UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal is bringing Gamebred Boxing to Fiserv Forum on Saturday. Here's what to know.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Boxing 4 will take place Saturday at Fiserv Forum.
"Let me just say, I'm so pumped, man," said Masvidal at a news conference earlier this month.
The UFC superstar's young promotion company has put on a mix of boxing and mixed martial arts fights, but Saturday's event in Milwaukee is all boxing and features some aging, but prominent, names in the fight world.
The event will also have a local flavor — three of the fighters consider Milwaukee home.
Here's what to know about Saturday.
More: Milwaukee and Fiserv Forum are getting yet another pro boxing card. How is this one different?
Saturday's main event is between Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. and UFC's Anthony Pettis, a Milwaukee native
The headliner for the evening features boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. (66-9) versus former UFC champion and Milwaukee native Anthony Pettis (0-0).
Jones is widely considered one of the greatest boxers of all-time. Now, at 54, he will be fighting Pettis, 36, who is making his boxing debut at the April 1 event.
Jones has nothing left to prove. He started his boxing career in the light middleweight division in 1989 and became the first man to start his career in the light middleweight division and win the WBA heavyweight title, doing so in 2003.
Earlier this month, Jones said he was getting back into the ring after not fighting for five years because he wants to provide entertainment to boxing fans and get back in fighting shape.
He also said that he wants to give the people what they want because boxing fans tend to be let down because some boxers are ducking a big fight.
"For the most part, people don't get to see fights they want to see. Because people don't want to fight. ... Would I rather be out of shape, 230 pounds, or would I rather get in shape come down to 200 pounds and give the fans something to look at?" Jones said.
"Give (Pettis) an opportunity to gain experience in a win, or gain experience in a loss. Either way it goes, (Pettis) gonna gain some experience because I can promise you he ain't gonna see many people in that ring again with the IQ I have."
Pettis is headlining a major event in his hometown for the second time. In 2013, he headlined UFC 164 at the Bradley Center, where he won via an armbar submission in the first round.
Armbars are illegal in boxing, which is one of the many adjustments Pettis will have to make as he transitions to a boxing ring.
"I went and got motivated to box, I mean how could you not fighting one of the GOATs," Pettis said, adding, "I'm taking it serious, I come to win fights."
Pettis has bulked up significantly for this fight, after producing a stellar career at roughly 155 pounds in the UFC. His overall mixed martial arts record is 25-14. Saturday's fight will be in the heavyweight division and is set for eight rounds.
Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza and José Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens are two other big fights
Another prominent heavyweight fight on the card is between two Brazilian mixed martial artists, Vitor Belfort (1-0) and Ronaldo Souza (0-0).
Belfort, 45, had a successful UFC career that was marked with allegations of steroids use after testing positive for illegal substances and high levels of testosterone. Belfort developed a reputation of defeating opponents easily in the first round. When he left the UFC for another MMA organization, he held the record for the most first round finishes in UFC history. His overall MMA record is 26-14.
Belfort made his professional boxing debut in 2006, where he was victorious. He hasn't fought in a professional boxing match in nearly 17 years, although he fought boxing great Evander Holyfield in an exhibition match in 2021. Belfort won by technical knockout in the first round.
Similar to Belfort, Souza, 43, has a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He made his MMA debut in 2003. After signing with multiple promotion companies throughout the 2000s, Souza eventually landed in the UFC in 2013. His overall MMA record is 26-10. Souza will be making his boxing debut on Saturday. The fight is scheduled for six rounds in the heavyweight division.
Another Brazilian UFC star is also making his boxing debut on Saturday, José Aldo (0-0), who will be fighting Iowa native Jeremy Stephens (0-0).
Aldo, 36, had a successful MMA career. He rose to mainstream prominence during UFC 194 where he faced polarizing UFC star Conor McGregor. Typical of McGregor fights, the lead up and pre-fight press conferences were filled with trash talk and brutal insults.
Unfortunately for Aldo, McGregor knocked out Aldo in 13 seconds. Aldo successfully defended his UFC title on multiple occasions prior to losing to McGregor. He finished his MMA career with an overall record of 31-8.
Aldo has voiced his interest in boxing for decades. He is making his professional boxing debut on Saturday, but he did fight in an exhibition match in February, where he won via an unanimous decision.
Its been reported that Aldo is attempting to build his boxing resume so he can fight boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an exhibition match, which typically leads to a major payday for fighters. Aldo told MMA Fighting that Mayweather agreed to a fight later this year.
Aldo knows his opponent on Saturday well. Aldo and Stephens, 36, met in 2018 in the Octagon. Aldo was victorious, winning via technical knockout in the first round. Saturday's fight is chance for redemption for Stephens.
Of Mexican descent, Stephens' contract was not renewed by UFC in 2022 after 15 years and 33 fights, in which he experienced more losses than wins. However, his overall MMA record is 29-21. Saturday's fight against Aldo is scheduled for six rounds in the welterweight division.
