Next PBC on CBS Card Set for Sep. 6, Features Dirrell vs. Rubio

Anthony Dirrell is dead set on regaining his super middleweight crown and his first step toward reclamation will come on Sunday, Sept. 6.

It was announced Thursday morning Dirrell is set to face off against veteran power puncher Marco Antonio Rubio in the next installment of Premier Boxing Champions’ PBC on CBS.

Dirrell captured the WBC 168-pound title when he conquered Sakio Bika over 12 rounds last August, but he lost his crown to Badou Jack in April via majority decision. The loss was the only one of his professional career but before he can attempt to avenge the heartbreaking defeat to Jack, he has to first get past Rubio.

“I’m ready to get back in the ring and prove that I’m still one of the most dangerous men in the game,” said Dirrell (27-1-1, 22 KOs). “Rubio is a tough guy but I’m coming to knock him out and eventually get my title back. ‘The Dog’ is coming to Texas looking to inflict some pain.”

Rubio (59-7-1, 51 KOs) has taken on virtually every top-rated fighter of his generation throughout his career. He’s scored plenty of highlight reel knockouts over the years, but even though he’s come up short in several of his biggest fights, the Mexican always brings the action and guns for the stoppage. Rubio has held several regional titles over the years but has yet to capture a legitimate world championship. He last challenged for a world strap last October when he was flattened by middleweight wrecking machine Gennady Golovkin in the second.

The co-feature of the afternoon will be the eagerly-awaited rematch between WBA super bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell and Tomoki Kameda. McDonnell (26-2-1, 12 KOs) survived a third-round knockdown to narrowly edge the Japanese fighter 114-113 on all three scorecards.

“I am delighted to be going back to the states and facing Kameda again,” said the U.K.’s McDonnell in a statement. “The first fight was brilliant, he’s a class act and I wish that the first fight had gone on even longer. People wrote me off before the first one but I was always confident that I would beat him and I am even more confident that I will do it again. If I start well this time I think I will stop him.”

Also slated for the card will be the IBF super welterweight championship between Cornelius Bundrage and Jermall Charlo (21-0, 16 KOs). It will be the first defense of the title for Bundrage (34-5, 19 KOs) since regaining it last October by outpointing Carlos Molina.

“This is the fight I wanted and I’m thankful to have the opportunity,” countered Kameda (31-1, 19 KOs). “I thought that I won the first time, but this time I will leave no doubt. I can’t leave it up to the judges this time, my plan is to dominate.”

The event will be held inside the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas with televised coverage on CBS beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $15-109.