Oscar Diaz has been discharged from University Hospital in San Antonio and has been moved to a local rehabilitation facility. “He’s doing remarkably well compared to when we first saw him,” stated neurosurgeon Dr. David Jimenez as quoted by the San Antonio Express News. “He’s totally alert. He’s awake, smiles and gives the ‘thumbs up’ sign. We’re very happy with his progress.” Diaz suffered a near-fatal brain injury during his bout against Delvin Rodriguez last summer..
“We are happy to hear about the progess that Oscar has already made and just hope that he continues to get better and continues to improve. We wish all the best for Oscar and his family in the future and want them to know we will always keep Oscar in our thoughts,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about Oscar,” stated Delvin Rodriguez. “He is a great boxer and more importantly a great human being. I will always keep Oscar and his family in my thoughts and prayers.”
Star Boxing matchmaker Ron Katz added, “I couldn’t be more pleased to hear of Oscar’s progress, and I am very happy for Oscar who has shown what a true champion is made of and also for his family who has stuck by him throughout this tragic ordeal.”
FIGUEROA GROWING WITH RJ & SQUARE RING
NABF light welterweight champion Frankie “El Gato” Figueroa (20-2, 13 KOs), halfway through his five-week training program at the famed Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning in Winchester, Massachusetts, took some time between workouts to talk about his new promoter, Square Ring Promotions, and how his career has taken a major step up since he signed with Roy Jones, Jr.’s promotional company.
“My first fight under the Square Ring banner was last year on the November 8th Calzaghe-Jones HBO PPV event,” Frankie said. “Unfortunately, my opponent (Gavin Rees) pulled out and we went with Emanuel Augustus, who is a very unorthodox fighter. Fortunately, though, I had trained hard and was well prepared going into the fight and came out with a hard fought victory.
“I am now in position for the IBF eliminator bout against (former world champion) Randall Bailey. The winner will get a shot at the new IBF champion, Juan Urango. My promoter is working with Bailey’s promoter, Lou DiBella, to make it happen, hopefully, sometime in April. My goal is to become the undisputed light welterweight champion and then moving up to 147 to fight the big names there.”
Figueroa has been working out at Boyle’s three days a week, two hours a day, for five weeks. After each session he is massaged-out and off days Frankie does light boxing-related workouts at a nearby gym.
“John Wirt (CEO of Square Ring Promotions) is a great guy and businessman,” Figueroa’s manager, Sal LoNano, remarked. “He’s a stand-up guy who is there for us and having Frankie promoted by one of the all-time greatest boxers, Roy Jones, Jr., has already opened up doors in this profession for my fighter.”
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican-American was born in Spanish Harlem, where Frankie was a 2-time New York City high school wrestling champion (14-0 as a senior). Figueroa was nicknamed, “El Gato” (The Cat) because he was the only one quick enough to catch a cat that was a mascot at his original gym in the Bronx. Frankie is presently rated No. 5 by the IBF, as well as No. 10 by the WBC and No. 14 by the WBA.
“I started late in boxing, only eight years ago, and I really didn’t know too much about Roy,” U.S. Army veteran Figueroa explained. “As I grew in boxing, I learned about Roy’s great career and fighting today under his banner is a tremendous honor. It gives me an opportunity to showcase my skills and personality to boxing fans and networks.”
For more information about Frankie Figueroa visit his web site at www.teamgato.com.
BURGOS READY FOR LIZARRAGA
Great Fights to take Place This Friday in Ontario!
Orange, CA (February 23, 2009) – Undefeated featherweight Juan Carlos Burgos reported himself ready as he closes his training camp at the Azteca Gym in Tijuana, Mexico, and makes the trek to Ontario, CA, for this Friday’s “NEW BLOOD III” IBA Championship against Omar Lizarraga.
The Burgos – Lizarraga main event leads the way of what seems to be an outstanding night of fights as Thompson Boxing Promotions features five all-action bouts. In the semi main event, newly signed Mauricio Herrera will face KO artist Brian Gordon in an eight round jr. welterweight fight. On the same weight division, two-time Olympian Patrick Lopez from Venezuela will face tough Colombian Jailer Berrio in an-all south American eight round clash and newly signed featherweight Abraham Lopez will trade leather with journeyman Manuel Sarabia in a six round bout.
Tickets for “New Blood III” are available and priced at $75, $45, and $30. To purchase, please call 714-935-0900
After suffering from an injured hand in September 2008, Juan Carlos Burgos is fully recovered. “It took me two fights after the injury to get my confidence back. I was avoiding the pain when I was throwing punches, even after my doctor told me I was 100% recovered, I just did not trust myself,” said Burgos as he packed for the trip to California. “I have been training since early January and I don’t feel any pain, what I want is to make my opponent feel it and win in spectacular fashion.”
A dedicated Omar Lizarraga has been training in Big Bear, CA, and feels very confident about his chances against the young undefeated Burgos. “He is a great puncher, attacks the body very well, but I am ready to box him and not give him any angles,” said Lizarraga. “He thinks this will be an easy fight, but he will soon find out he has been wrong all along.”
Juan Carlos Burgos is currently rated as #6 by the WBC and #10 by WBA, and will now fight for the vacant IBA Featherweight title.
“We want to give the fans a great show. If all goes well, Burgos will campaign for a major title very soon,” said Ken Thompson of his protégé. “Interesting things are happening in the division and Juan Carlos should be ready for any challenge. The main one thus far, is coming out victorious over Lizarraga and then we will see.”
The six-bout card of hard-hitting professional boxing action is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and will take place at the Doubletree Hotel – Ontario, located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell is at 7:45pm.