14-0 Kevin Anton Defends WBC Continental Americas Title in Arizona

Undefeated junior-middleweight Kevin Anton defends his WBC Continental Americas title against fellow unbeaten fighter Yan Marcos tonight, October 16, 2026, at the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center in Chandler, Arizona. The main event of the ProBoxTV broadcast features a southpaw aiming to solidify their standing in the world rankings.

Anton and Marcos in the Main Event

Kevin Anton enters the ring with a 14-0 record, including 12 knockouts. Standing 6-foot-3, the Palmdale, California native is making his first appearance as a main-event headliner. Anton secured his current title in March and is looking to use this second defense to break into the global top-tier rankings. His recent performance in July saw him defeat Vladimir Hernandez with near-shutout scores of 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91.

His opponent, Miami-based Cuban fighter Yan Marcos, holds a 15-0 record with 10 knockouts. Marcos, a 5-foot-9 southpaw, currently serves as the IBF USBA junior-middleweight champion. While Anton brings a significant height advantage, Marcos has experience against high-level prospects, including a split-decision victory over Dwyke Flemmings Jnr in his most recent outing, a fight in which he overcame a fifth-round knockdown.

Pauldo and Tellez Giron in the Co-Main Event

The lightweight co-main event features WBC No. 5-ranked Justin Pauldo, 20-2, against WBO No. 11-ranked Rene Tellez Giron, 23-5. This 10-round bout pits two fighters with contrasting recent trajectories. Pauldo is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Nike Theran in November, rebounding from a 2024 career setback. His 2025 knockout of former world champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov remains a significant marker in his recent career.

Tellez Giron enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak. The Mexican contender captured the NABF championship in September 2025 and added the WBC Latino Silver lightweight title with a sixth-round stoppage of Maliek Montgomery in March. The meeting between Pauldo and Tellez Giron serves as a significant test for both fighters as they look to climb further up the lightweight rankings.

Acosta and Orona Under Card Action

The card also includes a featherweight matchup featuring 28-year-old Bryan Acosta, 21-2, against Carlos Messano Orona, 16-1-1. Acosta, who trains under Bob Santos, is looking to maintain momentum in a division where placement often hinges on the quality of victory against durable opponents. Orona brings a record that suggests high competitiveness, and the bout is positioned to provide a technical challenge for the Las Vegas-based Acosta.

Rawhide Event Reflects Changes in Junior-Middleweight Division

The event at the Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, located approximately 35 kilometers from Phoenix, draws on the regional infrastructure of the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The transition of fighters like Anton and Marcos into main-event status reflects how the junior-middleweight division is changing, which has seen increased visibility following the rise of champions like Sebastian Fundora.

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