03.08 - Exciting bantamweight prospect Sergio "San Diego Sensation" Espinoza 9-0, (3 KO's) headlines at "The Quest" which will be held at Sweetwater High School this Saturday in National City.

The card which will be promoted by Forum boxing in conjunction with Gabriel Barron Entertainment will showcase the skilled and speedy bantamweight in front of hometown fans at his alma mater.

"I'm thrilled to be fighting in front of my friends and family," stated Espinoza, "I hope to some day bring a title back to San Diego." Blessed with lightning fast hands and excellent footwork, the former national golden gloves winner and four time national amateur champion has demonstrated promise beyond his 9 pro fights.

Espinoza will be facing tough Rey Karlos Lopez out of Sinaloa who has a solid reputation as a durable body banger with a good defense and will most likely provide Espinoza with a stiff test.

"Sergio is one of the hottest prospects in the current boxing scene," commented the shows promoter Gabriel Barron. "Espinoza is one of the most complete fighters around and always entertaining to watch. His successful outings at The Pala Casino and the highly popular Battle in the Ballroom in Irvine can attest to that."

Mexico vs. Puerto Rico!

The rivalry continues: Puerto Rico's own Luis Perez 18-3-1, (14 KO's) goes up against Mexicali's Fernando "Tigre" Mena 15-3-2, (13 KO's) in a battle of power punchers. Perez is coming off two straight knockout wins and is considered to be a solid prospect by manager Ricardo Maldonado who also manages Marco Antonio Barrera, WBO Super Flyweight champ Fernando Montiel and WBO Jr. Middleweight boss Daniel Santos just to name a few.

Fernando Mena is also coming off a knockout win and put in an excellent effort while trying to capture the WBC FECARBOX Jr. Welterweight title in a thriller at the Pechanga Casino which ended when Mena suffered a cut in the eigth round. Judging from the standing ovation he received along with his opponent, Mena comes to fight.

Four more bouts packed with local talent will round out the action in what is sure to inject a burst of energy into the slowly reviving San Diego boxing scene.

"We want to help bring boxing back to the home of the 'mongoose' Archie Moore," Barron said referring to the legendary light-heavyweight champ who made San Diego his home. "The boxing scene is picking up and we want to help take it over the top. The fact that the Latino population in San Diego is so large and the proximity to the Mexican border makes that goal very attainable."

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first bout at 7:00 p.m. For more info call (619) 250-1385 or (619) 474-2800. Tickets are $25, $35 for preferred seating and $45 for ringside. The public is welcome to attend the weigh-in on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn South Bay which will be host to the show.