Boxing
Salvador Rodríguez, Columnist, ESPN Deportes 4y

Three world champs set for June fights as boxing eyes return in Mexico

Boxing

WBC junior lightweight champion Miguel Berchelt, WBO junior featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete and WBO junior flyweight champion Elwin Soto are among the fighters Zanfer Promotions is planning to feature as part of a resumption of boxing in Mexico in June, organization president Fernando Beltran told ESPN.

Beltran told ESPN that fans will not be in attendance for the cards and that the company is taking all precautions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We plan on doing it in June," Beltran said. "We'll have a really active schedule behind closed doors. We're working on final details so that we can make a formal announcement."

If the plan goes through, the headliners would fight on the following dates against opponents to be determined:

  • Navarrete and Pedro Campa on June 6;

  • Omar Aguilar and Jackie Nava on June 13;

  • Luis Nery and Alan David Picasso on June 20;

  • Berchelt and Soto on June 27.

Navarrete, Berchelt and Soto are not expected to put their titles on the line.

Among the venues being considered is a studio set of Mexican television network Azteca, Beltran said.

Zanfer will follow the WBC's model, announced this week, of resuming events without fans while adding extra precautions, if necessary.

Beltran expressed appreciation to patient boxing fans as the promotion seeks the best way for the sport to return to Mexico during the coronavirus outbreak.

"I think we're all thirsty for Mexican talent and live fights," Beltran said. "We're going through with live fights, and I think we have the opportunity to do something huge. I will tell our fans that I'm a man dedicated to this sport I so love, and more than anything [I'm] dedicated to our fans who have provided us with so many moments of glory."

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