Ring City USA announced its undercard for its March 18th event, the second installment of a three-event residency in Puerto Rico. The three-fight main card will begin at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Network in the United States and Puerto Rico, and on Twitch for fans outside of the U.S, live from Albergue Olimpico (Olympic Center) in Salinas. The six-fight event is headlined by another Puerto Rico vs. Mexico ring rivalry as Alberto Machado (22-2, 18 KOs) of Puerto Rico, battles Angel ‘Tashiro’ Fierro (17-1-1, 13 KOs) of Tijuana, in a ten-round lightweight bout. Machado was previously slated to fight undefeated prospect Hector Tanajara who was forced to withdraw due to illness. The co-feature sees Puerto Rico's Jose ‘Chiquro’ Martinez, (21-1-2, 14 KOs) clashing with three-time world title challenger Israel ‘Jiga’ Gonzalez (26-4, 11 KOs) of Mexico, in a ten-round bantamweight bout. A six-round light heavyweight fight will round out the main card on NBC Sports Network featuring Irish Joe Ward, (2-1, 2 KOs) looking to avenge his pro debut setback against California's Marco ‘El Muneco’ Delgado, (7-1, 5 KOs).
The 28 year-old Jose Martinez looks to stay in the win column following a second-round knockout of Yeison Vargas in February 2020. His last four victories have come by knockout.
Following a hard-fought twelve-round decision loss to pound-for-pound great Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in October 2020, the 24 year-old Israel Gonzalez defeated Samuel Gutierrez just two months later in December 2020. Martinez has also challenged Khalid Yafai and Jerwin Ancajas for their title belts in the last three years.
Fighting at Madison Square Garden in 2019, Ward suffered a knee injury in the second round which delivered Delgado a technical knockout victory. Ward bounced back with two first-round knockouts in December 2020 in Mexico. Since the victory over Ward, Delgado has continued his winning ways with a six-round decision over previously undefeated Burley Brooks in December 2020 in Arlington, Texas.
Headlining the Twitch undercard broadcast, which begins at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, Maricela ‘La Diva’ Cornejo, (13-4, 5 KOs) of Los Angeles faces off against Alma Ibarra (7-1, 4 KOs) of Monterrey, Mexico. In the last three years, Cornejo has twice come up short against unified super middleweight champion Franchon Dezurn-Crews in her quest to win a world title. Sandwiched between the two losses, Cornejo was victorious in a tremendous performance against veteran Erin Toughill on January 27, 2019 in front of her hometown fans.
A winner of her first seven fights, Ibarra looks to return to the win column following a hard-fought ten-round decision loss to undefeated interim WBA junior middleweight titlist Raquel Miller on November 23, 2019.
In an eight-round flyweight battle, former WBO 108-pound champion Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta, (21-2, 21 KOs), of San Juan, battles Gilberto Mendoza (17-9-3, 8 KOs) of Modesto, Calif. The 30 year-old Acosta made three successful defenses of his world title before losing to Elwin Soto in June 2019. In his last fight in October 2019, Acosta stopped Raymond Tabugon in the fifth round.
The upset-minded Mendoza hits the ring following a hard-fought decision loss to undefeated Mexican Sergio Rios Jimenez.
Rounding out the card in a six-round junior lightweight battle, Edwin ‘The Chin’ Valentin (9-0, 8 KOs) will fight in his hometown of Salinas when he faces veteran Hector Marengo (7-14-4, 4 KOs) of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
