Featherweight Jason Litzau makes first appearance on HBO
The main event is a 10-rounder between Edison Miranda and Willie Gibbs.
“This fight card is an example of B.A.D. returning to its roots,� said Main Events’ VP Carl Moretti. “Two pick ‘em fights with no titles on the line—just four contenders vying to become future stars.�
Litzau, a 23-year-old native of St. Paul, Minnesota, has knocked out his last four opponents and has stopped 13 of the 20 men he has faced within the first three rounds. Ranked in the top-10 by the WBA/IBF, he is one of the more exciting prospects in the game today.
On July 15, 2005, Litzau won a split-decision victory over John Nolasco on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights� broadcast. The bout was selected by ESPN.com as one of 12 “Unforgettable Bouts� from 2005. In his last bout on October 20, 2006, Litzau blasted out Sammy Ventura in two rounds.
The 30-year-old Hernandez (21-3, 13 KOs) from Round Lake, Illinois, has won 15 of his last 16 bouts. His sole loss during that string of wins was to Antonio Escalante on May 20, 2006, in a bout likely to be nominated for Fight of the Year. In his last bout on Aug 25, 2006 Hernandez defeated Lenny DeVictoria over 8 rounds.
Miranda (26-1, 23 KOs) has stopped 16 opponents in the first round and KO’d the first 21 men he met as a pro. The 25-year-old Colombian now living and fighting out of Miami unsuccessfully challenged IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham on Sept 23, 2006, but is still is ranked #1 by the IBF, #5 by the WBC, and #3 by The Ring magazine.
Gibbs (20-1, 16 KOs), hailing from the City of Brotherly Love, has won his last three bouts, two by knockout. The 30-year-old captured the vacant USBA middleweight crown in his last bout on March 10, 2006, when he stopped Lenord Pierre in the final round of their 12-round bout. Gibbs is currently ranked #15 by the IBF.
He’s young, fit, and aggressive. He throws straight punches in bunches. Let’s see how he does against better opposition. He has potential, but still untested and relatively inexperienced as a pro.
Jason is an exciting fighter with a love em or hate em personality. He is fast and shows good power. I would love to see him in there against better competition to see if he can rise to the occasion. If he wins on B.A.D. on Dec 16th maybe H.B.O. can get him into a bigger fight. I think many underestimate his ability and heart but will soon see what many of us in Minnesota have known for the last 5+ years. He can fight!
i don’t think anyone would question his heart, that is unless they have never seen him fight. Need we mention his most memorable fight w/John Nolasco?
Well I guess I was wrong. What a heartbreaking defeat. I worried that he hadn’t learned to keep his damn guard up and I was sadly proven right. He had the fight and threw it away.