In an unprecedented turn of events, the Daniel Ponce de Leon versus Omar Estrella ten round featherweight bout is now scheduled for Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico, on Saturday, January 21st.
Originally the contest was set for Mexico City but now it will be set for the Tijuana Municipal Auditorium with the full support of the Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante, the director of the Tijuana Boxing and Martial Arts Commission Juan Carlos Pelayo and the Tijuana Boxing Commissioner Alejandro “Terra” Garcia.
The Ponce de Leon-Estrella bout will be televised live in Mexico by Televisa and presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Erik Morales’ Box Latino.
“Now that I have been told that the fight will be in my hometown, my motivation has just increased by 1000%,” Estrella stated minutes after the change of venue relayed to him. “To fight in my hometown in such an important fight for my career and against such a great fighter like Ponce de Leon is like a dream come true. I have been working very hard in the gym since I thought the fight was going to be in Mexico City and I knew that conditioning would be a big part of it but now that it is here, I am even more motivated to win this fight in front of my family, friends and Tijuana.”
Estrella trains under the watchful eye of two-time world champion Raul “Jibaro” Perez at the Gaspar “Indio” Ortega gym in the tough neighborhood of the Zona Norte, the same neighborhood that gave birth to current World Boxing Council (WBC) 140 lbs. champ Erik “Terrible” Morales who happens to be Estrella’s promoter,” I want to thank Erik and the rest of Box Latino for this opportunity. I know it is a tough fight because Ponce de Leon is a good fighter but I know that I have the style to beat him and I will be ready to give the best of me in the ring.”
More details regarding the fight card will be released soon.
MARTINEZ LOOKING FOR BIG YEAR IN 2012: KICKS OFF SEASON OPENER OF ESPN’S FNF
Key West, FL/New York, NY – (1/4/2012) – This Friday night, the Bronx’s fast-rising junior middleweight prospect Steven Martinez (11-0, 9KO’s) will be in the most important fight of his young career when he takes on Denis Douglin (13-1, 8KO’s) in an eight-round contest in the opening televised bout of the 2012 Season Premiere of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”, from Mallory Square in beautiful Key West, Florida. The card, promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with D & J Management Productions, is headlined by world-rated Dyah Davis (20-2-1, 9KO’s) taking on Alfonso Lopez (22-1, 17KO’s) in a 10-round super middleweight showdown. ESPN2/ESPN3 will begin live coverage at 9PM ET.
Martinez, a former three-time NY Golden Gloves champion and 2008 National Golden Gloves 152lb. champion, was originally scheduled to take on fellow undefeated prospect JonathanDBE Cepeda, until Cepeda was forced to pull out after being in a car accident. (Editors Note: Cepeda’s injuries are neither life- nor career threatening.) Now Martinez is set to meet a much more familiar face in the 2008 National Golden Gloves 165lb. champion Douglin.
“I had a great training camp,” said Martinez. “I am expecting a tough fight come Friday night. He is a good solid southpaw who knows what he is doing in that ring. We were in a couple of different tournaments together back in our amateur days, but we never fought one another because we fought in different weight classes.”
For those who haven’t yet caught a glimpse of the 21-year-old Puerto Rican prospect, be sure to tune in on Friday night. Managed by well-known boxing manager Pat Lynch and New York Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs, Martinez is one of the most promising and exciting prospects to come out of the New York area in years.
Standing 6’1″ with lightning-quick hands and devastating knockout power, Martinez has been dominant since turning pro back in August of 2009. Eight of his nine knockouts have come in three rounds or less, and Martinez promises to put on another exciting performance when he steps into the ring on Friday night.
“This is going to be an explosive and crowd-pleasing fight. My style of fighting is always action-packed, and Friday night will be no exception. I am going to bring my A-game and I hope that he brings his. I have been working so hard in the gym. I am just anxious to get in there and showcase my talent in the national spotlight.”
Martinez, who gained valuable experience this past summer serving as one of the lead sparring partners for Middleweight Champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, is not only looking to put on a good show Friday night but also to make a statement to the boxing world.
“I’m looking to show everyone who Steven Martinez is and that I am here to stay. I know this is a tough fight, but I am ready to make my move right now, and for that to happen, these are the types of fights that I need to have. Keep your eyes on me because 2012 is my year.”
THOMAS “CORNFLAKE” LAMANNA COMES HOME TO HEADLINE AT NUTLEY HIGH SCHOOL ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17TH
Friday night, February 17th, Gabe LaConte’s First Round Promotions presents a special night of boxing at Nutley High School as undefeated Jr. Middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna returns to his childhood home to compete in the main event.
LaManna will take part in a six round bout.
LaManna of Millville, New Jersey spent the first seven years of his life in Nutley and will look to make a happy homecoming on February 17th.
The twenty year –old LaManna has a perfect mark of 6-0 with four knockouts and has been one of the most active fighters around as this will be his seventh fight in just over a year.
The highlight of LaManna’s fledgling career was his victory over Josh Williams as he captured the BAM Youth title on September 14th in Newark, New Jersey.
On December 16th, LaManna traveled to Batesville, Arkansas where he scored a second round knockout over Ivory Joyner.
Some of the best talent in the Northern New Jersey area has been assembled that will be part of an entertaining undercard.
Once-beaten and popular Heavyweight John Lennox will see action in a six round bout.
Lennox of Carteret, New Jersey has a record of 8-1 with four knockouts will be making his second appearance of 2012 as he has a fight scheduled for January 13th in Philadelphia against Riley Brooks.
Lennox, who will be fighting for the eighth time in eight months, scored a third round stoppage over Jeramiah Witherspoon on December 17th in Atlantic City.
Richard Pierson of Paterson, New Jersey will take part in a six round Middleweight bout.
Pierson has a record of 9-2 with six knockouts and has some impressive victories over the likes of Curtis Jones (2-0-1); Ray Smith (7-1); Jimmy Campbell (10-1); Jamaal Davis (7-3) and his last bout when he knocked out previously undefeated Raynaldo Rodriguez (5-0O in the first round back on June 24th, 2010 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Seeing action in a six round Jr. Lightweight bout will be undefeated Polish sensation Kamil Lasczyk
Lasczyk, who now resides in North Bergen, New Jersey, has a record of 6-0 with five knockouts and won his first five bouts in the United States before going home to Poland to stop Istavan Paszti in one round on December 3rd.
Undefeated Middleweight John Thompson will see action in a four round bout.
Thompson of Newark, New Jersey has a record of 3-0 with one knockout.
This will be Thompson’s second bout of 2012 as he has a fight scheduled with Aaron Williams on January 13th in Philadelphia.
Thompson is coming off a four round unanimous decision over Anthony Abrams on November 18th in Wyomissing, PA.
Also seeing action in separate four round bouts will be debuting Middleweight Godson Noel of Newark, NJ; Jr. Middleweight Alantez Fox (6-0, 3 KO’s) and Heavyweight Aaron Kinch (1-0) of Newark, New Jersey
Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing cost $100 for VIP (which includes a buffet dinner) and $40 General Admission.
There will be discounted tickets for Students and seniors and all tickets can be purchased at the following places:
Elite Heat Boxing Gym
130 Mt. Pleasant Ave.
Newark, NJ
862 772-2532
White Oak Barber Shop
83 Union Ave.
Nutley, NJ
973-661-3334
Boardwalk Saloon
206 Bloomfield Ave
Newark, NJ
973-483-8766
Nutley High School is located at 300 Franklin Ave.