Flint (August 20, 2024) – Salita Promotions has announced that rising junior middleweight prospect, the undefeated Flint, Mich., native Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr. (15-0, 6 KOs), will defend his USBA title in the main event of the next edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA on Thursday, September 12, when he steps into the ring against Cuban veteran Hugo Noriega (10-2, 5 KOs). Fans around the world will get to witness the best of the action from an exciting night of boxing live on DAZN.
True to Salita Promotions BIG TIME BOXING USA series’ emerging format, several regional prospects and national rising contenders will appear on the portion of the card televised by DAZN including unbeaten prospect Joseph “Sug” Hicks (10-0, 7 KOs) of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Detroit’s undefeated “Hitman 2.0” Da’Velle Smith (8-0, 6 KOs). Fellow Flint product Leon Lawson III (15-1, 8 KOs) will make his return to the ring after a 17-month layoff. Lawson is the nephew of Flint’s famed Dirrell brothers, Andre and Anthony. The fight card will also feature Claressa Shields-promoted amateur standout Jaquan McElroy (1-0) from Flint, who won his pro debut in July and is the younger brother of Holmes, and Flint natives Chris Thompson (2-0, 2 KOs) and Deandre Savage (5-0, 5 KOs), both of whom currently train in Las Vegas.
All the action takes place at Dort Financial Center in Flint, with at least the final three bouts airing live on the premier global sports platform DAZN (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.
“The BIG TIME BOXING series has quickly become the premier developmental platform for young fighters in the U.S.,” said Salita. “Flint is the home of former heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd, Anthony and Andre Dirrell, and, of course, The GWOAT, Claressa Shields. We have never seen a crop of young and hungry fighters like the group fighting on Sept. 12, and I feel the next U.S. born world champion will come from right here in the Greater Detroit and surrounding areas like Flint. I am excited that those in the crowd and the viewers watching on DAZN will get to see some amazing matchups that can make or break the next chapter in these fighters’ respective careers. You don’t want to miss it.”
The 30-year-old southpaw Holmes is a Flint native who previously fought on the popular SHOWTIME prospect series SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION. Holmes was a decorated amateur winning the 2015 U.S. Nationals and was a silver medalist at the 2013 National Golden Gloves. That same year, he also won a bronze medal at the World Golden Gloves in the 152-pound division. Holmes is the oldest of 11 children and suffered a family tragedy in 2016 when his 20-year-old brother was killed in a drive-by shooting in Flint.
“There’s nothing like fighting at home and I know on Sept. 12, there will be a raucous crowd rooting me on,” Holmes said. “When I get my ‘W’ over Hugo Noriega, it will put me just that much closer to my dream of winning a world title.”
In his last bout in February, Holmes looked impressive as he scored a second-round TKO against hometown fighter Marlon Harrington in the inaugural Salita Promotions’ BIG TIME BOXING USA series on DAZN at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit.
The 34-year-old Noriega lives and trains in Miami by way of Camaguey, Cuba. He has been active since turning pro in March 2022. After reeling off eight straight wins, Noriega lost a close unanimous decision against countryman Damian Lescaille in an MVP Prospects show in Orlando, Fla., in August 2023. Noriega rebounded from his second loss with a unanimous decision win over Mexican Saul Corral in March.
In the televised co-feature, unbeaten middleweight prospect Joseph Hicks (10-0, 7 KOs) will face Ronnie Austion (10-2, 7 Kos) of Las Vegas by way of Detroit. Hicks fights out of Grand Rapids, Mich., and made his professional debut in January 2022. He has stopped three of his last five opponents, including a fourth-round KO over Ricardo Villalba in his last fight. As an amateur, Hicks competed in the National Golden Gloves in 2018 and 2019 and made an appearance in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
In his last fight in February, Da’Velle Smith, who resembles one of boxing’s all-time greats, Thomas Hearns, recorded a unanimous decision win over Argentine veteran Rolando Wenceslao Mansilla. Smith will face an opponent to be named.
Lawson last stepped into the ring in April 2023, recording a third-round TKO against Abrahan Peralta. It was a comeback fight for Lawson after suffering his first pro loss to Nathaniel Gallimore by a close majority decision in 2021. Thompson made his professional debut in October 2023 when he knocked out Marquaun Flowers in the first round and most recently scored a knockout victory over Mason Partlow this past March.
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