (plus applicable taxes). Tickets can be purchased by by calling 1 (860) 728-2624 or 1 (203) 627-7472 or by visiting www.ctconventions.com Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
CONTACTS:
Kevin Rooney, DiBella Entertainment: kevin@dbe1.com
Sean Sullivan, DiBella Entertainment: sean@dbe1.com
Yvette Gayle, SMS Promotions: yvettegayle@me.com
Stephen McDonald, ESPN: stephen.mcdonald@espn.com
