World cruiserweight contender Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki’s long-awaited ring return is officially scheduled for March 7th against Gerardo Mellado in the 10-round main event on a card presented by Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, at Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
“We are looking to start off 2026 with a bang in Canada with our first show on March 7th on the East Coast of Canada in Nova Scotia,” Three Lions Promotions Managing Director Daniel Otter said. “Rozicki will be the main event and although he had a slow 2025 due to injury, we are confident 2026 will be an active one and before the end of 2026, Ryan will be cruiserweight champion of the world. He looks great in training and is dialed in.
“We will also be doing a series of cards throughout 2026 across the country from coast to coast to showcase Canadian and International talent to the world. We have some big news to share in the coming months, so stay tuned!”
A native of Sydney, the 30-year-old Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) hasn’t fought since December 7, 2024, when he fought to a 12-round draw against Yamil Alberto Peralto (17-1), for a myriad of reasons. Prior to the aforementioned fight, Rozicki only fought once in 2023, registering a sensational knockout of Nigerian knockout artist Olanrewaju Durodola (43-9, 39 KOs) at the 1:47 mark of the opening round. Both of these fights were at Centre 200, where “The Bruiser” is unbeaten in 7 fights with 1 draw and 6 knockouts.
Rozicki’s period of inactivity was attributable to two main factors. Firstly, after securing the position as the number one mandatory challenger for the World Boxing Council (WBC), he awaited his scheduled world title bout against the reigning WBC World Cruiserweight Champion, Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs). Mikaelian declined to face Rozicki on four separate occasions, citing a promotional contract dispute and injuries as primary reasons for him not fighting Rozicki as ordered by the WBC.
The WBC subsequently designated Mikaelian as Champion in Recess, while elevating the prior Champion in Recess, Badou Jack, to world champion status and requiring him to face Rozicki and their fight was scheduled for last May. However, Rozicki was forced to withdraw from the scheduled world title bout against Jack due to a right bicep injury sustained in April during training camp.
Rozicki, sporting a phenomenal 95% knockout ratio, was scheduled to fight Akani “Prime” Phuzi for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Cruiserweight title on October 25 in Sydney. However, the bout was cancelled after Rozicki reinjured his right bicep.
“I have been sidelined for more than a year now due to this injury and I haven’t knocked anybody out in nearly 2 years,” the determined Rozicki explained. “It’s frustrating but I can now say I’m 100-percent and ready for what’s to come. I need to get this fight to get me back in the swing of things and then I’m coming for those world title belts. I’m not overlooking my opponent, either. He can crack. He’s also tough and has been much more active than me. I am focused on my next job at hand in the ring on March 7th.”
The 33-year-old Mellado is an orthodox fighter who lost a 10-round decision to current IBO Cruiserweight World Champion Juergen Uldedaj in his last action on April 5th, marking Mellado’s first fight outside of his native Chile.
“Coming into hostile territory isn’t new to me,” Mellado explained, “My last fight was in (Manchester) England and I took it on less than two weeks’ notice. I will be coming to Canada for a knockout, not leaving it to the scorecards like my last fight. And, of course, I want to take Rozicki’s rating with me back to Chile. Lots of people duck Ryan, but not me; I’m a fighter coming to ruin his night in his country.”
Rozicki, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC and No. 5 by Ring Magazine, is targeting Mikaelian, or IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Champion Jai Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs), as Ryan pursues his goal of becoming the first Canadian-born Cruiserweight Champion of the World.
Other announced fights for March 7 include an All-Nova Scotia showdown between a pair of popular local boxers, Brett Beaton (6-4, 4 KOs) and David Logue (4-1, 4 KOs), in a 10-round match for the vacant National Championships of Canada (NCC) Super Middleweight Championship.
Undefeated super bantamweights prospect Meilyn Sanchez Martinez (3-0, 1 KO), fighting out of Hamilton, Canada, by way of Mexico, faces Silvia Duran (4-3), of Costa Rica, in a 6-round match.
Card subject to change.
Tickets will soon go on sale and be available for purchase online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ca) and the Centre 200 website (www.centre200.ca).
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