LOS ANGELES, March 16 – Golden Boy Promotions’ prospect and 2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo has agreed to step in and face Carlos Hernandez on the April 4th “Lightweight Lightning” pay-per-view event after former World Champion Jorge Barrios was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a right temporal bone fracture above the temple he suffered while training. The fight is part of a quadruple header at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas and rounds out the highly anticipated pay-per-view event..
“When I was asked to step in for Barrios against Carlos Hernandez, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” said Escobedo, who had to cancel his scheduled April 30 non-televised bout against former World Champion Kevin Kelley in order to fight Hernandez. “This is an amazing opportunity for me and while I have a lot of respect for Carlos, I know that beating him will be a huge step in my career.”
“Vicente Escobedo is a good young fighter with a lot of talent and potential, but he will not prevent me from achieving my goals,” said Hernandez. “On April 4th my experience and hunger will be the difference in this fight.”
“Lightweight Lightning,” an unprecedented four-bout pay-per-view card features Valero vs. Pitalua in a 12 round bout for the vacant WBC Interim World Lightweight Crown, Casamayor vs. Diaz in a 10 round lightweight bout, Katsidis vs. Chavez in a 10 round lightweight bout and Hernandez vs. Escobedo in a 10 round bout. The four-bout lightweight extravaganza will take place on Saturday, April 4th at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX. The bouts are presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines and will air live on pay-per-view beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT with a suggested retail price of $39.95.
Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50, $35 and $25, are on sale now and may be purchased at the Frank Erwin Center box office, by phone at (512) 477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or online at TexasBoxOffice.com. Tickets are also available at Texas Box Office Outlets including select H-E-B stores located in Austin and surrounding areas.
The greatest fighter to ever come out of El Salvador, national hero Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez wants to give his countrymen something to cheer about again on April 4th. Now living in the Lone Star State, “Famoso” has been working with Texas great Jesse James Leija to prepare for this upcoming challenge. Hernandez made a triumphant return to the ring in August of 2008 after nearly two years away with a win over Hector Alatorre and it’s clear that Hernandez still has plenty in the tank for a title run.
A proud member of the 2004 United States Olympic team, 27-year-old Vicente Escobedo (19-1, 12 KOs) is primed and ready for his run at the top of the lightweight division. Winner of 10 bouts in a row, the Woodland, California native is coming off of the most impressive win of his professional career, a sixth round stoppage of unbeaten Dominic Salcido in last September 26.. Now he looks to add to his winning streak by putting a former world champion’s name on his list of vanquished foes.
Webb vs. Maxwell Added To March 20 London Show
Sharp punching prospect Sam Webb has been added to the undercard of Ian Napa’s European bantamweight title defense against Malik Bouziane this Friday, March 20 at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England.
The 27 year old former amateur star meets rugged ex-Royal Navy champion “Mad” Max Maxwell in an eight round clash at light middleweight.
A native of Chislehurst in South London, Webb, 12-1 (4), has won eight straight bouts since suffering his only career loss on cuts three years ago, picking up five of those victories in 2008, including triumphs over Gilbert Eastman and Paul Dyer.
The former Multi-Nations gold medallist has been gathering momentum following his return to the camp of promoter Frank Maloney, who hopes 2009 will be the year Webb comes through in a big way.
29 year old Kingston, Jamaica born Maxell is a former Midlands Area titlist at middleweight and has been even busier than Webb, having participated in seven fights over the last year, including an upset victory over Steve Ede in the “Prizefighter” middleweight tournament last November.
Now residing in Birmingham, Maxwell, 9-4-1 (2), has lost three of his four bouts by only five points in total. Packing a superb jab, iron chin and a massive reach advantage, Maxwell, trained by former WBC super middleweight champion Richie Woodall, should prove to be a very difficult proposition for Webb on March 20.
Webb must not only win the contest but do so in style if he is to continue to climb the UK rankings and deliver in a British title challenge which could take place later this year against the winner of the rescheduled Ryan Rhodes vs. Anthony Small clash.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents the Bantamweight Championship of Europe as reigning titlist Ian Napa defends against Malik Bouziane along with full undercard support at Newham Leisure Centre in London, England on Friday, March 20, 2009.
Tickets, priced at £80 for Ringside and £35 General Admission, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS2 at 10PM.
Rodriguez “Homecoming” Thursday night in Worcester
WORCESTER, Mass. (March 16, 2009) – Undefeated middleweight/super middleweight sensation Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez has his “Homecoming,” promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Manfredo’s Gym, all set for Thursday night (March 19) veteran Patrick Thompson in the 8-round main event at historic Mechanics Hall.
“Homecoming” will be taped live as part of DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing Series,” which will be shooting in New England for the first time, from the beautiful Mechanic’s Hall venue that hasn’t hosted pro boxing since 1967.
The 23-year-old Dominican Republic-born sensation Rodriguez (9-0, 6 KOs), fighting out of Worcester, was a 2-time national amateur champion, capturing gold in the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006 U.S. Golden Gloves Championships.
Thompson (15-13-1, 5 KOs), reigning Colorado/Nebraska super middleweight champion, has defeated former Canadian champion Jason Naugler and gone the distance with present IBF mandatory middleweight title challenger Giovanni Lorenzo, John Duddy, Joe Greene, Vanes Martirosyan, Sechew Powell, and Ishe Smith. Thompson has been stopped only once, 5-½ years ago, by Alfonso Gomez of The Contender I fame.
“All I wanted is coming together Thursday night,” Rodriguez said. “I’m fighting on television for my new promoter (Lou DiBella) in front of my friends, family and hometown fans. It’s a great feeling. I’m so excited to showcase my talent in my hometown for the first time as a pro and to a television audience. What more could I ask for? I’m learning more each fight and improving every time out. I’ve been working hard in the gym on different things like sitting more on my punches. This is only my 10th pro fight and I’ve been better in each one.
“I know Thompson is tough and he’s been in with a lot of good, world-class fighters. I’m more concerned with what I need to do to be the best Edwin Rodriguez than what he’s bringing. I know he’s only been knocked out once. I’m not going in looking for a knockout but, if it comes, I’ll gladly take it. I just can’t wait for Thursday night.”
The 8-round co-feature is an intriguing match-up between a promising prospect, “Buddy” McGirt-trained super bantamweight Dat “Dat Be Dat” Nguyen (14-1, 6 KOs), and proven veteran, former world title challenger Alex “Ali” Baba (26-14-1, 19 KOs), who has tested WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wontongkam, Raul Martinez and Eric Morel..
Fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts are Quincy (MA) lightweight Ryan Kielczewski (3-0), 2008 National Golden Gloves runner-up, vs. Aaron Chavez (2-1); Brooklyn middleweight Philip Jackson Benson (2-0), 2-time New York Golden Gloves champion vs. Dameon Mitchell (0-1); Steven Ormond (2-0), 3-time Irish national amateur champion in his U. S. debut vs. Jonathan Ocasio (0-3); Providence light heavyweight Valar Boise makes his debut vs. Brockton’s Houston Crayton (0-3); Fall River welterweight Dustin Rhinehold and Valdrin Muriqi make their pro debuts against each other.
Tickets, priced at $25.00, $50.00 (balcony), $75.00 (first row balcony), $60.00 (floor), $100.00 (floor), and $150.00 (ringside – first 2 rows inside security barriers), are on sale at the Mechanics Hall box office, www.mechanicshall.org, Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket (RI), and the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET