On Saturday, November 29, at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in Fresno, California, ProBoxTV, the first and only global sports streaming and media company dedicated exclusively to professional boxing, will proudly present another signature stacked night of action-packed 50/50 matchups on its flagship The Contender Series, broadcast live on ProBoxTV beginning at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT.
In a 10-round head-on collision of a lightweight main event, WBC #11-rated Justin “The Million Dollar Man” Pauldo (19-2, 9 KOs) will face hard-punching South American strongman Nike Theran (20-1, 14 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia.
“Coming off his stellar performance against highly regarded Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, Justin Pauldo will be looking to continue his climb to a world title shot,” said ProBoxTV’s founder and CEO, Garry Jonas. “This should be a phenomenal fight and a real test to see if Justin Pauldo is that guy. If he has another performance like Rakhimov, he is the running for a title fight in the 135-lb division.”
Born in Orlando, Florida, but now living in Houston and training with world-renowned coach Ronnie Shields, 31-year-old Justin Pauldo is a four-time ProBoxTV veteran. Pauldo came to ProBox after having put together 11 consecutive wins since his first defeat, a split-decision to Efrain Cruz in July 2015. In his ProBoxTV debut in August 2023, Pauldo scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Eduardo Estela (then 14-2) at the Whitesands Events Center in Plant City, Florida. He returned there in November 2023 to stop Jerry Perez (then 14-3-1) in three rounds, winning the WBA Continental North America Lightweight Championship.
Pauldo suffered his second career setback on ProBoxTV air in February 2024, dropping a controversial 10-round split decision to Miguel Madueno (30-2), but returned to ProBoxTV a year later to score a sensational upset eighth-round knockout over former IBF World Super Featherweight Champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (then 17-1-1) in February of this year. Pauldo scored two knockdowns on the night, the latter of the two produced an immediate stoppage at 1:53.
In his most recent ring appearance, Pauldo took a 10-round unanimous decision over Said Chino last August.
“Training has been great,” said Pauldo. “I’ve gotten a lot of great work to sharpen my skills and be at my best come fight night. I know my opponent is a tough guy coming out of Colombia. He’s got quite a few fights under his belt, so I’m looking forward to facing an experienced and hungry fighter and to being back on ProBoxTV. I’m going to put on a great show for all the fans.”
28-year-old Nike Theran is a nearly nine-year professional and former WBC Latino Super Featherweight Champion. He will be making his debut fighting in the United States, having spent the bulk of his career fighting in South America and The Dominican Republic.
Theran has won two consecutive fights since suffering his only career setback in October 2023, a controversial 12-round unanimous decision to Italian contender Michael Magnesi (then 22-1) for the WBC Silver Super Featherweight Championship.
“Training camp has been going great; I’m very motivated,” said Theran. “Pauldo is a very good fighter and one of the best on ProBoxTV because he likes to fight. God gave me this opportunity and I’m well-prepared physically and mentally to win. I’m very happy for the opportunity and being in this important fight only gives me more motivation.”
In the exciting 10-round super featherweight co-feature WBC #4-ranked Muhammad Yaqubov (23-1, 12 KOs) of Isfara, Tajikistan, will go to war with Cristian “Lacandonsito” Cruz Chacon (24-7-1, 12 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Yaqubov had been scheduled to face Jessie Magdaleno in the night’s original main event, but Magdaleno pulled out with an injury.
“We’re not happy that Jessie Magdaleno fell out,” said Garry Jonas, “but we’re fortunate enough to get a great replacement in Cristian Cruz Chacon, who recently had a huge win over Jeremy Hill on ProBoxTV. Honestly, this could be a tougher test for Yaqubov.”
30-year-old southpaw Muhammad Yaqubov started boxing at the age of 10 and turned professional in late 2015. In his 10-year career, Yaqubov has held several regional titles, including the WBC International super-featherweight, which he successfully defended four times, with victories included over Emanuel López (29-9-1), NABF champ Abraham Montoya (18-1-1) and former two-time world champ Tomás Rojas.
