Mercurial brawler James Kirkland will headline a Premier Boxing Champions card March 14 at the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, according to a release. The bout will be televised on Fox Sports 1.
Kirkland’s opponent is Marcos Hernandez of Fresno, California.
“I’m very excited to make the most of this opportunity,” Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) said. “… It’s truly a blessing to be back in the mix. I’m training hard and perfecting my craft like always. Look for me to bring fireworks on March 14.”
Kirkland seemed to have retired from the sport after his devastating knockout loss to Canelo Alvarez in 2015. The San Antonio native returned to the ring last year and collected two stoppage wins against overmatched journeymen.
Kirkland made his name on HBO as a highlight-reel brawler. He has also made headlines for the wrong reasons, including an assault charge in 2013 and for his contentious, on-and-off relationship with longtime trainer Ann Wolfe.
Hernandez (14-3-1, 3 KOs) is coming off a decision loss to Kevin Newman II in November.
On the undercard, undefeated prospect Eimantas Stanionis (10-0, 7 KOs) will face Justin DeLoach (18-4, 9 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. Stanionis is a 2016 Olympian from Lithuania.