LOS ANGELES, CA (February 4, 2008) – Two of Mexico’s hottest fighters return to action on Friday, February 22, when Enrique Ornelas and Nestor Rocha step into the ring for pivotal bouts on Golden Boy Promotions’ latest explosive card at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California..
Both bouts will be televised live on Telefutura’s ‘Solo Boxeo’ beginning at 8 p.m. ET / PT. Tickets are priced at $150, $100 and $50, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Box Office at (951) 755-5391 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors for the event open at 4 p.m. PT, with the first bout beginning at 4:30 p.m. PT and the co-main event and main events taking place from 5-7 p.m. PT. There are eight scheduled bouts on the card.
“Golden Boy is extremely excited about our fourth event at Morongo,” said Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar de la Hoya. “The first three events featured big names, exciting fights, shocking upsets and great atmosphere. Our shows at Morongo have quickly become a can’t miss experience for Southern California boxing fans.”
“We are proud to be working with Golden Boy Promotions to bring another action-packed night of great fights to the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. “This is definitely an event the fight fans of Southern California will not want to miss with every seat providing an up close and personal view of the exciting action.”
Also featured on the evening’s card is an array of boxing’s rising stars, including five rising stars who are looking to move up the ranks in 2008.
In the main event, NABF Middleweight Champion Enrique Ornelas (26-4, 16 KO’s) defends his title for the first time since capturing it with a stirring fifth-round TKO of former world champion Bronco McKart in December 2007, a win which revitalized the career of the La Habra, CA resident and put him firmly in the title picture at 160 pounds. The 27- year-old banger originally from Guanajuato, Mexico is currently ranked #14 in the world by the WBC. Ornelas’ next challenge will come on February 22, when he faces Tucson native Norberto Bravo (25-14-3, 14 KO’s) in a 12-round bout for the NABF Middleweight title.
Nestor Rocha (18-1, 6 KO’s) of Montebello, CA is ready to continue his winning streak after defeating ex-Olympian Caesar Morales in his last bout at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa on November 2, 2007.
In a ten-round bantamweight televised co-main event, Rocha faces Bayamon, Puerto Rico native Javier Cintron (14-9-2, 10 KO’s), who scored an upset win over previously undefeated Jonathan Arias on January 11 at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
Seen by many as the best prospect to come out of Scotland since former world champion Scott Harrison, Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan (9-0, 6 KO’s) has relocated to the United States, where he has been setting the local scene on fire with his two-fisted attack. In his last fight on December 7, the 25-year-old pounded out a near shutout decision over Alfredo Contreras.
Puerto Rico’s undefeated twin brothers, Carlos and Juan Velazquez, will take center stage together at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa after both brothers continued their win streaks by knocking out their opponents in their last bouts on January 25. Carlos (6-0, 6 KO’s) won by a first round knockout against Ever Perez while his brother Juan (6-0, 4 KO’s) stopped Noe Inzunza in the fourth round. Carlos will fight in a six-round junior lightweight bout and featherweight Juan will see action in a four-round bout.
Mexico City’s Hugo Partida (13-0-2, 11 KO’s) puts his unbeaten record on the line in a six- round bantamweight bout and promises to come out with all guns blazing as he displays his concussive knockout power in his United States debut.
Rounding out this night of great action, Ashanti Jordan (2-0, 2 K0’s) will return to the ring where he knocked out Fritz Dejean in his last appearance on January 11 at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, he will fight in a four round heavyweight duel; Jose Olmo (1-0, 1 KO) looks to build on his undefeated record in an eight-round welterweight battle.
Opponents will be announced at a later date. For more information on the fights visit, www.goldenboypromotions.com or www.morongocasinoresort.com.
About Golden Boy Promotions:
Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2001 by Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company. In 2007, in its sixth year of promoting, Golden Boy Promotions set a record by selling over 2.5 million in pay-per-view homes in a single night. Also in 2007, Golden Boy Promotions established the record for pay-per-view sales by one promotional company in a single year selling events to more than 4 million homes total. Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the United States on networks such as HBO, HBO Latino, TeleFutura, SHOWTIME and ESPN.
About Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa:
Morongo is the premier gaming resort in California. Located in Cabazon, California, in the scenic Coachella Valley, Morongo is a prime getaway for residents of Orange County, Ontario, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Los Angeles. Earning the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award for three consecutive years, Morongo offers 310 well-appointed rooms and suites, a 150,000 sq. ft. casino floor, nine restaurants and lounges and continuous world-class entertainment offerings. One of the largest tribal gaming facilities in the country, Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is owned and operated by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. For more information please visit www.morongocasinoresort.com.