LOS ANGELES, October 8 – There’s a new middleweight contender in town, and nobody wants to fight him. But on Thursday, October 28, live from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Kingsley Ikeke will finally get to show the entire nation what all the fuss is about when he battles hard nosed power puncher Rene Arostegui in the ten round main event of HBO Latino’s hit series “Oscar De La Hoya Presents Boxeo De Oro.”
In the co-feature, heavyweight contender Eliecer Castillo will look to move further up the rankings when he tackles Texas’ Kendrick Releford in a 12 rounder to be contested for the NABF heavyweight title.
Both bouts, part of an exciting night of boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Warrior’s Boxing Promotions, Inc. and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino-Hollywood, will be aired on “Boxeo De Oro” beginning at 10pm ET / PT.
Doors open at 6:00pm, and the first bell rings at 7:00pm.
Kingsley Ikeke (20-1, 10 KOs ) has risen to the upper echelon of the middleweight division despite being one of the most avoided 160-pounders in the world. A native of Nigeria who now makes his home in Van Nuys , California , “Sharp Knuckle” is a sharp puncher with either hand, and his 6-4 frame makes him a tall order for any opponent. A decision victor over Alfredo Cuevas in his last bout on June 5, Ikeke currently holds the NABF, NABO, and NABA middleweight titles and is ranked in the top five by the WBA, WBC, and WBO.
Hard punching Mexican warrior Rene Arostegui (23-4, 20 KOs ) has his eyes set on an upset of Ikeke on October 28. Hailing from San Pablo , Arostegui is the proud owner of ten first round knockouts, and he has the power to change the direction of a fight with one swing of his fists. A former WBC Continental Americas junior middleweight champion, the 26-year-old is now ready to make his mark on the middleweight division.
Long underrated, Miami ‘s Eliecer Castillo (26-4-2, 14 KOs ) has a chance to put himself back in the heavyweight title picture by regaining the NABF title on October 28. Originally from Havana , Cuba , the southpaw has fought a who’s who of heavyweight boxing during his eight-year career, including heavyweight champions Chris Byrd and Tim Witherspoon. Castillo also holds knockout wins over former Olympian Lawrence Clay-Bey (KO 9) and then-unbeaten Andre Purlette (KO 5).
Fort Worth , Texas ‘ Kendrick Releford may be the best 10-4-1 (5 KOs ) heavyweight in boxing today. A fearless competitor who has already faced four unbeaten heavyweights in his short three-year career (beating two of them and drawing with a third), Releford doesn’t care who he’s fighting or where – just tell him when. Most recently, Releford showed the improvement in his game, decisioning well regarded Ron Guerrero and Ramon Garbey in back-to-back bouts.
And while fight fans viewing at home on HBO Latino will be treated to two top-notch contests with title implications, fans attending the show live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will just be getting started on the fight action, as six more high octane bouts are on tap, featuring former world champions, current contenders, and rising stars.
Former junior welterweight world champion Randall Bailey (28-4, 27 KOs) of Miami returns to the ring in a ten rounder against always tough Ubaldo Hernandez (19-14-2, 10 KOs) of Mexico City . Given the histories of both men, don’t leave your seat for this one.
In a 12 round bout to be contested for the NABO cruiserweight championship, Calgary veteran Dale Brown (31-3-1, 20 KOs) will face Jermell Barnes (16-6, 4 KOs) of Rochester , New York .
Highly regarded light heavyweight prospect Daniel Judah (19-0-3, 9 KOs) of Brooklyn, New York , will put his unbeaten record on the line in a ten round matchup with Miami ‘s hard-hitting Luis Gimenez (16-6, 13 KOs ).
Also on the card will be four round bouts between Florida junior middleweights Eddie Paredes (2-0, 2 KOs) and Shan Davis (0-3), 140-pounders Tom Mills (1-0, 1 KO) and Johnny Pawlowski (0-1-1), and lightweights Meacher Major (3-1, 2 KOs ) and Felix Lora (2-1-1).
Tickets for this fistic night to remember, priced at $30, $60 and $100, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. To order tickets by phone, call (954) 523-3309, (305) 358-5885 or (561) 966-3309.
For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com
October 28, 2004, from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino-Hollywood
FACT SHEET
DATE: Thursday, October 28, 2004
LOCATION: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, FL
PRINCIPALS: 10 Rounds – Middleweights
KINGSLEY IKEKE vs. RENE AROSTEGUI
Van Nuys, CA San Pablo, Mexico
20-1 (10 KOs) 23-4 (20 KOs)
12 Rounds – NABF Heavyweight
ELIESER CASTILLO vs. KENDRICK RELEFORD
Miami, FL Forth Worth, TX
26-4-2 (14 KOs) 10-4-1 (5 KOs)
10 Rounds – Jr. Welterweight
RANDALL BAILEY vs. UBALDO HERNADNEZ
Miami, FL Mexico City, Mexico
28-4 (27 KOs) 19-14-2 (10 KOs)
12 Rounds – NABO Cruiserweights
DALE BROWN vs. JERMELL BARNES
Calgary, Canada Rochester, NY
31-3-1 (20 KOs) 16-6 (4 KOs)
10 Rounds – Light Heavyweights
DANIEL JUDAH vs. LUIS GIMENEZ
Brooklyn, NY Miami, FL
19-0-3 (9 KOs) 16-6 (13 KOs)
4 Rounds – Junior Middleweight
EDDIE PAREDES vs. SHAN DAVIS
Hollywood, FL Miami, FL
2-0 (2 KOs) 0-3
4 Rounds – Junior Welterweight
JOHNNY PAWLOWSKI vs. TOM MILLS
Hollywood, FL Fort Myers, FL
0-1-1 1-0 (1 KO)
4 Rounds – Lightweight
MEACHER MAJOR vs. FELIX LORA
Nassau, Bahamas Miami, FL
3-1 2(KO) 2-1-1
PROMOTED BY: Warrior’s Boxing Promotions, Inc. and Golden Boy Promotions in association with the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino-Hollywood.
TELEVISION: Boxeo De Oro will be produced and distributed by HBO Latino.
WEIGH-IN: Weigh-In will be held at 4:00pm at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on Wednesday, October 27th.
TICKETS: Tickets for Boxeo De Oro, priced at $30, $60 and $100 are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. To order tickets by phone, call (954) 523-3309, (305) 358-5885 or (561) 966-3309.