Undefeated Milwaukee native and Marquette grad Luis Feliciano will take on veteran boxer Clarence Booth
Likely the biggest pure boxing bout of the evening — it doesn't feature a former mixed martial artist — is the one between Milwaukee native and Marquette grad Luis Feliciano (16-0) and veteran boxer Clarence Booth (21-7).
Feliciano, 29, is looking to continue his success in the boxing ring, having never lost. Its been a long road for Feliciano, who didn't box for 2½ years due to the pandemic and issues with a promoter. He returned to the ring last year, albeit with no promoter. Feliciano told the Journal Sentinel in January that he was in talks with Premier Boxing Champions about fighting on a PBC card this year, but his opponent pulled out at the last second.
In the days that followed, Pettis reached out to Feliciano about getting on the card at Fiserv Forum. Masvidal's Gamebred Boxing was able to strike a deal, announcing that Feliciano would fight Booth. At the time, Feliciano said it was a "dream come true" to be able to fight in front of his hometown. Feliciano was born to Puerto Rican parents on the east side of Milwaukee.
Booth, a 35-year-old Florida native, is coming off three loses heading into Saturday, having fought as recent as February. Feliciano said of Booth in January, "He's very experienced, he's a good fighter. It's going to be a good fight for the fans, we'll put on a show."
Saturday's fight between Feliciano and Booth is scheduled for eight rounds in the super lightweight division. It is scheduled to occur right before the Aldo fight.
Who else is on the main card?
The rest of the card is filled with fighters looking to make a name for themselves.
Veteran boxers Devin Cushing (12-0) and Damian Marchiano (18-11-1) are scheduled for six rounds in the super featherweight division.
Cushing, 26, a Florida native, is looking to remain undefeated in the boxing ring. Standing in his way is veteran Argentinian boxer Marchiano, 42, who hasn't won a fight since 2012. Marchiano returned to the ring in 2022 after not fighting for nine years.
Mixed martial artists Pearl Gonzalez (2-0) and Gina Mazany (0-0) are scheduled to fight six rounds in the woman's lightweight division.
Chicago native Gonzalez, 36, looks to remain undefeated in her short boxing career against Alaska's Mazany, 34, who is making her boxing debut. Gonzalez has an overall MMA record of 10-5 while Mazany's record is 8-6.
Mixed martial artists Bi Nguyen (0-0) and Andy Nguyen (0-0) will meet for the third time. This time in a boxing ring. The pair have met in a cage twice before, but now both women will be making their boxing debuts.
Prior to her career as an MMA fighter, Bi Nguyen, 33, was a contestant on the reality tv show "Survivor." She has an overall MMA record of 6-9. Andy Nguyen started her career as a ring girl before becoming a fighter. She has an overall record of 6-12.
Bare-knuckle fighters Cecil Cleckler (0-0) and Joshua Burns (0-0) will square off in the boxing ring on Saturday as well.
Both men are making their professional boxing debut. Florida native Cleckler, 41, used Dillon as a first name for years. In 2021, a right hand from Cleckler in the first round of bare-knuckle fight knocked out Justin Thornton, who was hospitalized for months and ultimately died.
Cleckler said he was "devastated" by the news, releasing a statement on Instagram saying that "any man or woman who steps in the ring or the cage is special, they take a risk (that) 99.99% of the world would never take and sometimes I still don't know why we do it but Justin was a fighter his entire life and deserves nothing but respect!!"
Cleckler's opponent on Saturday, Burns, 44, spent four years signed with Bellator, a well-known MMA promotion company. Prior to fighting, he served in the Army. He was born in Ohio. Burns and Cleckler are scheduled for six rounds in a heavyweight division.
Three preliminary fights will be held before the main event
There will be preliminary fights prior to the main event. Three of the fights in the prelims are:
Joe Riggs vs. Markus Perez (Four rounds, heavyweight)
Cade Howell vs. Chris Wingate (Four rounds, welterweight)
Danielle Wynn vs. Danielle Cohen (Four rounds, lightweight)
Another Milwaukee name, Javier Zamarron, will open the event
Kicking off the entire boxing event is Milwaukee's Javier Zamarron (2-0) against Roberto Armas (0-0), who had a short MMA career. Zamarron, 21, is looking to remain undefeated in his third professional fight, while Armas is making his pro boxing debut.
Zamarron grew up training at the United Community Center on the city's south side. He is also scheduled to fight at the June 24 Fiserv Forum boxing event.
Zamarron vs. Armas is scheduled for four rounds in the junior lightweight division.
When does Gamebred Boxing 4 start?
Saturday's Gamebred Boxing 4 is set to get underway at 5:30 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.
How much are tickets to Gamebred Boxing 4 in Milwakee?
The cheapest tickets available were around $98 as of Wednesday. There were few ringside tickets available going for $1,200.
To purchase tickets visit fiservforum.com.
How do I watch Gamebred Boxing 4 if I'm not attending?
Gamebred Boxing 4 is a pay-per-view event. Viewers can purchase the event through their cable or satellite provider. Streamers can purchase the event through ufcfightpass.com or PPV.com. The event will cost $50 to purchase.
Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS.
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Gamebred Boxing 4 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee
