The main event will be a WBC eliminator at 154 pounds.
Showtime has a card set for Oct. 26 from Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania, headlined by a WBC junior middleweight eliminator between Erickson Lubin and Terrell Gausha.
The co-feature will see former lightweight titleholder Robert Easter Jr move up to 140 pounds to face Adrian Granados, while Rau’shee Warren faces Emmanuel Rodriguez in a WBC bantamweight eliminator in the opener.
Lubin (21-1, 16 KO) has won three straight since a first round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo, who held the WBC 154-pound belt at the time, back in Oct. 2017. The wins since then have been over journeyman Silverio Ortiz, faded veteran Ishe Smith, and wildly overmatched Zakaria Attou, so it hasn’t exactly been some hard charge from the 23-year-old Lubin, but he’s gotten his feet back under him and regained his confidence in the meantime, and his career remains promising.
Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KO) is a 32-year-old former Olympian who’s had two really notable fights as a pro, losing a wide decision to Erislandy Lara in a title shot in Oct. 2017, and then going to a highly disputed draw with veteran Austin Trout in May of this year, a fight most thought Gausha deserved to win.
“I’m focused on the task at hand, and that’s beating a world class opponent in Terrell Gausha,” Lubin said. “My plan is to put all of the belt holders in my division on notice with a victory. I’ve been in camp for five weeks with five weeks to go. I’ll be supremely conditioned and fundamentally sound on Oct. 26. You’re definitely not going to want to miss it.”
“This is going to be an action-packed fight with me and a strong, young fighter like Lubin,” said Gausha. “He’s a good test for me. Lubin will be the fourth southpaw in a row that I’ve faced and I’m ready to go again. I’m just at a point where I want to fight the best and most challenging fights possible. He called me out and I’m definitely going to be ready for him on Oct. 26. The fans won’t want to miss it.”
Easter (21-1-1, 14 KO) held the IBF lightweight title from Sept. 2016 until losing it to Mikey Garcia in July 2018, and last time out he faced Rances Barthelemy in a Showtime main event on Apr. 27, competing in one of the worst fights mankind has ever been subjected to on television, a fight that went to a draw, which was fitting since nobody deserved to win.
The 28-year-old Easter will be moving up to junior welterweight for this fight with Granados (20-7-2, 14 KO), a tough 30-year-old fighter out of the Chicagoland area who was known for losing close and often questionable decisions to name fighters, before his Apr. 20 bout with Danny Garcia, who trucked him and knocked him out in the seventh round.
This will be Granados’ first fight back at 140, where he’s really more comfortable, since his 208 no decision when Javier Fortuna fell out of the ring and couldn’t continue.
“I’m moving up to 140 pounds and I’ve been preparing really hard for this fight,” said Easter. “Expect me to come out and be very explosive on Oct. 26. I anticipate Granados coming to fight like he always does. He’s a fighter who always comes prepared and puts his heart into it, but I’m going to do the same thing and show that I’m ready to make a statement in this division.”
“I’m expecting a tough fight against Robert Easter Jr on Oct. 26,” said Granados. “Our styles mesh well. Easter is a sharp fighter and that’s why I’m giving it everything I have in training camp. I’m looking to bounce back from my last fight and show everyone that I still have a lot to give the sport of boxing. Easter is a technician in the ring but I’m a warrior and I’m going to come with everything that I have.”
Warren (16-3, 4 KO) is a former three-time Olympian and WBA bantamweight titleholder. He last fought on Jan. 19, losing to Nordine Oubaali, a former Olympic rival, in a fight for the vacant WBC bantamweight title.
The 32-year-old from Cincinnati will look to get back to a title shot against another former titleholder, Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-1, 12 KO). Rodriguez, 27, won the IBF title in May 2018, beating Paul Butler, then entered the World Boxing Super Series. He won a split decision over Jason Moloney in the first round last October, and was then knocked out in the second round by Naoya Inoue in May of this year.
“I’m ready to bounce back and prove I’m still one of the best bantamweights in the world,” said Warren. “This is a great fight for me to do that. After this fight I’m ready to get that belt back again because I miss it. I know these fighters can’t beat me when I’m at my best.”
“I’m super excited to return in a great fight like this,” said Rodriguez. “Warren is a very good fighter and a victory over him will put me where I want to be. I’m thankful for the opportunity to get closer to reaching my goal of becoming a world champion again in 2020. I have learned from the mistakes of my loss and I’m confident everyone is going to be talking about my performance on Oct. 26.”
The Showtime card will face direct competition from an ESPN+ card headlined by Shakur Stevenson vs Joet Gonzalez for a vacant featherweight title.
