02.04.04 – Six-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya is quickly becoming one of Boxings top Promoters. Last July, De La Hoya presented his first boxing event in Laredo Texas. The event was undoubtedly a success as over 3,400 fans came to the Laredo Entertainment Center for a big night of action. On April 29th, Golden Boy Promotions will be back in Laredo to bring another action packed card. In association with Golden Boy Promotions, The Miller Lite Texas Title Belt will be showcasing some of De La Hoyas newest stars.
Former two-time world champion Fernando Montiel; lightweight contender “Mighty” Mike Anchondo, and North American Middleweight Champion Kingley Ikeke will be featured this exciting six-bout card. The featured bouts of the evening will be nationally televised live on HBO Latino’s “Boxeo De Oro.”
Tickets for the event are very reasonably priced at $20, $30, and $50. They go on sale today (Friday), April 2nd at the Laredo Entertainment Center and all area TicketMaster outlets. For ticket information or to chage by phone, call 956-791-9192 or go online to order at Ticketmaster.com. The first fight starts at 7:00 p.m.
This particular card will also feature a first as Montiel and Anchondo mark the first time two current top-ten world contenders will be fighting on the same card at the L.E.C. (Laredo Entertainment Center). Fernando Montiel (27-1-1) of Los Mochis Mexico will be taking on fellow countryman Samuel Lopez (14-2) in a 10-round co-featured bout.
Montiel captured his first world title in 2001 when he defeated Isidro Garcia for the WBO World Flyweight Championship. After two successful title defenses, he then moved up in weight and captured the WBO Super Flyweight crown by beating Pedro Alcazar in July of 2002 on the Morales-Barrera II card in Vegas. Montiel made one successful title defense at that weight before losing his Bantamweight crown to current WBO World Jr. Bantamweight Champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson on August 16, 2003. You can bet that he will most assuredly be looking to make a statement. Montiel is currently ranked in the top ten in the world by all major organizations, including #4 by the WBC.
In other action, undefeated “Mighty” Mike Anchondo (23-0), of La Puenta, California, is regarded as one of the top Jr. Lighweight prospects in the world and he too will be featured on this exciting card. Anchondo, is known for his exciting aggressive style. He will take on another undefeated prospect in Anthony Mora (12-0), of Thornton, Colorado. Anchondo and Mora are scheduled for a 10-round Jr. Lightweight bout. Both the WBC and IBF currently rank Anchondo #6.
North American middleweight Champion, Kingley Ikeke (18-1) is also scheduled to fight. Ikeke’s opponent, as well as the remaining 3 fights are yet to be announced or determined-so stay tuned!
Oscar DelaHoya had this to say about the card;
“I’m really excited about bringing another event to Laredo, especially with so many top young fighters participating. If you look at it, we have four fighters with combined records of 86-3-1, fighting in the co-main events. We have some really good match ups with quality fighters and that is always our main objective when putting together a card. It should be a great night for Laredo boxing fans.”
De La Hoya did however add that he would not be in attendance for the April 30th event. “I’m really looking forward to eventually making it to Laredo some day soon, but with my fight coming up (June 5th in Las Vegas) with Sturm, I will be in training camp on April 30th. This event in Laredo is very important to me, but as long as I am an active fighter and I have an upcoming fight, my first priority always has to be keeping totally focused on doing everything I can do to win. This is not only for me, but my fans and I’m sure they understand.”
Also featured on the card is local heavyweight favorite, Benito Quiroz of Nuevo Laredo. Quiroz, 8-1, will challenge former Texas Golden Gloves Heavyweight Champion, Kendrick Releford (8-4) for the Miller Lite Texas Title Belt Heavyweight Championship. Stay tuned for more info as it develops for this action packed card!!
Carlos “Stiff-jab” Kalinchuk
Contributing Writer & Photographer