Rising prospects Gleybert “Canelito” Maia and Diego Carbajal are set to headline the eighth edition of “WBA Future Champions”, the World Boxing Association’s premier development program. The event kicks off its third season this Saturday at the Centro Recreacional Yesterday in Maracay, in honor of the late Gilberto Mendoza, the WBA’s emeritus president. Fight fans can catch all the action live on the WBA’s official YouTube channel.
The undefeated “Canelito” Maia (7-0, 3 KOs), a 21-year-old rising bantamweight from Miranda, will face his toughest test yet against the battle-tested Ronaldo Chacón (6-4-2, 3 KOs) in the night’s main event. Maia is coming off an impressive sixth-round TKO victory over Eddy Maita last November in Maracaibo, but Chacón, who scored a first-round knockout over Ronny Sáez in December, will be looking to play spoiler. This is a make-or-break challenge for Maia as he seeks to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Meanwhile, Carabobo’s Diego Carbajal (5-0, 3 KOs), a 20-year-old featherweight prospect, will also be in action, aiming to continue his flawless run in the WBA Future series. Another fighter to watch is Zulia’s Geremy Vera (8-0, 3 KOs), a 20-year-old talent who has been making waves in the WBA’s development program.
Beyond showcasing the next generation of Venezuelan boxing stars, WBA Future also serves as a reunion for legendary figures in the sport. This edition is expected to feature Leo “Torito” Gámez, a mentor of the Venezuelan chapter of WBA Future, along with former WBA champions David Grimán, Eloy Rojas, and Jesús “Kiki” Rojas.
The action kicks off at 2 PM at Centro Recreacional Yesterday in Maracay. Fans can watch the full event live on the WBA’s official YouTube channel:
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