Press Releases

Return of “The Beast” Headlines August 3rd in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Making his ring return after nearly two years away, Blake “The Beast” McKernan will take on veteran Jasper “Smooth Jazz” McCargo in the six-round main event on Saturday, August 3rd, as Upper Cut Promotions presents “Showdown in Sactown” at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento.

McKernan (13-2, 6 KOs) of Sacramento has fought just once since coming up short against former world champion Badou Jack on the Jake Paul-Nate Robinson undercard in November 2020. McKernan is back healthy and ready to get busy again after injuries contributed to the layoff that kept the locally popular crusierweight out of the ring.

McCargo (4-5-3, 2 KOs) of Richmond, California is in his eighth year of competing professionally after a successful amateur career. McCargo is no stranger to the DoubleTree ring, having fought Sacramento’s Terrell Glynn to a disputable four-round majority decision defeat at the venue one year ago.

The six-round crusierweight main event serves as a true crossroads bout for the two locally-based veteran fighters. McKernan already has another fight in the offing later in the year, but cannot afford to look past the better-than-his-record McCargo.

Islam Abdusamadov (2-0, 1 KO) of San Jose, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia will meet Matthew Monroe (1-3) of Sacramento in a four-round middleweight bout.

Abdusamadov and Monroe were both in exciting fights this past January at the DoubleTree and their styles figure to make for another thrilling contest on August 3rd.

In a four-round junior welterweight bout, Richmond’s Ebert Diaz (1-1-1, 1 KO) will look to bounce back from his lone defeat against veteran David Minter (4-5, 3 KOs) of Lincoln, California, who fights for the fifth time already this year.

In a heavyweight contest between two bonafide big men, Merced, California’s 6’4” Jamaar Collins will take on the 6’8” Herman Hodnett of Oroville, California in a four-round clash.

Both fighters came to boxing after competing athletically in other sports. Hodnett played basketball at Las Plumas High School, while Collins played football at Golden Valley High School. Both men will be making their professional debuts.

Marco Ortiz (1-2, 1 KO) of Red Bluff, California will see action in a four-round light heavyweight contest. Ortiz reversed a decision defeat by way of a dominant second-round stoppage in the rematch last time out.

CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at uppercutpro.com