It was introduced on Friday that rising lightweights Frank Martin and Artem Harutyunyan would conflict in a WBC eliminator, with Nonito Donaire and Alejandro Santiago clashing for the vacant WBC bantamweight title within the co-main occasion at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on July 15.
The Premier Boxing Champions occasion might be proven on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Martin (17-0, 12 knockouts), rated No. 6 at light-weight by The Ring, gained his first 11 fights and began working with unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. and his coach Derrick James.
The leg-up has benefited the 28-year-old southpaw, who has gone from energy to energy, taking the unbeaten file of Jerry Perez (KO 7), stopping fringe contenders Romero Duno (TKO 4), Jackson Marinez (TKO 10) and, most lately, dominating Michel Rivera (UD 12).
Harutyunyan (12-0, 7 KOs) was an excellent novice, successful bronze on the 2016 Olympics in Rio for his adopted nation of Germany.
Since turning skilled in 2017, the Armenian born fighter has overwhelmed Islam Dumanov (MD 10), Samuel Molina (KO 5) and, most lately, Humberto Galindo (UD 10).
Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs), rated at No. 3 by The Ring at bantamweight, gained world titles at 112, 118, 122 and 126. The massive-punching Filipino scored spectacular wins over the likes of Vic Darchinyan (TKO 5), Fernando Montiel (TKO 2), Toshiaki Nishioka (TKO 9) and Jorge Arce (KO 3).
In 2018 “The Filipino Flash” surprisingly dropped again all the way down to bantamweight and took half within the WBSS. He beat Ryan Burnett (RTD 4) and late substitute Stephon Younger (TKO 6) earlier than giving Naoya Inoue all he might deal with in a choice loss. He then picked up the WBC title by impressively knocking out Nordine Oubaali (KO 4). After one protection, the 40-year-old met Inoue in a rematch and was stopped in two-rounds.
Santiago (27-3-5, 14 KOs),The Ring’s No. 5-rated bantamweight, has overcome a few early setbacks to determine himself as a strong skilled.
The 27-year-old Mexican gave then-IBF 115-pound titlist Jerwin Ancajas (D 12) all he might deal with. Santiago has since given Gary Antonio Russell (L SD 10) a stern examination in late 2021 and had rebounded with three wins since.