Andy Vences Targets WBA Title Shot With Win Over Jono Carroll

Andy Vences (23-2-1, 12KO) knows what is at stake heading into his super featherweight bout with Ireland’s Jono Carroll (19-2-1, 5KO). The pair will face off this Sat. September 11, on the undercard of Triller Fight Club’s Evander Holyfield-Vitor Belfort clash — available on worldwide PPV — with the winner earning a chance to fight for the WBA Super Featherweight Championship.

“It’s a real crossroads fight. I’ve fought some big fights where I feel I’ve got robbed or fell short. The same has happened to him [Carroll]. It’s a very important fight, especially because it’s an eliminator fight. Yes, it’s a crossroads fight, a real ticket to success,’ Vences said, speaking to Switchbox TV.

The 30-year-old Calfornia-native is coming off a 2020 split decision loss to Mexico’s Luis Alberto Lopez Vargas. He is eager to showcase what he has been working on in the gym, especially after adding Charles Perales to his team.

“You will see a better offense and defense. I never knew or have never been taught how to block from distance using my hand; that’s something he’s taught me very well…the ability to box and the ability to walk down opponents when necessary. That’s something I haven’t even shown in my fights,” Vences explained.

Carroll comes into this bout on the back of an impressive win over Moldova’s Romic Airapetean. Carroll retried the outgunned Moldovan in the fourth round, but Vences is in a completely different league to Airapetean. The American knows what he is getting into when he takes on Carroll, and the pair have the potential to put on a “Fight of the Night” matchup. Vences and Carroll are set to open Saturday’s card, and for boxing purists, this fight is the one to keep an eye on.

“He’s [Carroll] a tough guy, he comes to fight, and I’m going to be more than ready. I think he has characteristics that will definitely make this fight interesting. He’s a very emotional guy,” Vences said.

“On paper it’s not an easy fight, so I already know the expectations. What I did in this camp was make it as challenging as possible, there world contenders that I was sparring with, some of the best southpaws in the amateurs and in the pros right now.”

Who do you see winning this matchup?