JoJo Diaz Jr set for undercard of B-Hop-Joe Smith Jr
Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (22-0, 13 KOs) will look to defend his NABF Featherweight Championship for the fourth time this year, as the former 2012 U.S. Olympian steps into the ring for a 10-round slugfest against Horacio “Violento” Garcia (30-1-1, 22 KOs) in the co-main event of Bernard Hopkins’s final fight on December 17 at the Forum in Inglewood, California. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for these action-packed fights are already on sale.
“A world title has always been my goal and December 17, will be an incredible experience as I continue to pursue my dream of a being featherweight champion,” Diaz said. “Garcia is an extremely tough guy, but I am hitting my peak right now, and there’s nothing that’s going to stop me.”
“Joseph Diaz may be undefeated, but he’s never faced anyone like me,” Garcia said. “I am looking forward to coming to Los Angeles December 17, defeating Diaz and continuing my rise up the Featherweight division.”
“I have had a front-row seat to watch Joseph develop from an Olympian to a world-class professional fighter, and he is getting better each and every day,” said Golden Boy Promotions CEO and Chairman Oscar De La Hoya. “While JoJo will face one of his toughest challenges his in Garcia, I am confident he comes out victorious and earns a world title shot in 2017.”
Hopkins vs. Smith is a 12-round light heavyweight battle presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Star Boxing. Diaz vs. Garcia is a 10-round NABF featherweight title match up presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will be televised live on Saturday December 17, 2016 from Inglewood California’s “Fabulous” Forum on HBO’s flagship series beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets for Hopkins vs. Smith are now on sale and are priced at $25, $50, $75, $105 and $205, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or the Forum Box Office (Monday through Friday 11:00am PST to 7:00pm PST) at (310) 330-7300. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.fabulousforum.com or www.ticketmaster.com.