14.07.04 – Oscar De La Hoya calls him boxing’s next superstar. Eight of the last nine men he has defeated haven’t heard the bell for the second round. Yet he has never set foot in a United States ring. Who is this mystery man?
On Thursday, August 5, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Miller Lite is pleased to present the United States debut of highly touted junior middleweight contender Marco Antonio Rubio, as he faces seasoned veteran Rafael Pineda in the ten round main event when the Miller Lite, Texas Title Belt, Professional Boxing Series returns to the Dodge Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas, on Thursday, August 5.
The six-bout card, which begins at 7:30 pm, will be nationally televised on HBO Latino’s “Oscar De La Hoya Presents…Boxeo De Oro.” This will mark the first time for an HBO network to telecast a live event from the Rio Grande Valley.
This is Golden Boy Promotions’ third trip back to the Dodge Arena, which has quickly gained a reputation as home to some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans in the fight game.
“The fans have come out in record numbers for the first two Golden Boy Promotions shows at the Dodge Arena,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “So when the opportunity presented itself for HBO to make its first trip to the Rio Grande Valley, there was no hesitation on our end to bring this action-packed card to the great fans here.”
Tickets for this night to remember, priced at $75, $50, $30, and $20, go on sale at the Dodge Arena and all Dodge Arena outlets on Friday, July 16.
Headlining the show will be the long-awaited US debut of Marco Antonio Rubio (25-1-1, 23 KOs), the latest member of the Golden Boy Promotions roster, and a concussive puncher with either hand. Born in Torreon, Mexico, Rubio came up in the notoriously tough Mexican circuit, learning his craft while clearing out all comers. In August of 2003, Rubio won the vacant WBC International junior middleweight title.
But don’t assume that because he has fought 10 times in the last two years that the 5-11 Rubio is burned out on boxing. Of those 10 fights – one went four rounds, one went two frames, and the other eight ended in one round. Included among those wins was a victory over well regarded Fitz Vanderpool.
Rubio’s opponent on August 5 is far from a pushover. In fact, former junior welterweight world champion Rafael Pineda has all the tools to spoil Rubio’s welcoming party. 38-6 with 31 KOs, San Cristobal, Colombia’s Pineda is the definition of a wily veteran who can beat any fighter in the world on any given night. This fact was never clearer than in his last fight, on May 15, when he lost a razor-thin 12 round decision to top welterweight contender Zab Judah. Pineda is also credited with giving welterweight champion Cory Spinks his toughest fight to date before losing a controversial decision, and he is looking to give Rubio the fight of his life on August 5.
In the “Boxeo De Oro” co-main event, former IBA World Lightweight Champion, Efren Hinajosa (27-2, Mexico City) will take on another Mexico City native, Jose Luis Soto-Karass (16-4) in a 10 round lightweight fight.
A stellar undercard is also on tap for August 5, San Antonio native Danny Flores (16-0-2, 3 KOs) challenging Midland’s featherweight champion Tomas Villa (8-3-3, 4 KOs) in an eight rounder for the Miller Lite Texas Title Belt. Local Edinburg star Pablo Pena (6-2, 3 KOs) will face Dallas’ Derrick Moon (4-2-1) in a lightweight contest.
The August 5th event is one of nineteen Miller Lite Texas Title Belt, Professional Boxing Series, events throughout Texas during the year. The Miller Lite Texas Title Belt Series benefits The ¡Adelante! U.S. Education and Leadership Fund. ¡Adelante! provides educational assistance to Hispanic students through scholarship awards, internships and leadership training programs.