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          Dan Rafael Blog

          Sites set for Showtime cards in March, April

          • Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior WriterFeb 25, 2015, 01:24 PM ET
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            • 2013 BWAA Nat Fleischer Award winner for excellence in boxing journalism
            • ESPN.com boxing writer since 2005
            • Five years at USA Today
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          The sites are set for the “Showtime Championship Boxing” cards in March and April.

          On March 28, the card headlined by featherweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs) making his third defense, against Gary Russell Jr. (25-1, 14 KOs), will take place at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

          There had been speculation that the show would go to the Alamodome’s Illusions Theater in San Antonio or possibly the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

          Also on the card, junior middleweight contenders Jermell Charlo (25-0, 11 KOs) and Vanes Martirosyan (35-1-1, 21 KOs) will meet. Although the bout is not a formal elimination fight at this point, the winner will put himself in an excellent position for a world title opportunity.

          The April 18 card, which is headlined by former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-1-1, 32 KOs), who will be making his Showtime debut, against light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara (26-3, 15 KOs), will take place at the StubHub Center.

          That is the same venue where an out-of-shape Chavez, who didn’t make weight, won a controversial decision against Bryan Vera in their first fight in September 2013.