Anthony Olascuaga signs Matchroom deal ahead of Yuberjen Martinez defence

WBO flyweight champion Anthony Olascuaga has signed a multi-fight co-promotional agreement with Matchroom Boxing and Teiken Promotions ahead of his sixth title defence.

Olascuaga will face unbeaten Colombian Yuberjen Martinez on 14 November at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The bout will be the co-main event beneath Diego Pacheco’s super-middleweight contest with Darius Fulghum.

The card will be shown in the United States on TNT, truTV and DAZN, with DAZN also carrying the event internationally.

Olascuaga, 12-1 (9 KOs), last fought in March, when he stopped Jukiya Iimura in the ninth round in Yokohama. Five of the 27-year-old’s past six appearances have taken place in Japan, so the Carson date will allow him to defend his title close to his Los Angeles home.

“I’m so excited to be fighting in Los Angeles,” said Olascuaga. “It feels amazing to fight in the city and on the streets where I grew up. LA is home, and fighting in front of my people makes this one extra special.

“I am very grateful to Mr. Honda and everyone at Teiken for their continued support, and I’m also very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Eddie Hearn and the Matchroom team once again.”

Olascuaga’s career has been closely linked with Japan since his first world-title opportunity. With only five professional fights behind him, he accepted a late-notice challenge against unified WBA and WBC light-flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji in Tokyo in April 2023 after Jonathan Gonzalez withdrew through illness.

Olascuaga dropped down from flyweight for the fight and gave Teraji a competitive contest before being stopped in the ninth round. He returned five months later to halt Giemel Magramo in seven and then knocked out Riku Kano with a third-round left hand to win the vacant WBO flyweight title in July 2024.

His first defence, against Gonzalez, was initially ruled a no-contest following an accidental clash of heads but was later changed to a first-round technical knockout victory. Olascuaga subsequently outpointed former two-division champion Hiroto Kyoguchi before recording stoppage wins over Juan Carlos Camacho Jnr, Taku Kuwahara and Iimura, extending his winning run since the Teraji defeat to seven fights.

The Carson appearance replaces a planned summer return to the United States. Olascuaga had been due to defend against Andy Dominguez on 11 July at an outdoor event in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, but the show fell through after production company Silverback withdrew its involvement and the associated permit application amid concerns over logistics and finances.

Promoters considered moving the card to Las Vegas before cancelling it, and the Dominguez fight was not rearranged.

Martinez, 7-0 (7 KOs), will receive his first world-title opportunity after stopping each of his professional opponents. The 34-year-old represented Colombia at two Olympic Games, won flyweight silver at Rio 2016 and claimed the WBO Latino title in May.

“I’m very happy with this huge opportunity to fight for the WBO Title,” Martinez said. “After winning Silver at the Rio Olympics, my dream has been to become World champion.”

Martinez will complete his preparations at Nacho Beristain’s Romanza Gym in Mexico City.

British heavyweight David Adeleye will make his Matchroom debut against Alexander Flores over 10 rounds on the undercard, while unbeaten lightweight Charlie Sheehy meets Gabriel Flores Jnr. Zaquin Moses, Nishant Dev, Frank Espinoza and Federico Pacheco are also scheduled to appear, with their opponents still to be confirmed.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said further unification fights would be the target if Olascuaga retains his title.

“Victory on November 14 for Anthony paves the way for a massive year in 2027 – he wants to add more belts to his collection, and with Matchroom and Teiken behind him, that’s on the cards if he delivers the win at the War Grounds.”