26.11.03 – While most in the boxing world are winding down for the upcoming holiday season, Golden Boy Promotions is keeping the momentum from its record-setting 2003 going by signing yet another young prospect, unbeaten Daniel Ponce-DeLeon of Mexico. “Daniel Ponce-DeLeon typifies what a Mexican warrior is all about,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya.
“He gives 100 percent in the ring, has power in both hands, and always looks to give the fans a great fight. This is a fighter we will be talking about for years to come.”
A member of the 2000 Mexican Olympic team, the 23-year-old Ponce-DeLeon has been terrorizing bantamweight opponents since turning pro in March of 2001. In 15 fights (all wins), none of his opponents – which include veterans Francisco Tejedor and Trinidad Mendoza – have heard the final bell. In August of 2002, the native of Cuauhtemoc, Mexico won the WBC Youth Bantamweight title by stopping Idelfonso Martinez in three rounds. Already ranked tenth in the world by the WBA, Ponce-DeLeon will be seeking a world title shot in 2004.
As one of the sport’s most active promoters, Golden Boy Promotions has presented over 40 shows in 2003, with many televised on networks such as HBO Latino, Telefutura, and ESPN. On November 22, Golden Boy Promotions presented its first pay-per-view event, “Fiesta De La Hoya: Night of The Aztec Warriors”, which aired live on HBOPPV.
Ponce-DeLeon joins Marco Antonio Barrera, WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios, IBF lightweight champion Javier Jauregui, former world champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija, WBC #1 ranked lightweight Juan Lazcano, WBC # 1 ranked super flyweight Jose Navarro, WBC #3 and WBO #4 ranked super bantamweight Israel Vazquez, IBF and WBO #3 ranked super bantamweight Jose Luis Valbuena, two division world champion Fernando Montiel, and WBO #2 ranked super lightweight sensation Kelson Pinto, as well as up and coming prospects such as WBC youth lightweight champ ‘Mighty’ Mike Anchondo, Juan Valenzuela, Carlos Madrigal, WBC youth super middleweight champ Enrique Ornelas Andrade, unbeaten Librado Ornelas Andrade, Edwin Valero, and two-time Argentine Olympian Guillermo Saputo, on the Golden Boy team.