NORBERT NEMESAPATI VS. JASON ESCALERA ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS CO-FEATURE AUGUST 8TH

New York, NY / Fallon, NV (7/28/14) – Undefeated super middleweight Lennox Allen suffered a rib injury in training and has been forced to pull out of his upcoming ESPN Friday Night Fights eight-round co-feature bout against Hungarian teenage phenom Norbert Nemesapati (14-0, 13KOs) next Friday in Fallon, NV. In Allen’s place will be the heavy-handed Puerto Rican brawler Jason “El Monstruo” Escalera (14-2-1, 12KOs), fresh off of his decision victory over previously undefeated Naim Terbunja on July 18. The Star Boxing-promoted Escalera dropped Terbunja and the two went toe-to-toe in an action-packed six-round brawl with Escalera pulling out the split decision. Now that Escalera will be returning to the bright lights of ESPN, he knows what a tremendous opportunity this is for his career. The fight between Escalera and the undefeated Nemesapati is expected to be a barnburner between two come-forward knockout artists.

“I appreciate the opportunity from DiBella Entertainment and Star Boxing for giving me a chance to showcase my talents on ESPN. This is going to be a terrific fan-friendly fight as neither one of us takes a step backward inside the ring. Boxing fans won’t want to miss this matchup,” stated Escalera.

Headlining the card will be top-rated junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson (22-1-1, 13KOs) facing the hard-hitting Mexican Luis Grajeda (17-2-2, 13KOs) in the 10-round feature bout of the evening.

Opening up the card will be the highly anticipated pro-debut of China’s 2008 Olympic Games silver medalistZhang Zhilei, in a four-round heavyweight special attraction.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Let’s Get It On Promotions, in association with Rumble Time Promotions, Jean Pascal Promotions, Dynasty Boxing and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing.

ESPN will begin live coverage at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2, broadband Spanish-Language ESPN Deportes andWatchESPN.