The boxing world awaits the intriguing IBF middleweight title-elimination bout between Hassan N’Jikam N’Dam and Curtis Stevens on Oct. 1, but the undercard of the ESPN-televised fight looks compelling as well.

Two 10-round bouts feature young unbeaten prospects facing seasoned or contender-level opposition at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.

Light heavyweight Isiah Thomas will fight Maxim Vlasov, while welterweight Fredrick Lawson faces Ray Narh.

Thomas (13-0, 6 knockouts) will take a major step up in competition when he faces Vlasov, who is rated in the top 10 of some sanctioning organizations as a super middleweight and light heavyweight.

In his last bout on June 6, Thomas won an eight-round unanimous decision over Rayco Saunders. His fight against Vlasov will only be his second fight of 2014.

The Russian-born Vlasov (30-1, 15 KOs) has won his last 11 bouts. In his last fight on July 25 in Riga, Latvia, Vlasov knocked out Ruben Eduardo Castro in the seventh round.

Lawson (22-0, 20 KOs) made his United States debut on March 22 in Maplewood, Minn., stopping Mohammed Kayango in the sixth round. Lawson fought all of his bouts in his native Ghana.

Narh (26-5, 21 KOs) has lost three bouts in a row and four of his last five. In his last bout on April 16, Narh lost a close 10-round split decision to unbeaten Chris Van Heerden.

In an eight round bout, hard-hitting Colombian featherweight Miguel Marriaga (18-0, 16 KOs) will fight fringe contender Christopher Martin (28-3-3, 9 KOs).

Two six-round bouts round out the card. Light heavyweight prospect Isa Akberbayev (12-0, 8 KOs) will fight Geovanni Sarran (5-7, 1 KO), while middleweight Sergiy Derevyanchenko (1-0, 1 KO) fights Laatekwei Hammond (21-7, 14 KOs).

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Doors to the venue open at 5:00 p.m. local time with first bell scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ESPN2 will begin its broadcast at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

Ontario card tonight

Boxing action returns to the Inland Empire of Southern California tonight as Thompson Boxing Promotions presents a seven-bout card at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif.

Headlining the “Path to Glory” card will be an eight-round bout between lightweight Jose Roman and Hector Velazquez.

Roman (17-1-1, 12 KOs) has won his last three bouts in a row. In his last bout on May 16, Roman survived three knockdowns to win a close 10 round unanimous decision over Luis Solis.

Velazquez (56-22-3, 38 KOs) has faced a number of world champions, contenders, and prospects throughout his career that has spanned almost 21 years. In his last bout on July 11, Velazquez lost an eight-round unanimous decision to Paul Spadafora.

In the eight-round co-main event, super bantamweight Daniel Roman (11-2-1, 5 KOs) fights Jonathan Alcantara (7-11-2, 1 KO).

In notable action, welterweight prospect Taras Shelestyuk (8-0, 6 KOs) faces Patrick Boozer (6-2, 2 KOs) in an eight round bout, while heavyweight prospect LaRon Mitchell (4-0, 4 KOs) fights Hector Martinez (7-6-1, 4 KOs) in a four round bout.

Doors to the venue will open at 6:30 p.m., with first bell at 7:45 p.m.

Tickets start at $40 and could be purchased at the door or by calling (714) 935-0900.

Flores returns

Heavyweight Alexander Flores is scheduled to return to action on Thursday, Oct. 16 inside the Hangar at the OC Fair and Events Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Flores will fight Avery Gibson (4-4-2, 1 KO) in a six-round bout.

Flores (14-1, 11 KOs) last fought on April 16, when he was stopped in the fourth round by unbeaten Charles Martin. He is now being trained by Henry Ramirez.

Tickets start at $55 and could be purchased at (949) 760-3131.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. He also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing