Undefeated junior welterweight prospect Amir Imam (15-13 KOs) will face his toughest opponent to date when he takes on Fidel Maldonado Jr. (19-2, 16 KOs) on the January 17 Showtime card headlined by Bermane Stiverne vs. Deontay Wilde.
Imam gained national attention by kicking off 2014 in explosive fashion with a fourth round stoppage over Jared Robinson. The knockout was notable due to Imam’s right hand sending Robinson careening out the ring. Imam has fought twice since, scoring victories over Yordenis Ugas (UD8) and Santos Benavides (KO6).
“Amir Imam is a great kid and a very exciting fighter, and this is going to be a very exciting fight,” says Don King, who promotes Imam. “I think Amir is going to be the next Tito Trinidad. He can both box and punch and he is going to be a bad man. I want a title for Amir and this fight with Maldonado is en route to that.”
Three years into his professional career, Imam will be facing his first Top 25-30 fighter in Maldonado, who has stopped five of his last seven opponents. With 84% of Maldonado’s victories coming by KO, Imam concedes that his strategy gives proper respect to his more seasoned opponent.
“This is by far the biggest fight of my career and I’ve got to show the world what I’ve got,” Imam explained. “I know that Maldonado is a southpaw and he comes forward and throws a lot of punches. I plan on boxing the kid for 10 rounds, but if the opportunity for a KO comes then I will go get it. I’m not letting anyone take this opportunity away from me. I have worked too hard for it.”
Imam trainer, Stacey McKinley, doesn’t share his fighter’s caution and expects another devastating KO.
“Maldonado’s fought a better class of fighters than Amir but never fought a fighter like Amir and most have not,” he said. “He’s not strong enough for Amir and Amir will walk straight through him. Amir will be Don King’s next superstar.”
Maldonado is seeking to regain momentum that was stalled in his last fight, a third round “No Contest” with Fernando Silva. The referee called the bout due to excessive illegal punching and shoving from both fighters (Note: Maldonado later voiced his displeasure and blamed the ref’s incompetence for the decision).
Imam is currently ranked #8 by the WBA. Maldonado knows a win over a highly-touted undefeated prospect can put him i contention for a title, a feat that’s eluded him thus far in his five-year career.
“I have been training hard since my last fight against Fernando Silva, and have had no time off,” said Maldonado Jr. “I am ready to get the job done, and I hope he is ready. My goal is to show fans that I can put on a great show, step up the competition and get ready for a title match one fight at a time.”
The card airs live on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET with preliminary bouts on Sho Extreme beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 