12.12.06 – The chef’s name is Sampson Lewkowicz. The guy who hired the top chef is Jose Nunez. Working together and with SEDEFIR, the Dominican government agency which handle sports among other subjects, they have combined to whip a fistic feast for boxing fans. On Monday, December 18, in Santo Domingo, Jay Boxing Promotions and SEDEFIR, in assocation with Golden Boy Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions, will serve up a nine-bout menu of great bouts.. There is enough there to satisfy any boxing glutton with two hors d’ouvres starting the spectacular show off at the Palacio De Los Deportes Professor Virgilio Travieso Soto.
The final bout, or the highlight or main course, is undefeated WBO junior lightweight champion Joan Guzman’s (26-0, 17 KOs) title defense against 22-2, fifth-ranked challenger Antonio “TRex” Davis. Davis is coming from Atlanta and said he intends to put the first blemish on Guzman’s sparkling pro record.
The first bouts, designed to tantalize the pugilistic aficionado’s palate, are four-rounders which feature two possible Dominican ring stars. In a featherweight bout, 18-year-old Algenis Mendez makes his pro debut against 1–1-1 Jose Fonceca of Nicaragua. In a 130-pound four spot, Guzman;’s young brother, Jose Amaro Guzman, turns professional against 1-0-2 Elvin Perez, Nicragua.
Nunez said the solid Guzman and the flashy Mendez will stir the crowd of more than 10,000 up right off the bat.
“The younger Guzman and Mendez have both been in camp in Las Vegas with Joan,” Nunez said. “Both of them have been turning heads with their workouts. People are already buzzing about them as perhaps this country’s next two shooting stars of the ring,”
In another six-rounder, at 138 pounds, Victor Manuel Cayo (5-0) from Santo Domingo will face 7-4 Francisco Rios of Mexico.
Moving on to the appetizers, there are four tough matches including some accomplished Dominican professionals. Perhaps the best known is middleweight Youanny Lorenzo (21-0 with 13 KOs) who will battle 13-6 Jordan Sanchez over Costa Rica over eight rounds. Fight experts have already pegged Lorenzo as a fighter certain to contest a world title down the line.
In a six-rounder at 160 pounds, 7-0 (6 KOs) Juan Jose Cabrera, Santo Domingo, will be tested by 7-3 Julio Gonzalez Luz of Mexico.
Ramon Duran, from Constanza in the DR, will face 8-1 Orlando Escobar of Mexico over six rounds at 140 pounds. Duran owns a 12-1 record and has knocked out eight opponents.
It’s a special attraction in six-round welterweight contest as 12-0 (9 KOs) Euri Gonzalez (Santo Domingo) squares off against Jaime Barboza (9-1) from Costa Rica.
“In those first seven bouts I am proud to say and can truly say there is not one bout which is a mismatch on paper,” Lewkowicz said. “I see some early fireworks on this show with these kinds of pairings.”
Finally comes the two main courses. Before Guzman puts his unbeaten record on the line against former Pan Am Games champion Davis, a rugged Dominican veteran named Hector Julio Avila (38-2 with an amazing 35 knockouts) takes on Nicaragua’s 12-4-3 Santos Martinez. This one is scheduled for 12 rounds with the WBC Carribean featherweight title up for grabs.
“There is bad blood with these two,” Nunez said. “They battled to 10 rounds before and Martinez showed plenty of heart. Martinez thinks he can beat Avila. As for Avila, he has won 13 in a row since he was beaten by Guzman. This bout might steal the show.”
Nine bouts and they all might be crackalacking as Snoop Dogg might say.
The biggest boxing show in Dominican history should be able to satisfy even the hungriest boxing fan.