The World Boxing Association’s KO Drugs International Boxing Festival, to be held on June 9 and 10 at the Buenos Aires Casino in the Argentine capital, promises two days full of electrifying fights, with a world title at stake, a world eliminator and the dispute of several regional titles. 

In addition to the main bouts between the super bantamweight world champion Mayerlin Rivas and Nazarena Romero, and the duel between the light flyweight Daniel Matellón and Carlos Cañizalez, the KO Drugs will offer the dispute of two Fedelatin titles, a regional title and other fights of great attraction.  

One of the interesting bouts on the opening show, on Friday, June 9, featuring Matellon and Cañizales, will have Argentinean Francisco “Bebu” Veron (12-0, 10 KOs), Continental Americas middleweight champion, facing Russian Timur Kerefov (13-0, 7 KOs). It is expected that his first title defense, will be Veron’s toughest fight, a challenge between undefeated fighters that will make the Casino Buenos Aires vibrate. 

In another attractive bout on the program, the surprising Argentinian Omar Gabriel Diaz (13-5, 5 KOs) will be challenging for the first time for his Fedelatin light heavyweight belt, which he won last April. He faces American Robert Daniels Jr. (8-0, 7 KOs). 

Local Sol Cudos (5-0-1, 1 KO) and Colombian Olga Julio (37-18-2, 27 KOs), with a flyweight Fedelatin bout will close Friday’s card. 

The second KO Drugs card on Saturday, June 10, headlined by the WBA women’s super bantamweight world title fight between Rivas and Romero,  the bantamweight duel between Kazakhstan’s Ivan Dychko (12-0, 11 KOs) and Ariel Bracamonte (11-10, 6 KOs). Dychko, an Olympic medalist at Rio 2016, starred in last year’s KO Drugs. 

Also, Venezuelan Ender Luces, IBF world youth champion, will face Argentina’s Javier Herrera. Luces, undefeated in 19 fights with 16 KOs, hopes to climb one more step in his career, against an experienced Herrera, who will try to get back to winning ways after three consecutive setbacks.  

Both fights will be aired by TyC Sports, through its channels TyC Sports and TyC Sports Play, in its “Boxeo de Primera” series, while the worldwide subscription platform DAZN will broadcast the Rivas-Romero fight.

BUENOS AIRES 2023 KO DRUGS FIGHT

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

WBA World Minimweight Eliminator 

Carlos Cañizales (VEN 25-1-1, 19 KOs) vs. Daniel Matellon (CUB 13-0-2, 7 KOs).

WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Title

Francisco Daniel Veron (ARG 11-0, 9 KO) vs. Timur Kerefov (RUS 13-0, 7 KO)

WBA Light Heavyweight Fedelatin WBA Title

Gabriel Diaz (ARG 13-5, 2 KOs) vs. Robert Daniels Jr. (USA 8-0, 7 KOs).

WBA Flyweight Fedelatin Title

Sol Cudos (ARG 5-0-1, 1 KO) vs Olga Julio (COL 37-18-2, 27 KOs)

Regional Lightweight Title

René Tellez Girón (MEX 17-2, 11 KOs) vs. Matías Romero (ARG 26-3, 9 KOs)

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

WBA Fedecaribe Heavyweight Title

Ivan Dychko (12-0, 11 KOs) vs. Ariel Bracamonte (11-10, 6 KOs). Heavyweight

WBA Super Bantamweight World Title

Mayerlin Rivas (VEN 17-4-2, 11 KOs) vs. Nazarena Romero (ARG 12-0, 6 KOs)

WBA Fedecentro Super Flyweight Title

Ramon Quiroga (ARG 4-1, 1 KO) vs. Afolabi Shittu (NIG 10-0, 10 KOs).

Featherweight

Brian Arguello (ARG 6-2, 3 KOs) vs. Dominique Francis (USA 13-0, 9 KOs)

Lightweight

Ender Luces (VEN 19-0-0, 16 KOs) vs Javier Herrera (ARG 17-7-1, 8 KOs)