News: Helenius vs Tony; Ramos Jr vs Allotey; Vlasov vs Ravelo

boxingRobert Helenius (12-0, 7 KOs) will make his first-ever title fight on August 21 when he clashes with Gregory Tony (12-0, 10 KOs) for the vacant EU Heavyweight Title. The two unbeaten prospects will collide in Erfurt, Germany on the undercard of the WBO Cruiserweight Title Fight between Marco Huck and Matt Godfrey. “I am thrilled to make my first title fight,” Helenius said. “My hand injured has healed well and I have been working very hard in practice. Tony is unbeaten but this will change on August 21 when we meet in the ring. I want to be a world champion one day, so winning the prestigious EU title will get me one step closer to my big goal.”

Team Sauerland sports director Hagen Doering stated he was impressed with the Nordic Nightmare´s progress. “Robert has done very well in recent months,” he said. “We have always said he has got what it takes to be a champion. Tony is a tough, unbeaten opponent with a fantastic KO percentage but I am convinced that Robert will win his first-ever title on August 21. He has a big future ahead.”

Helenius stopped former WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster in January before edging Gbenga Oloukun in Helsinki in March..

LUIS RAMOS JR.VS. JOSHUA ALLOTEY FEATURED ON THIS WEEK’S “SÓLO BOXEO TECATE”

PROSPECTS OMAR FIGUEROA AND JERMELL CHARLO ALSO IN ACTION FROM MCALLEN, TEXAS

LOS ANGELES, June 16 – It will be an explosive night in Texas this Friday, June 18, as TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate” touches down at the McAllen Convention Center starring some of the fight game’s top young talent.

In the main event, Santa Ana, California’s Luis Ramos Jr. battles New York’s Joshua Allotey in an eight round junior welterweight bout. Joining him on the card will be Weslaco, Texas power puncher Omar Figueroa, who takes on Mexico’s Julian Rodriguez in a six round lightweight televised co-feature fight. Also seeing action will be Houston welterweight prospect Jermell Charlo who will look for his 12th pro win against unbeaten Cuban Stalinn Lopez in a six round battle.

Ramos Jr. vs. Allotey, which headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Cavazos Boxing Promotions, is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate. Doors open at 6:30pm CT, the first bell rings at 7:00pm CT and the TeleFutura broadcast begins at 12:00am ET / PT.

Tickets, priced starting at $20, are available for purchase at McAllen Convention Center Box Office by calling (956) 681-3800, or EZ-TIXX at (877) 993-8499 or online at www.EZ-TIXX.com.

Southpaw sensation Luis Ramos Jr. (15-0, 8 KO’s) is quickly moving up the ranks and, already with wins over veteran Walter Estrada and well-regarded Allen Litzau in 2010, the 22-year-old Californian is well on his way to making this his biggest year yet as a pro . To keep his momentum going, he must turn back the challenge of Ghana native Joshua Alottey (16-8, 14 KO’s), a hard-hitting and hard-charging battler whose last three opponents have sported a combined 35-0 record.

A crushing puncher who can take opponents out with either hand, 20-year-old Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (9-0, 8 KO’s) showed versatility in his game in his last bout in March, when he scored a near-shutout win over Edgar Portillo in his first distance fight. Not surprisingly, Figueroa would like to deliver a knockout in front of his home state fans on June 18, but looking to spoil his homecoming is Chihuahua’s Julian Rodriguez (17-18-4, 11 KO’s).

20-year old Jermell Charlo (11-0, 5 KO’s) has been flawless in the nearly three years since he turned pro in 2007 and he will attempt to keep that streak going this week when he faces Cuban standout Stalinn Lopez (7-0, 3 KO’s), a fighter making his own rapid ascent in the boxing world after an extensive amateur career spanning more than 20 years.

In other undercard action, the WBC Latino cruiserweight title will be up for grabs when Lyford, Texas’ Eric Molina (13-1, 10 KO’s) takes on Chicago’s Chris Thomas (17-11-2, 14 KO’s) in a 10 round fight. The Lone Star State will also be well represented by Mission welterweight Raul Tovar (7-3-1, 3 KO’s) who battles Adan Murillo (6-2, 1 KO) in a four round bout.

But that’s not all…two all-Texas showdowns will be featured including Weslaco’s Juan Manuel Lopez (6-4, 4 KO’s) in a four round junior bantamweight contest against Mission’s Richard Flores (3-9, 1 KO), and in a four round welterweight fight, Brownsville’s Maria Rodriguez (2-2) will face off against Killeen’s Yvette McCullar (2-0, 2 KO’s).

Mexican veteran Nestor Garza (40-4, 32 KO’s) will be in action as well, squaring off against Harlingen’s Steve Almaraz (9-3, 4 KO’s) in a six round welterweight bout.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing

JERSON RAVELO REPLACES KINGSLEY IKEKE IN CO-FEATURED BOUT ON JUNE 18

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE ALSO FEATURED AT NORTHERN QUEST CASINO IN AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WASH.; TELEVISED LIVE ON ESPN

Kingsley Ikeke has reportedly sustained a broken jaw in training and had to withdraw from the co-featured bout against super middleweight prospect Maxim Vlasov on Friday, June 18, in the Pend O’reille Pavillion at Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights, Washington.

The fight card is promoted by Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and German Titov Promotions, and will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at 7:00 PM Pacific Time, 10:00 PM Eastern Time.

Ikeke has been replaced by Jerson Ravelo, 20-4 with 12 knockouts, of Newark, New Jersey. Ravelo was an amateur standout before he turned pro at the age of 23 in 2001 – he won the 1998 National Golden Gloves Championships and represented his native Dominican Republic in the 2000 Olympics. Now 32 years old, he is coming off an eight-round decision win against Willis Lockett in his last fight.

Main Event: 10 Rounds, Jr. Middleweights
Sherzod Husanov, 14-0-1, 7 KOs, Nizhny Tagil, Russia, vs.
Jhon Berrio, 15-6, 11 KOs, Pahokie, Florida.

Co-feature: 10 Rounds, Super Middleweights

Maxim Vlasov, 17-0, 8 KOs, Samara, Russia, vs.
Jerson Ravelo, 20-4, 12 KOs, Newark, New Jersey.

Plus:

6 Rounds, Jr. Middleweights
Demetrius Andrade, 10-0, 7 knockouts, Providence, Rhode Island, vs.
Dewey Welliver, 18-21-1, 6 KOs, Spokane, Washington.

4 Rounds, Heavyweights
Jonte Willis, 6-0, 3 KOs, Tacoma, Washington, vs.
Alex Conte, 2-4-1, 0 KOs, Lakeside, California.

4 Rounds, Jr. Middleweights
Aubrey Morrow, 4-1-1, 3 KOs, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, vs.
Jess Salway, 3-14-1, Browning, Montana.

4 Rounds, Jr. Lightweights
Rob Diezel, 1-1, 0 KOs, Seattle, Washington, vs.
Ramon Santos, 0-1, 0 KOs, Auburn, Washington.

4 Rounds, Super Middleweights
Rafael Umarov, 1-3, 0 KOs, Almaty, Kazakhstan, vs.
Michael Birthmark, 1-5, 0 KOs, Glasgow, Montana.

All bouts are subject to change without notice.
Doors open at 6:00 P.M.; first fight at 7:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)
Ticket prices: $50, $60, $75.

Tickets are available at Northern Quest Casino Box Office – 509-481-6700, and Ticketswest – 800-325-SEAT, and www.ticketswest.com.