Sadam Ali returns for first time since loss to Vargas on Canelo card

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Aug

Photo by: Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Jessie Vargas and Sadam Ali fought for more than just a welterweight title on March 5 on HBO in Washington, DC. They also squared off for the opportunity to get a more lucrative fight in the near future. Vargas’ sensational stoppage allowed him to eventually face Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 5 while Ali was forced to reassess his career.

Ali (22-1, 13 knockouts) will now take the first step toward rebuilding his name when he faces Saul Corral (21-7, 12 knockouts) on the preliminary undercard headlined by Canelo Alvarez’s junior middleweight title fight with Liam Smith at AT&T Stadium Sept. 17 on HBO PPV, it was formally announced on Monday.

The Bronx’s Eddie Gomez, who has won three straight since dropping a decision to Francisco Santana, will also fight off the PPV broadcast in Arlington, Texas against Dario Ferman (13-1, 10 KOs). Brooklyn’s Zachary Ochoa (15-0, 7 KOs) is also in action against an opponent to be named, as is Hector Tanajara Jr. (6-0, 4 KOs) and Joshua Franco (6-0, 3 KOs), who both hail from Texas. London’s Anthony Yarde (7-0, 6 KOs) will open up the undercard, all of which will be streamed on RingTVLive.com.

“Sadam Ali is determined to prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with after a difficult loss to Jessie Vargas earlier this year,” Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya said in a press release. “And Eddie Gomez will show the fans that he is a threat not to be ignored in the hot welterweight division.”