27.12.04 – International Boxing Federation Association junior featherweight champion Israel Vazquez defends his title under the Sycuan Ringside Promotions banner for the first time when he meets undefeated and No. 1-ranked contender Art Simonyan Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Calif..
The world championship card, promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions in association with Banner Promotions, will be held in the Sycuan Showcase Theatre at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. The card starts at 6 p.m. (Pacific) with doors to the Sycuan Showcase Theatre opening at 5:30.
Also on the card will be five other fights, featuring a women’s bouts and three boxers from the San Diego area.
The IBF 122-pound championship will be a belated birthday gift for either Vasquez or Simonyan.
Vazquez turns 27 on Christmas Day while Simonyan becomes 29 on Dec. 27.
This is the fifth boxing card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions since it burst onto the international boxing scene earlier this year.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered by many to be the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during February, but already has presented world championship bouts on premium cable networks.
Tickets for this championship card, priced at $100, $200 and $250, are on sale 24 hours daily in the gift shop at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. Tickets also can be ordered by calling 619-445-6002 or 619-659-3380 24 hours daily.
Vazquez, originally from Mexico City but now living in Los Angeles, won the IBF junior featherweight championship in his most recent bout, March 25 in Los Angeles, when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in the 12th round.
Vazquez has a record of 36-3 with 27 knockouts. He has a mark of 16-1 dating back to 1999, that lone loss coming in a bout for the World Boxing Council super bantamweight championship during 2002.
Simonyan, who was born in Armenia but now lives in Glendale, Calif., has a record of 14-0-1 with seven knockouts. He earned the right to challenge Vazquez with a 12-round decision over Fahsan Por Thawatchai in a title elimination bout May 21 in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
“Simonyan is a tough fighter and he’s strong,” says Vazquez, “but I’m motivated and anxious to fight.”
The undercard bouts include heavyweight Shawn Ross of San Diego against undefeated Bernard Gray of San Francisco; heavyweight Jay Horton of Pomona, Calif., against James Harling of Long Beach, Calif; cruiserweight prospect Shane Johnston of San Diego against Moses Matovu of Los Angeles; and veteran welterweight Francisco Maldonado of El Cajon, Calif., against Mauricio Borquez of Culiacan, Sinaloa.
In the women’s bouts undefeated featherweight Crystal Hoy of Las Vegas faces Sarah Huntman of Los Angeles.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable in addition to Vazquez, including WBO junior featherweight champion Joan “Little Tyson” Guzman, IBF lightweight champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz, former World Boxing Association cruiserweight king Orlin “Night Train” Norris and highly regarded welterweight Antonio Diaz.