Ximenez-Lopez For WBO International Featherweight Title

WBO.com

Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions heads to the great Northwest for the first time, presenting its third event live-streamed on UFC FIGHT PASS®, on Thursday, February 28, from the Event Center at Legends Casino Hotel in Toppenish, Washington.

The newest member of RJJ Boxing’s growing stable of fighters, Ray Ximenez, Jr. (18-1, 4 KOs) squares off with his gritty Mexican opponent, Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (16-1, 8 KOs), in the 10-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Featherweight Championship.

Ximenez vs. Lopez will headline a card to be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. The show is the third under a new agreement between Palicte’s promoter, RJJ Boxing, and FIGHT PASS, to live stream up to 72 professional boxing events over the next three years.

Riding a five-fight win streak, Dallas product Ximenez (18-1, 4 KOs) was a standout amateur boxer, compiling a 120-9 record, highlighted by three gold-medal performances, both in the National P.A.L. Championships and Ringside World Championships. A six-time Dallas Golden Gloves champion, Ximenez started boxing at the age of 10 and he also captured gold at the 2009 Silver Gloves National Championships and Junior Olympic National Championships. He represented and captained Team USA at the 2009 Youth World Junior Olympics.

The 25-year-old Ximenez, who is the former Texas State featherweight champion, won a 10-round unanimous decision in his most recent action against 111-fight veteran German Meraz last July.

Lopez has won four in a row. His most notable career win was a 10-round unanimous decision over 10-1 Christian Bielma, on October 28, He will be fighting outside of his native Mexico for the first time in his 3-1/2-year pro career.

“I feel very motivated for the opportunity to fight on UFC Fight Pass against such a great fighter like Ray Ximenez,” Lopez commented. “I took this fight because I am 100-percent confident that I can defeated Ximenez and become the new WBO International featherweight champion. I want to thank Legends Casino Hotel for inviting us and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions for the opportunity.”

Also scheduled to fight on the card, all in four-round matches, are OR light heavyweight John Peak (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Tacoma, WA’s Juan Jackson (1-0), Kent, WA junior welterweight Shae Green (3-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Medford, OR’s Gerardo Esquivel (0-1), Fairbanks, AK light heavyweight Taylor Shirley (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Vancouver, WA”s Luis Iniguez (1-1-1), Bonney Lake, and Pasco, WA light heavyweight Roman Avetisyan (0-1) vs. Moldova-native Alex Cazac (0-2), fighting out of Portland, OR, and Roman Avetisyan (7-0. 5 KOs) vs. Antonio Neal (4-0, 3 KOs), of Granger, CA, in a battle of unbeaten prospects.