In March 2022, Yaqubov suffered his only career loss via a 12-round unanimous decision in a WBC title eliminator to current WBC World Super Featherweight Champion O’Shaquie Foster. He has since rebounded with five consecutive victories, including impressive wins over Pablo Vicente (23 1) in a 10-round WBC Super Featherweight Title Eliminator, Zafar Parpiev (13-2) and his most recent fight, a 10-round majority decision over William Foster III to win the WBC USA Super Feather Championship in August of this year and live on ProBoxTV. The win was Yaqubov’s first under new head trainer Manny Robles.
Holding one of the most deceiving records in boxing, 28-year-old Cruz Chacon turned professional in 2014 and disappointingly lost five of his first seven fights before turning things around and going 22-2-1 since then.
Along the way, he has scored notable victories over Diego Ortiz Aleman (12-1-1), Jesus Acosta Ayala (15-1-1), a first-round stoppage of Pablo Robles (15-3), an eight-round stoppage of Rafael Rosas Ramirez (19-3-2), a third-round stoppage of former world title challenger David Carmona, and his most recent ring appearance, an impressive split decision victory over a streaking Jeremy Hill (22-3-1) in September of this year on ProBoxTV.
Also, on the televised slate that night is a highly anticipated women’s battle for the vacant WBC World Super Flyweight Championship between WBC #2 Adelaida Maria “La Cobra” Ruiz (17-1-1, 8 KOs) of Downey, California, via Los Angeles and WBC #4 Alexas “Iron Lady” Kubicki (13-2, 2 KOs) of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
A longtime feared contender, 37-year-old Ruiz’s aggressive style, strength, and punching power make her a dangerous foe for any of the world’s female super flyweights. A victory over Kubicki will give her an opportunity to avenge her only career loss, a thrilling 10-round split decision to Ginny Fuchs for the WBC Interim World Super Flyweight Championship in August 2024. The WBC have ordered the winner of Ruiz vs Kubicki to fight Interim champ Fuchs, who has been out of action for 14 months due to injuries suffered in the fight with Ruiz and promotional issues.
Alexas Kubicki will be having just her second fight on U.S. soil. In her most recent fight, the 22-year-old lost by seventh-round TKO in a brave stand against undisputed World Champion Gabriela Fundora in September. A former WBC World Youth and WBC International Champion, Kubicki’s technical skills are predicted to test Ruiz’s aggression in what promises to be a thrilling clash of styles.
Incredibly, the televised thrills will also include WBC and WBO #1-, IBF #8-, and WBA #12-ranked light flyweight southpaw Erik Badillo Mares (18-0, 8 KOs) of México, Mexico, taking on WBC #13- and WBO #12-ranked former WBO World Champion Elwin “La Pulga” Soto (21-3-1, 13 KOs) of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, in a 10-round high-stakes battle between two of the division’s top contenders; as well as a 10-round super lightweight rumble between knockout artist Carlos Balderas (16-2, 14 KOs) of Santa Maria, California, and proven veteran Ricardo Quiroz (13-6, 7 KOs) of Oxnard, California.
The opening televised bout will feature the sole addition to ProBoxTV’s Future Stars Series, which features emerging boxing talents and serves as a platform for up-and-coming fighters to showcase their skills, as undefeated lightweight Charlie Sheehy (11-0, 6 KOs) of Brisbane, California, will continue to try and prove his worth against veteran D’Angelo Keyes (18-6, 11 KOs) of Houston.
Tickets to attend ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series in person at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, start at $77 and are available from the ProBoxTV website, the Save Mart Center Box Office, or directly from Ticketmaster.
How to Watch from Home: ProBoxTV is available in 100% of U.S. and Canadian households with broadband access, on a wide range of platforms and media partners, including ProBoxTV’s YouTube and YouTube Espanol Channels, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Roku, Tubi, Pluto, Swerve TV Combat, Swerve Sports, Fubo TV, Fubo Sports YouTube Channel, Google TV, LG Channels, Plex, SLING TV, Samsung, Vizio, Xumo Play, DIRECTV, Free Live Sports, Lights Out Sports, Zeam, TV and TCL TVs.
On fight night, doors open at 3:30 pm PT. The Save Mart Center at Fresno State is located on the California State University campus, located at 2650 E Shaw Ave, in Fresno (ph: 559-278-3401). Fight card subject to change. No Refunds Unless Event Cancels.
