Erik Ruiz replaces Emmanuel Quartey vs Hanzel Martinez in Friday Night’s “Knockout Night at the D” main event

Photo by Tom Donoghue / the D Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (September 27, 2016) – Veteran super bantamweight Erik Ruiz has replaced Ghanaian boxer Emmanuel Quartey, who was unable to secure a visa to enter the United States, in this Friday night’s 10-round main event versus Hanzel “Rude Boy” Martinez, headlining a strong “Knockout Night at the D” card, for the vacant World Boxing Association International super bantamweight title.

Airing live (11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT) on CBS Sports Network and internationally via ESPN (digital delay check local listings), “Knockout Night at the D” will be held outdoors under the neon lights at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center.

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

Hall of Fame announcers Jim “J.R.” Ross and Al Bernstein will call all of the action from ringside with Sean Wheelock handling fighter interviews on CBS Sports Network and in English for ESPN internationally.

Martinez (23-2, 19 KOs), a former WBC United States bantamweight champion, fights out of Tijuana, Mexico. Ruiz (15-5-1, 6 KOs) is coming off an impressive 10-round draw with 30-1 Horacio Garcia this past May in as Vegas. He has a notable win over previously unbeaten (11-0-2) Roy Tapia also extended top prospects such as Jessie Magdaleno, Alexis Santiago and Manuel Avila the distance.

“We knew there were some issues with Quartey’s visa situation,” promoter Keith Veltre said, “so we had Erik Ruiz on hold. It’s unfortunate but things like this happen in boxing and we’re fortunate to have such a quality opponent like Erik as a late replacement. In fact, he’s fought much tougher opponents than Quartey. Hanzel has 18 knockouts in his 23 wins, but Ruiz has never been stopped as a professional. We’re confident that the main event will be equally competitive and that fans will enjoy another great night of ‘Knockout Night at the D” boxing.”

In the 10-round co-feature event, Tony Lopez, Jr. (11-1, 4 KOs) takes on Stephon “Showstopper” Young (14-0-3, 6 KOs) for the vacant WBA North American Boxing Association (NABA) bantamweight title.

In the third title fight of the night, undefeated WBA-NABA USA super welterweight champion John “The Phenom” Vera (14-0, 9 KOs) makes his second title defense against Milorad “Micko” Zizic (12-1, 6 KOs) in an 8-round bout opening the televised segment of the card.

Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts are Las Vegas welterweight Jeremy “J-Flash” Nichols (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Marquis Hawthorn (4-4, 1 KO), Las Vegas’ 18-year-old bantamweight Max “Baby Face” Ornelas (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Mulapi “The African Mexican” Enjani (2-2-2, 1 KO), Las Vegas junior lightweight Sal Lopez (3-0) vs. Kenneth Taylor (2-0, 2 KOs), and Las Vegas junior lightweight Randy Moreno (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Fabian Alaniz (1-0, 0 KOs).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $99.99 VIP ringside, $49.99 ringside, $24.99 and $14.99 general admission (seated), are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.DLVEC.com. Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT with the opening bout scheduled at 6:00 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.

This “Knockout Night at the D” event licensed to ESPN will be available to watch in 61 additional countries and territories in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico & Brazil) Caribbean, Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands), United Kingdom, Canada and India