Boxing News -- 24 hours/day - Reload often!
Continuously updated all day, every day!
BOXING NEWS | BOXING RESULTS | BOXING SCHEDULE | BOXING RANKINGS | SEND A NEWS TIP
     
   
     
 

IBF title on the line!

March 25, 2004

By Francisco Salazar

 


     
 

Golden Boy Promotions presents the latest installment of 'Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro' tonight at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Tonight's card has world title implications.

In the main event, Israel Vasquez and Jose Luis Valbuena  square off for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF Junior Featherweight title.

The bout along with the co-feature between Roger Gonzalez and Johnny Gonzalez, will be televised on HBO Latino.

Vasquez, (35-3, 25 KO's) from Mexico City, DF, Mexico, has won three fights in a row since losing by technical knockout to current WBC Super Bantamweight champion Oscar Larios.

Once a former NABF Super Bantamweight champion, Vasquez has defeated some of the top contenders at his weight class. Jorge Julio, Hector Velasquez, and Edel Ruiz have all  succumbed to the power and skill of Vasquez.

Earlier in his career in 1997, Vasquez defeated Larios by first round knockout.

In his last bout, Vasquez knocked out Trinidad Mendoza in the seventh round last September in Bakersfield, CA.

Valbuena, (24-2-1, 14 KO's) from Turmero, Venezuela, earned his right to fight for the world title when he scored a ninth round technical knockout over David Donis in Houston, TX last October.

Valbuena has won six bouts in a row since losing a 12 round unanimous decision to Marco Antonio Barrera in September 2000 for the WBO Super Bantamweight title.

He has won and defended the IBF Latin American Super Bantamweight title.

In the co-feature, undefeated Roger 'Speedy' Gonzalez faces Jhonny Gonzalez in a 10 round Bantamweight bout.

Gonzalez, (23-0, 17 KO's) from Chino, CA, won the NABO Bantamweight title in his last bout by split-decision over Samuel Lopez last September.

The young 25-year-old is poised to join the major players in the 118 pound division. Gonzalez uses speed and athleticism to overwhelm most of his opponents.

Gonzalez, (21-4, 19 KO's) from Pachuca, Mexico, is a hard-hitting Bantamweight, who has knocked out seven fighters in a row. His last defeat was a technical decision loss to contender Ricardo Vargas.

In his last fight, Gonzalez knocked out Moises Zamudio in the fifth round to win the WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight title. Gonzalez is also a former NABF Bantamweight title holder.

Ricardo Cortes will face Errol Banner in an eight round Super Middleweight bout.

Cortes, (11-1-1, 7 KO's) is coming off a thrilling knockout victory over Christian Cruz last November in Bakersfield. Cortes is facing Banner in a rematch, which resulted in Cortes being disqualified for rabbit punching Banner, which rendered Banner unable to continue.

Banner, (8-9-1, 5 KO's) from Belize, saved his boxing career in his last fight in February when he knocked out Jaime De La Torre in the second round in Ontario, CA.

High school English teacher Rhonda Luna will face Amber Gideon in a six round Featherweight bout.

Luna, (4-0, 1 KO) from Rowland Heights, CA, is an exciting prospect who is never in a  bad fight. Luna, who teaches at a suburban high school in Los Angeles, is coming off of a four round unanimous decision victory in October over Kimberly Reed.

She is also returning from a hand injury.

Gideon, (1-0) from Chicago, IL, hopes to be the first to slow down the Luna express.

In other bouts:
- Isidro Granados, (7-1, 5 KO's) from Bellflower, CA, faces Freddie Castro in a six round Featherweight bout. Granados knocked out Jorge Garcia in his last bout in November. Castro, (4-8-3, 2 KO's) from Los Angeles, is a tough, elusive left-handed fighter to face. He has been at the short end of very close decisions.

- Merhav Mohar, (9-1, 3 KO's) from Kfar Saba, Israel, will face an opponent to be determined in a six round Welterweight bout.

- Jose Luis Cardenas, from Mexico City, DF, Mexico, will make his professional debut against Jose Jimenez in a four round Bantamweight bout. Jimenez (0-1) is from Pacoima, CA.

Tickets are on sale at the Grand Olympic box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, and by calling Golden Boy Promotions at 213-489-5631. Ticket prices range from $30 to $150. Doors open at 5PM, with first bell scheduled for 6PM local time. HBO Latino goes on live at 7PM local time, to be aired at 10PM ET/PT.

Mario Solis and Raul Marquez will call the action for HBO Latino.


 
     
  Questions? Comments? Email Francisco Salazar  
     
 
All contents copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by Freitag Marketing Services.
 

 

The information on this site cannot be reused without written permission.