Junior bantamweight Jordan Roach desires to be seen as among the finest prospects in boxing.
Roach will return Friday in opposition to Luis Quiles Rivera in a four-round struggle being staged on the ProBox TV Occasions Heart in Plant Metropolis, Florida, and broadcast on ProBox TV.
Roach, 21, is coached by his father, Lamont Roach Snr, and trains together with his brother Lamont Jnr and Benjamin Johnson, who can also be scheduled to struggle on this card with different up-and-comers from the No Xcuse Boxing Fitness center in Capitol Heights, Maryland.
Roach, from Higher Marlboro, Maryland, has a degree to show, and by December 2025 he desires to be talked about as among the finest prospects within the sport. Friday’s struggle is one other step in direction of that objective.
“I really feel neglected by the prospect lists not mentioning me,” stated Roach, 2-0 (1 KO). “It’s OK, as a result of I’m going to indicate my expertise this 12 months.”
Roach received the 2024 U.S. Olympic Staff Trials, however given the brand new qualification course of, he was unable to compete within the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games. Roach bought his first profession stoppage in his most up-to-date struggle – a first-round TKO of Robert Ledesma final October – and is raring to construct on that success.
“I’m younger. I’m 21,” Roach stated. “I’m actually about to begin getting issues rolling in these subsequent couple years. I really feel like this is a crucial 12 months as a result of I need to be on subsequent 12 months’s prospects record. It is essential for me to indicate that I’m a contender.”
Rivera, 2-0-1 (1 KO), is a 25-year-old from Puerto Rico who fought Carlos Lebon, 4-1 (4 KOs), to a attract a 118lbs struggle in September in Orlando, Florida. His wins – one at 115lbs – have each come in opposition to Jeremis Hernandez-Torrez.
Roach has vowed to reveal his potential in opposition to Rivera on Friday.
“I’ll present my abilities and I’ll present my energy,” he stated. “I can do every part within the ring with no limitations.”
Lucas Ketelle took an unconventional path to boxing, ultimately discovering his stride in gyms and media. For the previous decade, he has hosted the “Lukie Boxing” podcast, filmed coaching camps for fighters like Arnold Barboza Jnr, Mikey Garcia and Caleb Plant, and labored with prime professionals reminiscent of Mike Bazzel. Ketelle can also be an writer of “Contained in the Ropes of Boxing,” a information for younger fighters, a author for ProBox TV, BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. Discover him on X at @LukieBoxing.
