Gor Yeritsyan works gloves with Freddie Roach. Photo by Lina Baker / 360 Promotions
Gor Yeritsyan will face a new opponent on Saturday night.
The once-beaten welterweight will now take on former world titleholder Jonathan Romero, promoter Tom Loeffler confirmed to The Ring on Thursday night. The eight-round bout will precede the main event between undefeated featherweight Omar Trinidad and fringe contender Hector Sosa.
Both fights will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
“It will be great to see Gor back in the ring for the first time after his very controversial loss,” Loeffler told The Ring. “He’s fighting a former world champion. After watching him train with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, I think we’ll see an even stronger and more focused Gor in the ring.
“We’ll see everyone on Saturday night.”
Yeritsyan (18-1, 14 KOs), who is originally from Yerevan, Armenia and now lives in Los Angeles, was originally scheduled to face Mylik Birdsong in a compelling clash of once-beaten welterweights, but Birdsong was shot dead on September 29th. in a drive-by shooting in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Oliver Quintana of Mexico was brought in as an opponent for Yeritsyan, but Quintana pulled out about a week ago for unknown reasons.
Yeritsyan last fought on July 26, losing a close decision to Aram Amirkhanyan in a clash of undefeated welterweights. In his previous fight on February 23, Yeritsyan outboxed once-beaten Quinton Randall and won a one-sided decision over 10 rounds.
The 29-year-old Yeritsyan has been fighting under the 360 Boxing Promotions banner since June 9 last year. He had wins over Gustavo Vittori and Rogelio Jun Doliguez.
Romero (35-5, 19 KOs) was stopped by junior welterweight contender Kenneth Sims, Jr. after round five of his last fight on August 10. Romero was a last-minute substitute and reportedly took the fight on notice one day.
The 37-year-old returned from a 14-month absence on July 28 last year, losing by knockout to junior lightweight contender Abraham Nova. Less than six months later, Romero would lose by knockout to undefeated contender Albert Bell.
Romero, who is originally from Cali, Colombia and now lives in Henderson, Nevada, won the vacant IBF world junior featherweight title in February 2013, defeating Alejandro Lopez by split decision. He would lose the world title in his defense six months later, losing by knockout to Kiko Martinez.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
