(June 3rd) Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams can take a massive step towards his World title dreams as he takes on Etinosa Oliha in a final eliminator for the IBF World Middleweight title at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Dallas on Saturday July 19 – part of the undercard for the unification blockbuster between WBC and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and WBO ruler Phumelele Cafu, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Williams (18-1 10 KOs) has moved into #6 spot with the IBF after picking up back-to-back wins over Gian Garrido in Philadelphia in November before headlining in Florida and seeing off Patrice Volny in March. ‘Ammo’ used those wins to bounce back from a spirited loss to Hamzah Sheeraz in Saudi Arabia a year ago and now faces the IBF #1 contender with a World title shot within reach.

Oliha (21-0 9 KOs) has climbed seamlessly into the top spot with the IBF and the Italian now takes on the biggest fight of his seven-year career on his American debut. The unbeaten 26 year old operated exclusively on home turf in the first 16 fights of his career but has won his last five fights on the spin in Germany to move into the lofty position he aims to protect in the Lone Star State.

“One year ago, I found myself in the darkest space of my life, losing beloved family members, followed by suffering my first defeat as a professional pugilist,” said Williams.

“Three fights later, I find myself in position to become the #1 Middleweight in the world once again.

“This time around, everything is aligned. I have proven to myself that I am a true champion, before I have the World Championship belt around my waste. July 19 we are bringing it back to my roots, Texas, where it all began. Relentless, unwavering, educated pressure will be exerted on my opponent until I completely break him, sending him back to Italy a changed man. This fight will not go the distance.”

“I'm very motivated and looking forward to July 19,” said Oliha. “Austin Williams is the last step before a World title shot. I am very confident that I will take this chance.”

Arturo Cardenas moves down to Bantamweight on July 19, and he takes on Dominique ‘Dimes’ Crowder for the WBC Continental Americas and WBA Continental North Americas titles. Cardenas (16-0-1 9 KOs) drops to 118lbs after a fine run at Super-Bantamweight, where the 24 year old recently held the WBC Continental Americas title, and will be looking to make an immediate impact on the World rankings at his new weight by seeing off his toughest test to date in Crowder.

Former amateur star Crowder (18-0 11 KOs) has cruised to 18-0 in the paid ranks, and the two-time New York Golden Gloves champion now looks to shift into title contention on his biggest stage to date and land his first pro titles in Frisco.

“I’m thrilled to add two more brilliant fights added to what promises to be a massive night of action in Frisco,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Ammo has bounced back brilliantly to get himself into this position, and this is now the biggest night of his career against the very dangerous Oliha – with the winner lining up a shot at World title glory.

“Arturo’s clash with Dominique is a cracker, with the Mexican talent looking to excel at a lower weight, while ‘Dimes’ gets the big stage he’s been craving to turn that amateur pedigree into success in the paid ranks.

“With pound-for-pound star Bam in another unification battle, Diego Pacheco looking to underline his World title credentials and Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones back in action, July 19 will be a memorable night.”

Ammo vs. Oliha and Cardenas vs. Crowder join a stacked night of action in Frisco, topped by Bam’s battle with Cafu.

Unbeaten Super-Middleweight sensation Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Trevor McCumby, while Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones fights for the third time in the paid ranks, taking on Alfredo Blanco over six rounds.

Rodriguez (21-0 14 KOs) is looking to unify at Super-Flyweight having done so at Flyweight in spectacular fashion against Sunny Edwards in Arizona in December 2023, following that win by collecting the belts he puts on the line against unbeaten South African Cafu (11-0-3 8 KOs) with a stunning KO win over Juan Francisco Estrada in the same state last June to become a two-time Super-Flyweight ruler.

The San Antonio ace fights in his home state for the first time since he became a two-weight World champion April 2023 when he collected the vacant WBO Flyweight strap, and has fought at the Ford Center before, moving to 11-0 there in February 2020.

‘Bam’ has certainly shot to superstardom since that night, but the ambitious 25 year old has more targets in mind, starting with unifying once again on July 19 and looking to become undisputed and climb to the top the list of the best fighters on the planet.

“I would love to be number one pound-for-pound,” said Rodriguez. “There’s a lot of bragging rights being there, and I feel that I can go so far forward from where I am currently at.

“I’m never satisfied, there’s always more to gain and win, so I can go ten times higher from here. I would love to go undisputed, so that’s two more fights at 115lbs, so we’ll see how it pans out.

“It’s bad ass seeing the smaller weights shine. When I was an amateur, it was Chocolatito that was doing it and I was like ‘Damn, this is cool,’ so for me to be in the same position, it means a lot.

“I’m so happy to be fighting in Dallas, it’s great to fight back in my home state, I’m happy to be back home.”

Rodriguez’s clash with Cafu tops a stacked card in Frisco, with the chief support bout of the evening pitting the explosive and unbeaten Diego Pacheco defending his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Trevor McCumby, while Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones fights for the third time in the paid ranks, taking on Alfredo Blanco over six rounds, with much more action to be added to the card in due course.

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