FAIRFIELD, CALIF. (July 31) – For the first time in two years, top junior featherweight prospect Manuel “Tino” Avila will compete in his hometown of Fairfield, Calif. at the Allan Witt Sports Center and puts his undefeated record on the line in the FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes’ Golden Boy Live! main event against Mexico’s Sergio “Finito” Frias on Friday, August 22.
In the co-main event, it’s an eight-round heavyweight showdown when unbeaten Gerald “El Gallo”Washington faces veteran standout Nagy Aguilera. In the eight-round televised opener, featherweights Guy Robb of Sacramento, Calif. and Jonathan Arrellano of Ontario, Canada will square off.
“Few moments in boxing are more exciting for fans than when a young, hungry prospect fights in front of his hometown,” said Oscar De La Hoya, president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions. “Manuel Avila seems to have all the tools, but how he performs against a tough fighter like Sergio Frias in a pressure-packed situation will determine a great deal about Tino’s future.. Gerald Washington is an impressive athlete who has picked up boxing very well in a short period of time, and if he beats a veteran like Aguilera, he could be on his way to the next level of the heavyweight division.”
A 22-year-old rising star with a huge California following that is growing nationwide, Fairfield’s Manuel “Tino” Avila (15-0, 6 KOs) last fought at home in August of 2012, when he stopped Vicente Alfaro in three rounds. Since then, he has fought and won six more times, most recently knocking out seasoned veteran David De La Mora in just two rounds. Showing clear improvement with each fight, Avila expects to be at his best ever on August 22.
Sergio “Finito” Frias (15-3-2, 8 KOs) is a four-year professional who is unbeaten in his last three fights. A rugged battler who knows how to mix it up in the ring, the 23-year-old Guadalajara native is ready for a big night in which he makes his Golden Boy Live!and United States debut against one of the top talents in the 122-pound weight division.
A former college football star who is on his way to surpassing his success on the gridiron in the boxing ring, Vallejo’s Gerald Washington (13-0, 10 KOs) may have gotten a late start in the sweet science, but he’s making up for lost time quickly. Washington is 3-0 thus far in 2014 and the 32-year-old has scored knockouts over Arron Lyons, Skipp Scott and Travis Walker this year and Aguilera is on his hit list for number four.
Fresh from a gutsy effort against 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale in April, New York’s Nagy Aguilera (19-8, 13 KOs) will attempt to get back on the winning track against Washington this August. Winner of three of his four pre-Breazeale bouts, the 28-year-old known as “Dominican Dynamite” can make a big statement if he pins a loss on Washington on Golden Boy Live!.
Sacramento featherweight Guy Robb (13-1, 5 KOs) is always in an exciting fight and he will have his fans out in force when he looks for his seventh consecutive win on August 22. The same can be said for Ontario’s Jonathan “Lil’ Thund’r” Arellano (14-4-2, 3 KOs), making this a must see fight for hardcore boxing fans.
Also in action on August 22 will be several of California’s top young talents in separate 4 round battles including San Jose’s Andy Vences (8-0, 4 KOs) who takes on Hollywood’s Cesar Martinez (4-2-2, 1 KO), Los Angeles undefeated featherweight Manny Robles Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs), Madera’s Chris Bautista (2-0) Vacaville’s Ryan Bourland (2-0, 1 KO) and a rematch between junior middleweights Joel Siapano (0-1) of San Leandro and Fresno’s Jesus Sanchez (1-0).
Avila vs. Frias is a 10-round junior featherweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents and sponsored by Corona Extra and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The Allan Witt Sports Center doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 6:00 p.m. PT. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets, priced at $100 (VIP), $65 (Floor) and $40 (Bleachers) are on sale now by calling La Charrita Market 707-434-8344, Courtyard by Marriott 707-422-4111 or online at www.pacopresentsboxing.