Miami’s Juan Carlos Payano to co-main “Rumble at the Rock”

Miami’s Juan Carlos Payano to co-main “Rumble at the Rock”
by Matt Benoliel
TFN REPORTER

Juan Carlos Payano (19-1, 9 KOs), the former WBA World Super Bantamweight Champion and Miami resident will face undefeated “Magic” Mike Plania (14-0, 7 KOs) of the Philippines in a scheduled 10-rounder that has been elevated to the co-main event this Friday, March 23rd at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Coupled with Young vs. Gaballo, that makes two tough, undefeated Filipino fighters making their US debuts against two seasoned fighters on the same card.  Plania was originally scheduled for a fight in Tampa last week which fell through and has now found his way onto this card.  Payano won his belt in 2014 and lost it in 2016 after he lost a rematch with the tough as nails Rau’shee Warren.  It should be noted, however, that Payano has never lost a fight in his home state of Florida, and that rematch with Warren in Chicago marks the only loss on his record.  He is currently ranked #4 in the world by Ring Magazine.