Maliek Montgomery: Pagan Messed Up By Choosing Me
- Matthew Brown
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
10/23/2025
Tonight, at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dmitry Salita’s Salita Promotions in association with Universal Boxing Promotions bring Big Time Boxing USA to the island, headlined by a big lightweight showdown. Undefeated Puerto Rican prospect Joshua “Double J” Pagán meets experienced puncher Maliek “Mayhem” Montgomery for the WBO NABO Lightweight Championship in a bout many expect to be a crossroads moment for both men.
The winner walks out with more than a regional belt; they walk out with the narrative that most influences future matchmaking in this hot lightweight division.
Montgomery enters tonight’s clash with a record of (20-1, 18 KOs) and fresh motivation after a surprising unanimous-decision loss to Jeremy Hill back in March. The setback, Montgomery says changed his career path in ways that may actually help him now. Montgomery has since treated the defeat as fuel.
In an exclusive interview with Brunch Boxing, Montgomery spoke candidly about where he stands going into what many are calling an upset-possible fight. He framed the matchup in blunt terms: he’s the B-side, he’s on the road, and he’s the betting underdog. It’s exactly the kind of position that, to him, hides danger for the man who thinks he’s getting an easy resume win.
“They think that in a sense that they’re taking advantage of that. ‘He has the record now to where it looks good on our resume if we beat him.’ But they just don’t realize that they messed up. I don’t think they’re going to realize it until they get in the ring with me and we actually start punching.”
That swagger isn’t empty. Montgomery made clear he believes the loss to Hill opened doors he wouldn’t otherwise have had — an ironic blessing that put him in this spot across the ring from a hungry Puerto Rican prospect in front of a partisan crowd. He called the opportunity “huge,” and one he might not have gotten without the stumble earlier this year.
Targets, not excuses, are Montgomery’s tone. He doubled down on his expectations for the fight’s shape and outcome: “Ultimately, I do feel like if I do what I need to do, this is going to be a one-sided fight.”
That prediction is both a challenge and a warning. Montgomery is not looking to merely roll the dice in San Juan, he’s planning to make a statement. It’s an opportunity to turn a difficult season into the sort of comeback story that boxing loves.
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