One of Detroit’s most popular fighters, bantamweight prospect Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn, will return to action on Friday, February 8, at Sound Board, inside the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

O’Quinn (10-0-1, 7 KOs) will face Sonora, Mexico’s Alex “Xhino” Rangel (17-8-4, 11 KOs) in an eight-round bantamweight showdown as part of the Night of Knockouts XV- Live Professional Boxing event.

23-year-old O’Quinn was last seen at the very same venue, stopping Mexico’s Christian Esquivel in two rounds last October. A quick-fisted puncher with an entertaining style, O’Quinn will be looking to continue building his growing fanbase in Detroit. He is a former USA National Champion and the 2013 USA Boxing Youth National Champion.

28-year-old Rangel has gone rounds with several quality fighters, including IBF Bantamweight World Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez, and should provide another good test for the young hopeful.

“I’m hoping to get some more rounds out of this opponent,” said O’Quinn. “I try to give my hometown fans a great performance every time out and this opponent should be around long enough for us to put on an entertaining fight.”

“These are the tests a young fighter has to pass to continue up the ranks,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “Fights like these, against a tough Mexican veteran, are what Ja’Rico needs to develop into a world champion.”

Tickets for the event are priced between $180-$25 and are available by calling 718.612.5207. The MotorCity Casino Hotel is located at 2901 Grand River in Detroit. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the first bout begins at 7 pm. Card subject to change without notice. All bouts to be approved by the State of Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission. All guests must be at least 21 years of age with valid photo ID.

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Undefeated bantamweight prospect Christian Carto, of South Philadelphia, faces veteran southpaw Victor Ruiz, of San Diego, CA in the eight-round main event Friday evening, Feb. 8, at the 2300 Arena.

The Carto-Ruiz fight tops an eight-fight card, dubbed the "Philly Special" by promoter Michelle Rosado, of Raging Babe, in her first solo promotion in Philadelphia. 

Carto, 22, has won all 17 of his pro fights, 11 by knockout.  A pro since mid-2016, Carto has developed into one of the most popular fighters in the Philadelphia/Atlantic City area. In his last fight Nov. 9, Carto earned a six-round decision over Antonio Rodriguez, of Durango, Mexico.

Ruiz, 27, comes into the fight the more experienced of the two. He turned pro in 2011 and has boxed some of the best "little men" in the world. In 2015, in Corpus Christi, TX, he got off the canvas in the second round and went on to win an eight-round split decision over former IBF world super flyweight champion Daiki Kameda, of Tokyo, Japan.

Ruiz also boxed former WBC world-title challenger and current NABF bantamweight champion Oscar Negrete, of Rosemead, CA, losing their 2017 fight in Las Vegas, NV, via an eight-round decision. Overall, Ruiz is 22-10, 15 KOs.

"I'm eager to test my skills against (Victor) Ruiz," said Carto.   "We've watched tape and he's got plenty of experience.  Ruiz has fought some great fighters: McWilliams Arroyo, Oscar Negrete and current WBO Bantamweight Champion Zolani Tete.  As for 2019, I'm ready to start the year strong and I'm happy to be back in South Philly at the 2300 Arena. Training camp is going great. Billy (trainer Briscoe) and I will leave no stone unturned and we'll be ready for Ruiz."

Promoter Michelle Rosado:  "This is no walk-in-the-park fight for Christian. If he wants to crack the world ratings, this is the kind of guy he needs to fight and this is the kind of guy he needs to beat.  Ruiz has been in with some of the best at flyweight, super fly and bantamweight."  

Heavyweight Darmani Rock will fight in the card's co-feature, with welterweight Marcel Rivers, of North Philadelphia, heavyweight Sonny Conto, of South Philadelphia, bantamweight Alejandro Jimenez, of New Hope, PA, lightweight Gerardo Martinez of Coatesville, PA, bantamweight Jonathan Torres, of Bethlehem, PA, and bantamweight Jeremy Adorno of Allentown, PA rounding out the card.

Thomas Madsen believes Dina Thorslund (12-0, 6 KOS) can secure a knockout win as she defends her WBO World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf (29-7, 13 KOs) on January 19 at the Struer Energi Park in Denmark.

“Graf is an experienced boxer, who has met many good fighters in her career,” says Madsen. “She is tall and she throws good straight punches, but I don’t believe she is physically strong enough to resist Dina.”

Madsen insists his fighter is ready to go all ten rounds if required, but does not think it will be necessary for the hard-hitting World Champion, who has stopped six of her previous opponents inside the distance.

“Dina’s shape is good and she is ready to go ten hard rounds, but I hope she can knock Graf out. She must at least test Graf early with some power punches. I believe and hope for a KO victory,” says the Danish trainer.

Following an impressive 2018, Madsen has high hopes for the New Year: “It will be a great year where we chase even more success. We are looking to win more World titles and to unify the division, and that may mean fighting abroad.”

Dina Thorslund tops the bill in Struer, defending her WBO Female World Super Bantamweight title against Alesia Graf, while former European Champion Dennis Ceylan rematches Jesus Sanchez for the EU Featherweight crown.

Oliver Flodin faces Abdul Khattab in a Scandinavian middleweight thriller, heavyweight hope Kem Ljungquist takes on Dominik Musil, Lolenga Mock continues his World title chase against Mateo Damian Veron, Mikkel Nielsen meets Bulgaria's Angel Emilov, and Adam Bashanov faces Ivan Nikolov.