GBP: Eight Fight Cards Highlighted by Stars Barrera, Leija, and Larios

22.10.03 – After a year in which Golden Boy Promotions established itself as one of the leading promoters in boxing, the Los Angeles based company is closing out 2003 with an exhaustive Fall lineup that will please even the most satisfied fight fan.

From October 23 to November 22, an incredible eight fight cards will be on tap, featuring a wide array of world champions, top contenders, and future stars. And though nothing can replace the live atmosphere of fight night, fans at home can view five of these cards on top boxing networks like HBO, HBO Latino, HBO PPV, ESPN2, and Telfutura.

Here’s the Golden Boy Promotions “Fistic Fiesta” for October 23 to November 23:

October 23 – Reliant Arena – Houston, TX – HBO Latino – This Thursday, former world junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez leaves his post as HBO Latino’s “Oscar De La Hoya Presents Boxeo De Oro” color commentator to step through the ropes for a bout with Humberto Aranda. In the co-feature, super bantamweight contenders Jose Luis Valbuena and David Donis battle it out.

October 30 – Irvine Marriott – Irvine, CA – The long running “Battle in the Ballroom” series continues with the best local fight action in the sport. Watch tomorrow’s champions today.

November 6 – HP Pavilion – San Jose, CA – “Fight Night at The Tank” finishes up the 2003 season with another action-packed card, this one featuring unbeaten Olympian Guillermo Saputo in his toughest test to date against Candy Robertson, and female world champion Kelsey Jeffries defending her title against Kelli Cofer.

November 7 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX – Telefutura – “Solo Boxeo” televises the junior welterweight debut of former junior lightweight champ Angel Manfredy. In the “Fists of Gold” co-feature, Oscar “Pajarito” Andrade defends his NABA super flyweight title against Alex Ali Baba.

November 13 – The Centennial Garden – Bakersfield, CA – Another California boxing favorite, “Fight Night at the Garden” packs them in with furious action and evenly matched battles on every card.

November 15 – The Alamodome – San Antonio, TX – HBO – In one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year, featherweight king Marco Antonio Barrera takes on Philippine bomber Manny Pacquiao in a 12 rounder that has ‘Fight of the Year’ written all over it. In the co-feature, local hero and former world champion Jesse James Leija battles always tough Fernando Mena in a junior welterweight ten rounder.

November 21 – Selland Arena – Fresno, CA – ESPN2 – “Friday Night Fights” features one of the most exciting young prospects in the game – Juan “Pollo” Valenzuela – in a tough bout with southpaw Ernie Zavala. In the co-feature, highly regarded bantamweight Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez puts his unbeaten record on the line against veteran Hugo Dianzo.

November 22 – The Grand Olympic Auditorium – Los Angeles, CA – HBOPPV – For Golden Boy Promotions’ first pay-per-view show, “Fiesta De La Hoya Night of The Aztec Warriors”, the stakes will be high and the action fierce. In the main event, Oscar Larios defends his WBC junior featherweight title against Napopol Kiattisakchocchoi. Also on the card is an IBF lightweight title bout between Javier Jauregui and Levander Johnson, and two separate bouts featuring unbeaten prospects Jose Navarro and Octavio Lara.

ABOUT GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

As one of the sport’s most active promoters, Golden Boy Promotions has over 40 shows scheduled in 2003, with many to be televised on networks such as HBO Latino, Telefutura, and ESPN.

The Golden Boy Promotions team of fighters is comprised of some of the top competitors in the world, as well as a group of rising stars who will keep boxing fans enthralled for years to come. They include: featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios, WBC #1 ranked lightweight Juan Lazcano, former world champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija, WBC and WBO #4 ranked super bantamweight Israel Vazquez, WBO #2 ranked super lightweight sensation Kelson Pinto, WBC youth lightweight champ ‘Mighty’ Mike Anchondo (world ranked by the WBC, WBA, and WBO), NABO super flyweight champion Jose Navarro (ranked #5 by the WBO, #7 by the WBA, and #11 by the WBC), #15 WBC ranked junior welterweight Juan Valenzuela, WBO #10 ranked bantamweight Carlos Madrigal, WBC youth super middleweight champ Enrique Andrade (ranked #14 by the WBO), unbeaten Librado Andrade, and, undefeated two-time Argentine Olympian Guillermo Saputo.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, Please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com