LOS ANGELES, September 3 – The stage is set for Golden Boy Promotions to co-promote the WBA’s annual KO Drugs event along withPromociones y Eventos del Istmo from Panama City, Panama. The blockbuster fight card, which will be a benefit for the National Association Against Cancer in Panama, will feature the WBA Interim Flyweight World Championship bout between Luis Concepcion of Panama and Omar Salado of Mexico in the twelve round main event. In the co-feature, a shot at WBA Featherweight Champion is on the line in a twelve round eliminator between Daniel Ponce De Leon of Mexico and Panama’s Roinet Caballero. The bouts will take place atArena Roberto Duran and will be televised on HBO Plus’ monthly original series “Next Boxing Generation”..
Concepcion vs. Salado and De Leon vs. Caballero, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Promociones y Eventos del Istmo, will air live on the HBO Plus service in Latin America beginning at 9pm local time. Preferential ($20) and General Admission ($8) tickets are available through Ticket Plus locations at “Farmacias Metro” (Metro Drugstores) and “Almacenes Hometek” (Hometek Department Stores). Super VIP ($250) tickets located in the first two rows are available for purchase by calling 6678-8846 and VIP ($60) tickets located in the forth and fifth rows are available for purchase by calling 6678-8846.
“I’m thrilled that Golden Boy Promotions will be co-promoting this weekends’ event in Panama,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “To be able to present two great fights in a country steeped in boxing tradition, while at the same time benefiting a very worthy cause, makes this event one that Golden Boy Promotions is extremely proud to be a part of. I can’t wait to see the action live at ringside.”
“I’m ready to fight for another world championship and nothing is going to stand in my way,” said Golden Boy Promotions’ fighter, Daniel Ponce De Leon of his upcoming bout. “I know Caballero is a tough fighter, but I will not let him stop me from getting the chance to fight for another title. Right now he is in my way…on September 5th, I will move him out of my way.”
Luis “El Nica” Concepcion (17-1, 12 KO’s) knows that the pressure is on when he fights for his first world title in his hometown of Panama City, but this 23-year-old prodigy is prepared for the bright lights and to follow in the footsteps of previous Panamanian greats like Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Duran and Eusebio Pedroza. A professional since 2006, Concepcion bounced back from a decision loss in his fourth fight to win 14 in a row (10 by knockout). Currently ranked second in the world by the WBA, Concepcion’s time has come and he can’t wait for the bell to ring on September 5th.
Acapulco Guerrero, Mexico born Omar Salado (21-1-2, 12 KO’s) has been one of Mexico’s top lower-weight fighters for much of his seven-year career and now the Tijuana resident is looking to elevate himself to the next level by winning a world title on September 5th. A skilled battler who always comes to fight, Salado’s previous world championship bout against highly-touted Mexican Ulises “Archie” Solis in 2006 ended in a controversial draw, but with wins in six of his last seven fights, the 29-year-old is back on track and ready to make the most of his second chance.
Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico’s Daniel Ponce De Leon (36-2, 31 KO’s) is among boxing’s most powerful and exciting fighters, pound for pound, but in recent years he has shown even more facets of his game which will serve him well as he attempts to rule the featherweight division like he did the 122-pound weight class. A former WBO Junior Featherweight World Champion who defended his crown six times over the likes of Sod Looknongyangtoy of Thailand, and Filipinos Gerry Peñalosa and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista during his two-year reign, the 29-year-old southpaw is currently on a two-fight winning streak that includes a decision win over Nicaraguan Marlon “Rata” Aguilar in April.
Boquete, Panama native Roinet Caballero (27-8-1, 19 KO’s) had some rough times in his early years as a professional, but since 2005, he has been nearly unstoppable, winning 18 of 19 fights, with 14 devastating knockouts along the way. A former WBA Fedelatin Featherweight Champion whose only loss in the last four years came to longtime champion Indonesian Chris “The Dragon” John, Caballero is eager for a shot at redemption, one that is right around the corner should he get by Daniel Ponce De Leon in his home country on September 5th.
“Next Boxing Generation,” which was launched in August of 2008 by Golden Boy Promotions in association with HBO Latin America Group, features the top up and coming Latin American fighters in boxing today in exciting bouts that will appeal to fans across all demographics. In less than a year, the series has seen fights take place throughout Mexico as well as in Argentina, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and now Panama.
Also featured on the card will be Ricardo Nuñez (22-2, 13 KO’s) of La Chorrera, Panama against Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan native Timur Shailezov (16-2-1, 3 KO’s) in a 12 round bout for the WBA Intercontinental Junior Bantamweight title. The WBA International Junior Middleweight Title will be on the line when Panama City’s Nilson Tapia (11-0-1, 8 KO’s) and Austin Trout (19-0, 13 KO’s) of Las Cruces, New Mexico battle it out in a nine round bout.
Lightweight Ameth Diaz (25-9, 19 KO’s) of Panama City will face off against Fernando Angulo (22-5, 4 KO’s) of Caracas, Venezuela in an eight round bout. Another Panama City resident, Alberto Mosquera (9-0, 6 KO’s), will fight in a nine round junior welterweight bout against Henry Aurad (12-1-1, 9 KO’s) of Barranquilla, Colombia.
Also in action will be welterweight Charlie Navarro (17-3, 12 KO’s) of Monagas, Venezuela against fellow Venezuelan Nelson Linares (17-0-1, 10 KO’s) in an eight round fight, while Rafael Hernandez (23-4, 20 KO’s) of Caracas, Venezuela will battle in an eight round junior featherweight bout against Franklin Solis (13-6-1, 9 KO’s) of Veracruz, Colombia.
Opening up the night of action will be heavyweights Luis Pineda (21-8, 18 KO’s) ofDarien, Panama and Bluefields, Nicargua’s Evans Quinn (18-3, 16 KO’s) who will battle in an eight round bout. Junior flyweights will see action when Mercedes Concepcion (7-0, 5 KO’s) of Cerro Punta, Venzuela and Julio Canastuj (1-3, 1 KO) of Chimaltenango, Guatemala battle in a six round bout; Laura Ledezman (3-2, 2 KO’s) of Panama City will face Columbia’s Vanessa Medrano (1-1) in a six round flyweight fight and Caracas, Venezuela native Jack Santos (3-2, 2 KO’s) will face Jesus Santos (5-6-1, 2 KO’s) of Panama City, Panama in a six round junior flyweight bout.