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Another New Addition to Frampton-Santa Cruz Undercard

There has been another top-quality fight added to the undercard of Carl Frampton’s WBA featherweight World title showdown with Leo Santa Cruz.

The July 30th show at the Barclays Centre in New York already features chief support from the returning two-weight champ Mikey Garcia against former titlist Elio Rojas. Additionally there is a slot for middleweight Danny Jacobs, a farewell bout for former two-weight champ Paulie Malignaggi against Gabe Bracero, an IBF light middleweight eliminator between Sergey Rabchenko and Tony Harrison, and a WBO Women’s featherweight title clash between champion Amanda Serrano and Calixta Silgado.

As well as this there is due to be appearances for Coalisland middleweight Conrad Cummings, and Scottish light welterweight star Josh Taylor.

Now the bout has received a further boost with the news of the addition of another well-matched high-quality bout.

Once highly-touted lightweight contender Ivan Redkach [19(15)-1(1)-1] will look to get back to winning ways against Tevin Farmer [21(5)-4(2)-1].

Ukrainian Redkach was stopped by current WBC 135lbs champ Dejan Zlaticanin in an eliminator last Summer, and the southpaw recently slumped to a draw with the unheralded Puerto Rican Luis Cruz.

Farmer steps up from super featherweight, where he was NABF champ, for the bout. The blots on the Philadelphia fighter’s record all came within his first eight bouts, apart from a points loss to current WBA 130lbs champ Jose Pedraza in 2012. Since then the American has gone on a fourteen-fight winning streak.

Redkach said that “I am extremely happy to be back in the ring on a big show in New York.”

“There are so many Ukrainian fans in New York and I am thrilled to have their support and will put on a great show for them.”

“I want to thank Leo Santa Cruz and his team for having me in their camp as we both prepare ourselves to put on tremendous performances come July 30th.”

A confident Farmer explained that “I couldn’t be more excited about this fight.”

“This is my Barclays Center debut and it is going to be a spectacular performance.”

“I have called out anyone and everyone in the 130-pound division to no avail, so now I’m moving up to 135 to take on Redkach, one of the most feared punchers in the division.”

“Redkach is an aggressive guy and I know he is coming to fight, but there is no way I leave that ring without my hand being raised. This is a fight where I can and I will make a major statement.”

“I’m willing to fight whoever they put in front of me to inch closer to a world title opportunity and July 30th is another step in that direction.”

“I tip my hat off to Redkach for giving me this fight, but this is my time to shine.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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