Maldonado gets new opponent for Monday FS1 main event

Maldonado gets new opponent for Monday FS1 main event

Welterweight Fidel Maldonado Jr. has rarely gotten an easy assignment in his young pro career. Maldonado was set to continue that trend when he was matched with former 130-pound titlist Steve Forbes, but that fight fell through, sending Golden Boy Promotions matchmakers scrambling for a replacement for Monday’s Fox Sports 1 broadcast. With three days to go, a press release from Golden Boy confirms that Maldonado will now face the lightly regarded John Nater of Puerto Rico.

Maldonado (17-2, 14 knockouts) comes off a big win last November as he stopped fellow prospect Luis Ramos in seven rounds in what was a pick’em fight between two young fighters. Nater (13-4, 10 KOs) is taking a major step up and nothing in his previous history suggests he’ll be up to the task. The bout is scheduled for ten rounds.

In the co-featured bout, 2012 US Olympian Errol Spence Jr. takes on Peter Olouch of Florida in an eight-round bout. Junior middleweight prospect Julian Williams meets the well-traveled Alex Bunema of Congo. Prospects Terrell Gausha and Justin DeLoach are two of the bright spots elsewhere on the card.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com