Top amateur star Roman Morales has signed an exclusive contract with world renowned promotional company Gary Shaw Productions. The touted former amateur champion will make his long awaited professional debut on February 4th at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on the off-television undercard of Showtime’s Shobox: The New Generation tripleheader telecast.
Morales of San Ardo, California capped an already impressive amateur career this past November with a gold medal victory in the prestigious Four Nations Tournament in Berck Sur Mer, France. The international conquest only wetted Morales’ appetite for the challenges that lay ahead of him as his professional career unfolds. “All my hard work in the amateurs has paid off and now I am ready for the pros,” says Morales.
Now with the support of a top promoter in Gary Shaw, teamed with his manager Repo Ric and longtime trainer Rodolpho Tapia, the sky would seem to be the limit for Morales, who left the amateurs as the third-ranked 123-pounder according to USA Boxing. Gary Shaw Promotions has successfully moved a countless number of prospects into contention and given their stable of fighters great exposure over the years. “We signed with Gary Shaw because he is the one who can give us the best opportunities,” says Tapia.
Morales’ manager Repo Ric is excited to be working with Shaw. “My dream was to sign with Gary Shaw, because he lets me be me, do what I do, and run my mouth,” says Ric. The loquacious manager/matchmaker and boxing hype man has had a long standing relationship with another promoter, but found GSP to be the right fit in this instance. “I’m still going to be with the Goossens until the day I die,” says Repo.
Of the many top amateurs in the United States and all over the world, only a select few are able to command the attention of a top promotional company right out of the gate, much less sign with one as respected in the industry as Gary Shaw Productions. Morales’ many amateur achievements included a bronze medal at the 2010 USA Boxing National Championships and silver medals at the 2008 National Golden Gloves and 2007 National PAL Championships to go along with other regional titles and semi-final finishes in national competitions.
Leaving all his many accomplishments as an amateur behind, Roman Morales begins his journey en route to gold as a professional on February 4th in Santa Ynez.
Tickets for the event, priced affordably at $35, $45, $55, $70 and $85, are available online at ChumashCasino.com. In the Shobox main event, rising prospect Luis Franco takes on Leonilo Miranda for the WBO Intercontinental Featherweight title. Also on the card, power-punching cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode defends his WBO NABO/NABF Cruiserweight titles against once-beaten Nicholas Iannuzzi and Archie Ray Marquez meets Marvin Quintero in a lightweight clash.