Classic Boxer-Puncher match-up Oscar Cantu vs. Aston Palicte

“Knockout Night at the D” will air live (7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET) on CBS Sports Network from inside the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center indoor facility, located in the heart of the downtown Las Vegas casino district, one block away from the world-famous Fremont Street (200 S. 3rd St.), and FloBoxing.tv will live stream the Dec. 17^th undercard worldwide, starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET), in addition to three main card TV bouts – excluding North America – beginning at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET).

The “Knockout Night at the D” series, presented by the D Las Vegasand Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions.

Jim “J.R.” Ross and Joey Varner will call all the action live from ringside, while Jeff Huston will be the ring announcer and fight-week master of ceremonies.

Cantu vs. Palicte will be contested for two belts as Cantu defends his North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super flyweight championship, in addition to the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super flyweight title.

Rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) as a flyweight, the 25-year-old Cantu (14-0, 1 KO) will face the toughest test of his 4+-years professional career in the heavy-handed Palcite, but he’s excited to be headlining this nationally televised show from Las Vegas.

“I feel honored to be headlining a card in Las Vegas,” the Texan said.  “The opportunity is what every boxer wants because Vegas is the biggest boxing hum in the United States and it has produced great champions in the past.  I want to thank Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions for this opportunity.

“A victory can help me open doors to the world title and allow me the show everybody what I stand for, which is being God’s humble champion.   The outcome of this fight will come down to who wants to win more.  I’m sure that adjustments will need to be made throughout the fight.  Either way, I am well prepared to get this victory.”

Palicte (21-2, 18 KOs) is a dangerous Filipino fighter who is world rated at No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 15 by the WBO.  Now training in Los Angeles, Palicte is looking forward to making his American debut Dec. 17.

“I’m really excited,” he remarked.  “I’ve been training o hard, pushing myself to the limit, because I also want to excel as much as the other Filipino fighters. I am grateful for this opportunity to fight in the main event.  Knowing he is undefeated, this is going to be an exciting, challenging fight.

“I’ve always dreamed of fighting for the world title and I’m taking things one step at a time.  Through my promoter, RJJ, it was mentioned that there’s a big possibility for a world title challenge in 2017 if I win this fight.  I’ve fought some quality fighters and I think I can do what I want in the ring, though I won’t say it’s going to be easy to control the fight.”

Styles made fights and a classic match-up between a consummate boxer (Cantu) and powerful puncher (Palicte) guarantees an intriguing fight that should be highly entertaining and incredibly competitive.  Both fighters also respect each other.

“Palicte brings an impressive record and a lot of experience,” Cantu noted.  “The road to a world title is a tough one, which means no easy opponents.  I am really excited about this challenge.  This is a classic fight because of our styles and I am sure we won’t let the viewing public down.  I am ready to become the next great American champion in this weight class.”

“Cantu is a smart boxer,” Palicte added.  “I’d compare him to Ismael Garnica, who I fought in our Showdown at Sands in Macau. (Palicte won by way of a seventh-round TKO.)  He (Cantu) is kind of a runner, too, always moving around the ring, but we can never tell one’s ability until we’ve fought.

“This is going to be an exciting fight.  I’m really looking forward to getting a hold of those belts.  Cantu is also a good boxer but with my experience and power, I think I have much more advantages than him.  I know he’s also doing his best training, so, it’s going to be a really good fight come December 17^th.”

Unbeaten Chilean junior middleweight champion Angelo Baez (15-0-1, 11 KOs) will make his U.S. debut against Jamaica-native Nathaniel Gallimore (15-1-1, 12 KOs), fighting out of Evanston, Illinois, in the eight-round co-feature.

Los Angeles’ Flavio Rodriguez (5-0, 4 KOs) meets Mexican invader Dilan “El Terrible” Loza (5-0, 3 KOs) in a six-round battle of undefeated welterweight prospects to open the televised segment of the evening.

The Las Vegas Big 3 – 21-year-old junior lightweight Randy “El Matador” Moreno (7-0, 6 KOs), 26-year-old welterweight Jeremy “J-Flash” Nichols (7-0, 2 KOs) and 18-year-old bantamweight Max “The Baby-Faced Assassin” Ornelas (6-0, 3 KOs) – will be showcased Dec. 17^th.

Additional fights will soon be announced.  All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $1,000.00 VIP booth (includes 15 admissions), $50.00 VIP ringside, $25.00 and $15.00 general admission, are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.DLVEC.com.  Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT with the opening bout scheduled at 5:00 p.m. PT.

The “Knockout Night at the D” series was developed in partnership with the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and Neon Star Media.

Websites: www.dlvec.com, www.thed.com, www.royjonesjrboxing.com, www.knockoutnightboxing.com

Twitter: @thedlasvegas, @dlvEventsCenter, @DerekJStevens, @BoxingatheDLV, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Instagram: @dlvec, @thedlasvegas, @RoyJonesJrBoxing

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/dlvec, www.Facebook.com/thedlasvegas

Follow these fighters on Twitter:  @AstonPalicte, @_RandyMoreno, @JFlashGang, @Ornelas_Max

RIVAL BOXING GEAR & EQUIPMENT is the official gloves partner for the “Knockout Night at the D” series.  www.rivalboxing.com, @rivalboxinggear

About the D Las Vegas:  the D Las Vegas delivers the fresh, energetic attitude and fun atmosphere synonymous with downtown Las Vegas. The new casino hotel boasts 629 remodeled rooms and suites and a unique two-level casino featuring modern and vintage floors. Cocktails, beer and frozen beverages abound inside the casino at LONGBAR and on the Fremont Street Experience at D Bar.  the D offers contemporary American fare at D Grill, Detroit’s legendary Coney Dogs at American Coney Island and premium steaks and authentic Italian dishes at Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse. The Showroom at the D Las Vegas features outstanding entertainment ranging from award-winning dinner theater and Broadway productions to music, comedy and more. Follow the D on Facebook and Twitter.

About Downtown Las Vegas Events Center:  Located at the corner of Third St. and Carson Ave. across from the D Las Vegas, the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center can accommodate up to 11,000 guests and features state-of-the-art stage, sound and lighting. The open-air design is inviting to both tourists and locals and offers the perfect spot for concerts, conventions and other large-scale events. Embracing the uninhibited spirit of Downtown Las Vegas, the new venue plays host to a line-up of curated events including premier concerts, food festivals and more. The venue is also the first entertainment arena in Las Vegas to accept Bitcoin as currency. For more information, visit www.dlvec.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @dlveventscenter.

About Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions:  Co-founded in 2013 by 10-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr. and Keith Veltre, Roy Jones, Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is on its way to reinventing boxing.  Based in Las Vegas, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions is climbing to the top at a fast pace, adding young talent to its growing stable such as undefeated super welterweight John Vera and former 3-time world super bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko, along with Tony Lopez and Hanzel Martinez, lightweight Demond Brock, super featherweight Randy Moreno, cruiserweight Irsael Duffus, bantamweight Max Ornelas, super lightweight Emanuel Robles, middleweight Rolando Garza and light heavyweight Adrian Taylor.