TopRank Brings The Fights Back To LA On Jan 4

After a thrill-packed 2007, boxing showed why there is no other sport like it in the world. On January 4th, Top Rank will kick off 2008 with an explosive fight card featuring some of boxing’s top young talent – Brian Viloria, Michel Rosales, Vanes Martirosyan, Charles Huerta, and Juan Garcia – and they are bringing the fights back to one of the sport’s true hometowns – Los Angeles, California..

In the main event, ROSALES will face hard hitting Dario Jose ESALAS (30-10, 24 KOs) in a ten round super lightweight bout. The co-feature will see Viloria in a ten round super flyweight contest against veteran Jose Garcia Bernal.

Telefutura’s ‘Solo Boxeo de Tecate’ will televise this action-packed card beginning at 8pm ET / 5pm PT.

Doors open at 3pm and the first bell rings at 4:15pm. The Alameda Swap Meet is located at 4501 S. Alameda in Los Angeles, California.

For tickets, priced at $25, $50, and $75, please call 323-603-9005.

24-year old Michel ‘Rayita’ ROSALES (13-1, 11 KOs) is one of the brightest junior welterweight prospects to come out of Mexico in years. A pro since 2004, Rosales knocked out his first 10 pro opponents before going the eight round distance for the first time in a win over Fernando Mena in 2006. And though the native of San Luis Potosi would get stopped in the 11th round of a WBC Continental Americas title fight against Jesus Soto Karass, Rosales bounced back in 2007 with two big wins, including a first round TKO of Americo Santos that earned him the WBC Continental Americas crown he had sought previously.

The former light flyweight champion of the world, Brian VILORIA (19-2, 12 KOs, 1 no contest) is on the comeback trail and eager to regain past glory in 2008. A member of the 2000 United States Olympic team, Viloria tore through the pro ranks and won the WBC light flyweight title in 2005 with a first round knockout of Eric Ortiz. After one defense, Viloria was upset by Omar Nino in August of 2006. Many felt Viloria won the rematch three months later, but he wound up on the short end of a decision that was eventually turned into a no decision when Nino failed a post-fight drug test. Viloria was granted a shot at the vacant title against Edgar Sosa in April of 2007, but fell short via another razor-thin decision. In 2008, Viloria plans on living up to his nickname of ‘The Hawaiian Punch’ and not leaving anything in the judges’ hands anymore. Opposing Viloria will be Colombia’s Jose GARCIA BERNAL (27-9-1, 18 KOs), a former Fedelatin champion and former world title challenger.

The pride of Phoenix, Arizona, dynamic lightweight Juan Garcia has electrified the west coast fight scene with a two-fisted style that has earned him 13 wins without a loss since he turned pro in 2004. Fresh off a 2007 that saw him put three more wins on his ledger, Garcia is eager to get 2008 off to a strong start on January 4th, but he will be tested like never before by 21-year old Puerto Rican prospect Gamalier RODRIGUEZ (5-0, 2 KOs). A native of Bayamon, Rodriguez is coming off the biggest win of his career in 2007, a victory over previously unbeaten Carlos Claudio.

A crowd pleasing junior middleweight whose fights have become hot tickets in the Southern California area, Vanes MARTIROSYAN (16-0, 11 KOs) is on the verge of big things in the 154 pound weight class. A 2004 United States Olympian, the ‘Nightmare’ has come along nicely in the pro ranks, scoring wins over Taronze Washington and Alexis Divison en route to a perfect record.

Former amateur standout Charles HUERTA (2-0) has been the talk of the local boxing scene for years and the Maywood featherweight has boxing insiders looking at him as one of the top pro prospects in the game today. In September, Huerta made his pro debut with a first round TKO of Yoshifumi Momoki, and he followed that win up in November with a four round victory over Jesse Padilla.

Opponents for Martirosyan and Huerta will be announced shortly.

Also in action on the card are some of Southern California’s hottest prospects, including Carson’s Jonathan BOBADILLA, and Los Angeles’ Anthony MOSQUEDA and Robert SANTA CRUZ (3-1).