Photos by Alex Sanchez / MJS Entertainment
LAS VEGAS, NV – Top Rank’s undefeated super featherweight contender, Andres “Savage” Cortes (21-0, 12 KOs), currently ranked WBO #2 and WBC #14, takes another step up in competition when he battles WBC # 4 rated Abraham Nova (23-2, 16 KOs) this Friday, June 21, at the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Cortes vs. Nova will serve as the 10-round co-main event to Rafael Espinoza, who will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Sergio Chirino in the 12-round main event attraction.
Espinoza-Chirino, Cortes-Nova and Isley-Martinez headline a stacked card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ and Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions, tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
Cortes, who recently wrapped up his training camp in Las Vegas, discusses his upcoming matchup with Nova, his recent training camp, fighting at home, and more. Here is what Cortes had to say.
On his recent training camp:
“This has been one of my better training camps as I was fully focused on executing the game plan for Nova during all sparring sessions. I’ve grown a lot as a fighter during the last couple of months and I’ll be ready to put on a great performance for the fans. My weight is in place and all the hard work is paying off.”
On his matchup with Abraham Nova:
“I believe this will be the most difficult fight of my career. Nova has fought for a world title already and knows what its like to fight at the championship level. I must break him down and make adjustments. My brother (Luis) has a perfect game plan that we’ve been working on and I will follow instructions as the fight goes on.”
On what a win will do for his career:
“A win puts me in position to fight for a world title so this will be the turning point of my career. A victory will solidify me as one of the best fighters in the super featherweight division. More opportunities will come my way with a win.”
On fighting in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada on ESPN in co-main event:
“Fighting at home in Las Vegas brings the best out of me because all my family and friends will be in attendance. I want to give my fans my best performance and scoring a knockout will be the goal. The exposure that I will get fighting on ESPN is something I look forward too, and I’m grateful to Top Rank, my promoter, for this opportunity.