A showdown of two once-beaten heavyweights will headline a card on April 19 in Long Beach, California. Michael “The Bounty” Hunter will meet Christopher Lovejoy in a scheduled eight-round fight.
The show will take place at Thunder Studios and stream live on wbcboxing.com.
Hunter, 24-1-2 (17 KOs), of Las Vegas is seeking his fifth straight victory as he attempts to build towards a heavyweight title opportunity. The 36-year-old Hunter is rated in the top 15 by two of the sanctioning bodies, including no. 2 by the WBA, and is coming off a 2024 in which he fought three times.
Hunter was recently named in a WBA resolution mandating “regular” titleholder Kubrat Pulev to face no. 1 contender Fabio Wardley, with the winner of that fight to face Hunter within 120 days.
“I’m coming into this fight with a knockout mentality,” said Hunter. “Lovejoy is tough, but I’m levels above him, and I’ll prove it on fight night. 2025 will be the year I’m crowned world champion.”
The 41-year-old Lovejoy, 20-1-1 (20 KOs), hails from Los Angeles. He is a professional of nine years but is oddly fighting in his home country for just the first time, having scored all of his victories in Mexico. Lovejoy last fought in March of 2023, drawing with a 4-8 boxer in Egypt. The lone recognizable name on his record is Mahmoud Charr, who knocked out Lovejoy in two rounds back in 2021.
“People have been doubting me, but I’m here to show I belong with the best,” said Lovejoy. “Hunter better be ready because I’m coming to take his spot.”
The co-main event will feature Anthony Garnica, 12-0-1 (7 KOs), of Oakland, California facing former title challenger Aston Palicte, 28-7-1 (23 KOs), of Bago City, Philippines in an eight-round bantamweight fight.
The 24-year-old Garnica will be stepping up in class against a more experienced fighter who is ten years his senior, though Palicte has lost his last three fights by stoppage or knockout.
The rest of the card will include 2020 Mexican Olympian Brianda Tamara Cruz, 1-0, against an opponent to be named in a welterweight fight, plus junior welterweight Israel Mercado, 11-1-2 (7 KOs), lightweight Victor Manuel Lopez Gala, 6-1-1 (3 KOs), middleweight Raul Salomon, 14-2 (12 KOs), and bantamweight Chantel Navarro, 4-0 (3 KOs), all against opponents to be named.
