Zuffa Boxing will make its New York debut on July 26 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, with Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins sharing top billing on the card.
Berlanga returns in a 10-round fight against Canadian veteran Steven Butler. The Brooklyn super middleweight has not fought since his one-sided defeat to Hamzah Sheeraz in New York last July, making this a key reset fight in front of a familiar crowd.
Watch Berlanga vs. Sheeraz highlights: Watch
Butler enters with four straight wins and says the stage will not bother him. “I’ve fought in Japan, so New York doesn’t intimidate me,” Butler said. “I’m working hard, and I plan to seize my opportunity in New York. You’ll see. This is my moment.”
In the co-main event, Hitchins, also from Brooklyn, will make his welterweight debut against Ricardo Salas in a 12-round bout. The former IBF 140lbs champion moves up after wins over Liam Paro and George Kambosos.
The 28-year-old was expected to defend his IBF 140lbs title against Oscar Duarte on February 21 in Las Vegas. Hitchins made weight the day before the fight, but withdrew on the morning of the bout, which was scheduled for the Ryan Garcia-Mario Barrios undercard at T-Mobile Arena. He later vacated the IBF title in April and confirmed his move to welterweight, where Salas will be his first test.
Salas, from Mexico City, enters with six straight wins since a majority draw with Chester Parada in October 2023. His only two losses came by split decision, against Abraham Juarez in 2018 and Julio Luna in 2021.
Closing the main card will be Jalil Hackett who takes the biggest step of his career when he faces Sergiy Derevyanchenko on July 26 at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Hackett enters as one of the rising names at middleweight. The 23-year-old from Southeast Washington, DC, had a strong amateur background with nearly 150 wins and 10 national titles before turning professional.
After losing a split decision at welterweight in December 2024, Hackett moved up to middleweight and has won three straight fights. His most recent Zuffa appearance came in February, when he rallied late to earn a majority decision over Roberto Cruz Jr.
Watch Hackett vs. Vines highlights: Watch
Derevyanchenko brings the kind of experience Hackett has not yet seen as a pro. The 40-year-old Ukrainian Olympian has never been stopped and has shared the ring with Jermall Charlo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs and Jaime Munguia.
