Unbeaten heavyweight Michael Coffie (12-0, 9 KOs) will now face Jonathan Rice (13-6-1, 9 KOs) in the main event of Saturday’s FOX telecast from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Coffie was originally scheduled to face former title challenger Gerald Washington, who was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.
Following the FOX broadcast will be an FS1 card topped by veteran contender and Olympic bronze medalist Andre Dirrell (34-2-1, 25 KOs) competing for the second time at light heavyweight as he faces Christopher Brooker (16-7, 6 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
The FOX broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will also see James Martin battle welterweight prospect and New Jersey-native Vito Mielnicki Jr. in an eight-round rematch in the co-main event and unbeaten prospect Joey Spencer take on Dan Karpency in an eight-round showdown.
The FS1 telecast At 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT also features unbeaten featherweight prospect Maliek Montgomery dueling Ángel Contreras in a 10-round attraction and top welterweight prospect Paul Kroll squaring off against Justin DeLoach in a 10-round showdown.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.
The non-televised undercard will feature unbeaten Patterson, New Jersey-native Norman Neely (8-0, 7 KOs) in a six-round heavyweight attraction against Texas’ Juan Torres (6-3-1, 3 KOs), Philadelphia-born super lightweight contender Karl Dargan (19-1, 9 KOs) battling Los Angeles-native Ivan Delgado (13-3-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-round attraction, Maryland’s Keeshawn Williams (7-0-1, 2 KOs) taking on Missouri’s Noah Kidd (6-3-2, 5 KOs in a six-round welterweight tilt and Newark’s own Michael Anderson (20-3-1, 14 KOs) in a six-round welterweight bout facing Tennessee’s DeMarcus Rogers (14-3-1, 5 KOs).
Rounding out the night of action is Denville, New Jersey’s Nicky Vitone looking to remain unbeaten in a four-round welterweight fight against Jordan Rosario, unbeaten Philadelphia-born prospect Quadir Albright taking on Jared Tallent in a six-round super welterweight tilt and the pro debut of Avenel, New Jersey’s Malik Nelson in a four-round super featherweight duel versus Alejandro Ramirez.
I don’t need COVID to keep me away from watching this crap.
Not worth it. Horrible card. I have better things to do with my life.
Like what?
No you don’t lol
Taking time out of your day to tell strangers what you absolutely won’t do…. oh boy
Calm down there to make a point…to his defence that comment probably took 10 seconds to write…
Dear Mort,
I hear ya man. I’ve seen worse fight cards. This is actually a decent fight card. If you don’t want to watch then don’t watch bonehead!
This is unfortunate because it was a pretty good test for Coffie who actually has pretty good offensive skills. I guess it’s good they didn’t scrap the broadcast, but Rice is a severe step down from Washington.
There sure seems to be an awful lot of athletes testing positive just when most of the US has lifted many mandated safeguards.
Yeah that is too bad, I was really looking forward to that fight. But I’ll still watch the card… I most certainly have nothing better do. And I’m curious what an Andre Dirrell fight looks like in 2021.
This Covid and variants is starting to really get outta hand.
Covid should start its own Promotion Company..watch out Hearns….
I used to root for Andre Dirrell back in super six era after Andre Ward of course.
Big disappointment that he always fell short in his career. I would like to watch him fight but these days he keeps taking the 2nd tier stuff. And yet he always gets a spot on major shows. Lucky guy.
Damn, really!?!
read this and remembered how Washington was outboxing Wilder for a few rounds until he got caught lololol. i was literally laughing while watching. and before that, it was Szpilka outboxing him for several rounds . funny tooo…..
I was hoping Coffie was going to fight Richard Latte for the Cappuccino belt. No doubt the WBC would have come up with that.
I’d stay up all night watching that fight!
Any sport or business that pushes this narrative should be banned by the public. This BS is out of control! If people stop going and watching IT WILL END.. QUICK
What narrative?
The mask, social control, gotta cancel everything, cognitive dissonance narrative.
Rice actually isn’t a bad replacement. He’s a pretty tough journeyman and has been the distance with Yoka and Ajagba. Could be a decent scrap. Coffie should get some rounds in if nothing else.