Professional bantamweight champion Alfred Leisure (4-0) is set to defend his title at this month’s IT Fight Series 37, as the Columbus native will take on Charlie Gathers (9-7) in the main event in his hometown.
Leisure and Gathers were slated to square off earlier this year for the vacant title, but Gathers suffered a cut in his April win over Jeremiah Yeager at an event in Pennsylvania and was unable to make the late May date. Leisure still competed at the event, where he put on an impressive performance against late replacement Manuel Correa.
Leisure has not lost in his career dating to his amateur days, as he went 6-0 before turning pro in 2013. He’s kept the unbeaten streak intact as a pro, earning a pair of knockouts in his first two pro fights. Then he defeated Mike Velazquez in a classic fight at IT Fight Series 29 last year.
Gathers was slated to competed in the main event at Complete Devastation MMA 12 over the weekend, but that event was canceled at the last minute, so he’ll now step in against Leisure. Gathers has had a solid run over the past year, going 4-1 with his only loss to UFC veteran Dustin Pague. All four of his wins have come via submission in that time, so it’s expected that he’ll probably try to get the fight to the ground against the polished striker Leisure.
IT Fight Series 37 goes down at Stars Indoor Sports in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 24.