Combate Americas bantamweight champion José Alday is set to defend his title in a rematch with Gustavo Lopez in Tucson, Arizona on March 29.
Combate Americas has announced that bantamweight champion José “El Pochito” Alday will defend his title in a rematch against Gustavo Lopez. The fight is set to take place at the Casino del Sol in Alday’s adopted hometown of Tucson, Arizona on March 29.
Last year, Alday became a breakout star in Combate Americas by stepping in on less than a week’s notice to defeat bantamweight stand-out John Castaneda in the main event of the promotion’s first televised card on Univision. In September, he was set to face Levy Marroquin for the inaugural title before Marroquin was forced from the bout due to medical issues. Gustavo Lopez stepped in on just 48 hours notice and Alday went on to win by split-decision in an exciting back-and-forth contest.
It had been expected that Alday would face former UFC stand-out Erik “Goyito” Perez in his first title defense, but no comments have been made as to why talks for the fight fell through. Following his last fight, Perez donned a luchador mask and publicly threatened to retire until the brass stepped into the cage in a seemingly scripted moment to agree to give him a title shot.
The company also announced five featured bouts for the card that include several fighters from Tucson and the greater Arizona area. The first is a middleweight bout between Kobe Ortiz and James Cannon. At flyweight, young prospect Oscar Suarez will face Joao Camilo. At bantamweight, Andy Perez will face Eduardo Alvarado Osuna.
The card also features two women’s bouts as Phoenix’s Codie Wareham will take on Gabby Romero at strawweight while Marisol Ruelas will face Tucson native Corrie Ward.
More fights will be announced as the event gets closer. The card will be aired exclusively on DAZN in English.
