Joseph Hicks Jr., a fast-rising contender in the middleweight division, had a productive Friday night, securing a fourth-round stoppage against seasoned opponent Gilberto Pereira dos Santos. The fight took place at the Motor City Casino in Detroit and was organized by Salita Promotions.
Hicks (9-0, 6 KOs), now celebrating his fifth win of 2023, was guided in this crucial outing by well-known trainer Kay Koroma for the first time.
“I was feeling confident inside the ring,” Hicks commented. “I focused on delivering more combination punches than I usually do. Each fight is making me better, and I’m eager to continue climbing the ranks and taking on the division’s best fighters. I’m getting closer to becoming a world-ranked contender and eventually, a world champion.”
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Hicks was a standout amateur boxer and was scheduled to lead the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2020 summer games. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the schedule, and when the games resumed, Hicks was excluded due to the International Olympic Committee’s selection criteria. Hicks turned professional in 2022 and has continued to show promise.
He started 2023 by overpowering the then-undefeated Bilal Quintyne in February, followed by a stoppage of Noah Kidd in April. Later, Hicks won unanimously against Antonio Todd as part of Claressa Shields’ event at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit in June. He also secured a unanimous win over Ramses Agaton in July before his most recent fight on Friday.
“Joseph is arguably the busiest young fighter in boxing right now,” noted Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions. “He’s incredibly committed to perfecting his skills, and it shows. Hailing from Michigan, a state with a rich boxing history, he’s set to be among its celebrated champions before long.”