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The slew of boxing postponements and cancellations, including multiple world title fights, continued Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic. Top Rank postponed all of its March and April events, most notably an ESPN card due to take place on March 28 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City headlined by unified light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev's mandatory defense against Meng Fanlong and an ESPN+ card scheduled for April 25 at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay, which was closed this week. Naoya Inoue and John Riel Casimero were due to meet in the main event of the April 25 card to unify their bantamweight world titles with bantamweight contenders Jason Moloney and Joshua Greer scheduled to fight in the co-feature. "The health and safety of our fighters, staff and ESPN's incredible production team is the most important thing as we plan our next steps," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said. "We look forward to the day when we can bring our loyal fans world-class boxing once again, but exercising caution is the most prudent thing to do at this moment." A Top Rank spokesman also said two other events that were on the verge of being formally announced were also postponed. One was an April 11 ESPN card at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. It was headlined by junior bantamweight world titlist Jerwin Ancajas defending against Jonathan Rodriguez, with featherweight Adam Lopez taking on Luis Coria in the 10-round co-feature. The other was an April 17 ESPN card slated to take place at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Junior bantamweight Andrew Moloney, recently elevated from an interim titlist to secondary world titleholder, was going to make his first defense against Israel Gonzalez, who was challenging for a world title for the third time, in the main event. Welterweight Chris van Heerden would have faced former lightweight world titlist Antonio DeMarco in the co-feature. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced his DAZN event scheduled for April 17 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, has been canceled. "Matchroom Boxing USA is exploring alternative options around staging the event, including on a rescheduled date," Matchroom Boxing said in a statement. "Fans should visit their point of sale for ticket refunds." That deep card was headlined by the much-anticipated 12-round fight between former junior welterweight world titleholders Maurice Hooker and Regis Prograis, who addressed fans on Twitter with the words, "I love boxing, but I love you and your family more." It also included a vacant lightweight world title bout between Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna; undisputed women's welterweight world champion Cecilia Braekhus defending against unified junior welterweight titlist Jessica McCaskill; top heavyweight prospect Filip Hrgovic, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, against Jerry Forrest; and welterweight prospect Daniyar Yeleussinov, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, stepping up his opposition against former unified junior welterweight world titlist Julius Indongo. Premier Boxing Champions also called off all of its March and April events, including: A March 28 tripleheader slated to take place at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. The Showtime tripleheader was headlined by former bantamweight world titlist Luis Nery against Aaron Alameda in a junior featherweight title elimination bout with heavyweight Apti Davtaev taking on Lucas Browne in the co-feature and a rematch between light heavyweights Joseph George and Marcos Escudero in the opener. An April 11 Fox Sports 1 event at The Armory in Minneapolis, which was headlined by Minneapolis' Jamal James against Thomas Dulorme for a vacant interim welterweight world title. An April 18 Showtime event at the Arizona Federal Theatre, a tripleheader topped by Phoenix's David Benavidez defending his super middleweight world title against Roamer Alexis and also including a lightweight title eliminator between Michel Rivera and Marcos Villasana Jr. and Alberto Puello's interim junior welterweight title defense against Rances Barthelemy.
"The health and safety of the boxers, fans and those working the events are of utmost importance to us," said Tom Brown, the president of TGB Promotions and lead promoter for the canceled shows. "We are all disappointed, and as we get more information we will address future events. All ticket orders will be refunded from your original point of purchase." Also called off Monday: An SES Boxing event scheduled to take place March 28 in Magdeburg, Germany, and stream on ESPN+. It was to have been headlined by interim light heavyweight titlist Dominic Boesel against Zac Dunn with heavyweight Agit Kabayel against former world title challenger Mariusz Wach in the co-feature. Star Boxing promoter Joe DeGuardia's card scheduled for April 17 at Resorts World in Monticello, New York.
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