This Friday night live from Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ, former junior welterweight titlist Victor “Mremelada” Cayo (31-3, 21 KO) will go to battle with young prospect Emmanuel “Tranzforma” Taylor (16-1, 11 KO) in a 10-round bout where each pugilist will be looking to shine for fans around the world and move one step closer to a contention fight later in the year.
The Dominican Republic native Cayo won his first 24-fights to begin his career before being stopped by Marcos Madaina in 2010; since the loss he has gone 7-2, with both losses coming at the hands of top tier fighters—current champion Lamont Peterson and former unified lightweight champion Nate Campbell.
“I know what’s at stake,” said Cayo. “I have to beat this guy and look good if I’m going to fight for a world title. I have trained like everything I worked for is on the line in this fight and in many ways it is.”
Cayo has remained active inside the squared circle, fighting 5 times in 2012, winning his last four bouts. A testament to what he brings into the squared circle is that through his 35 bout career, he has stopped the opponents he has needed to. Despite his opponent being and up-and-comer, Cayo will have his hands full as the 22-year-old Taylor will be looking to use him as a stepping stone to bigger and better fights and names.
Taylor earned this ESPN main event has after he made an impressive comeback over Raymond Serrano in January. After losing the first two rounds of the bout and appearing to be outclassed and outworked, Taylor bounced back and found his groove and rhythm, eventually stopping the favored fighter in the sixth round of their scheduled 10-round bout.
Friday night’s fight against Taylor will be indicative of if Cayo is able to once again regain the stature he held within the junior welterweight division, where he was once rated as high as #3 in the division. He will need to go out and fight the way he did for the beginning of his career, when he dominated his opponents.
Taylor will be standing in the way of Cayo’s ambitions of fighting for a world title in 2013, and the style matchup should present fans with an exciting fight; two hungry junior welterweights will look to make a name for themselves in the stacked division and show they are ready for the bigger stage.
The action will get started as undefeated heavyweight Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamo (16-0, 16 KO) will put his record on the line against Victor Bisbal (21-1, 15 KO) in what is scheduled for 10 rounds, but is unlikely to go the distance.
ESPN has been delivering the action week after week, and tomorrow’s fight card promises to continue to deliver.
Live boxing begins at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
