Panama City will host a new edition of the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) KO Drugs on February 7 at the Roberto Duran Arena. With three weeks left for the event, a press conference was held to present the program, where several of the main fighters and the president of the organization, Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, were present.

Several world titles will be at stake in the KO Drugs and the clash between Panama’s Luis “Nica” Concepción and Colombia’s Rober Barrera for the interim WBA flyweight title is noteworthy.

“This Drug KO is a nice way to get back to Panama. This country is the root of Latin America,” said Mendoza in his speech. “It’s going to be a very interesting show and will be broadcast throughout Latin America by ESPN Knockout”.

In addition to the Concepción vs. Barrera fight, the fight between the local Laura Ledezma and Venezuelan Mayerlin Rivas for the WBA Super Bantamweight title as well as the fight between Cuban Daniel Matellón and Mexican Erik “Habanerito” López for the interim mini fly belt had also been confirmed. Another fight will be between Carlos “Arañita Ortega and Nicaraguan Leyman Benavides for the Gold minimum weight title.

The press conference also confirm other fights, the world ranked Bryan De Gracia, who will face Nicaragua’s Freddy Lainez in an eight-round super featherweight bout.

Additionally, Pablo Vicente (Cuba) vs Eder Espitia (Colombia) will fight nine rounds in super featherweight and Leosdan Nuñez (Cuba) will face Javier Martinez (Colombia) for nine rounds in bantamweight.

The KO Drug is an initiative to help youngsters get off the wrong track and channel their energies into sport. It is a program of the WBA that reinforces boxing as a vehicle for self-improvement and contributes in helping Latin American society.