GRAND RAPIDS – Grand Rapids native and WBO NABO Lightweight Champion Joshua “JJ” Pagan will make his second title defense against Mexico’s Rodolfo Bustamante Salazar on June 14 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe.
Pagan is coming off a masterful performance on Feb. 10 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, where he defeated Brian Jimenez (18-3 10 KOs) via a dominant 10-round unanimous decision.
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Pagan (15-0, 5 KOs) hosted his training camp in Florida under the guidance of his father Tony, leveraging the elite local boxing scene and intense climate to prime his body for a showdown in front of his hometown crowd.
“We decided to go back to Florida for camp, and there is just an incredible amount of elite work out there,” Pagan said. “The weather is also a huge plus because it’s much more predictable than back home in Michigan. Training in that Florida heat and humidity makes it so much easier to melt off my walk-around weight.”
For Pagan, returning to GLC Live at 20 Monroe carries an emotional charge that goes far beyond the ropes. While the hometown pressure brings massive expectations, it is Pagan’s willingness to chase risk that he believes separates him from the rest of the contenders in the division.
“The energy of my homecoming in February was unreal—almost everyone from Grand Rapids came out, and having my family there gave me goosebumps,” Pagan reflected. “Getting to do it again in front of them is a great feeling, but what truly separates me is my willingness to take on challenges. There’s no growth and no improvement without them. You have to push yourself because that’s what gets you ready for the championship level.”
That dedication to seeking out challenges was proven in his breakthrough victory over Maliek Montgomery, a fight where many doubted the Grand Rapids native, but one he knew he was entirely ready for.
“For the Montgomery fight, a lot of people were surprised I won the way I did, but I wasn’t,” Pagan said. “Mentally and physically, I knew I was prepared to go to war in there and that’s exactly what I did. This next fight is no different.”
In Salazar (22-1-1 12 KOs), Pagan meets a battle-tested, come-forward fighter in the Mexican tradition — a style he says only adds to the intrigue.
Pagan is well aware Salazar arrives hot, riding a first-round knockout in May and a high finish rate.
“He’s coming to fight, and he’s coming to win,” said Pagan. “Mexican fighters will take 20 shots just to land one good one. You have to come out on your P’s and Q’s. Cautious, but adjusting as you go. I’m going in there prepared for whatever he brings to the table. It’s an exciting fight, but I’m going to stick to my game plan and do what I have to do to come out victorious.”
WBA Interim Flyweight World Champion Jonathan ”Bomba" Gonzalez (29-4-1, 14 KOs) will make his promotional debut as the co-main event. He is set to face the undefeated, hard-charging Abraham “Hammer” Perez (14-0 7KOs).
USBA Heavyweight Champion Brandon Moore (19-1, 10 KOs), and Michigan standouts including Flint heavyweight Sardius Simmons (7-0, 3 KOs), Detroit knockout artist Lance “Boogie” Smith (6-0, 5 KOs), Ann Arbor’s Jasmine Hampton (2-0, 2 KOs) and Flint rising prospect Jaquan McElroy (6-0, 2 KOs) are featured on the card.
Driven by a commitment to transforming Michigan back into a premiere hub for elite prizefighting, Salita Promotions lands in Grand Rapids for its fourth straight regional event and its third event in Michigan in under six months.
This ongoing revival is fueled by the collaborative push between Dmitriy Salita, Wynn Network and DAZN, a partnership dedicated to providing homegrown fighters with a global platform and legitimate title fights.
The event will stream on the global home of boxing, DAZN at 5 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.