By Joseph Herron: In the age of the enlightened sports fan, boxing finds itself at a very crucial juncture in its long and illustrious tenure. With the boxing die-hard’s insatiable appetite for the all-action heroes of years past, the sweet science is currently accepting applications from any prizefighter who is willing to take up the mantle of “blood and guts warrior” once again.
Raul “El Tigre” Casarez (18-2, 9 KOs) could be the fighter for which the casual sports fan has been clamoring.
With a lion’s heart and a never say die attitude, the Rio Grande Valley fighter promises to put on an electrifying performance next Saturday night when he faces ring veteran J.C. Candelo on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate” series at the Pharr Convention Center in Pharr, TX.
“I’m really excited to be facing a veteran fighter like J.C. Candelo,” states the Edinburg, TX, native. “I admire his style and the fact that he’s a very tough fighter. I love fighting the toughest opposition available. I absolutely love it. The better my opponents are, the harder I work in the gym.”
Although March 17th marks “El Tigre’s” first main event appearance on network television, the 25 year old warrior has been gradually working towards this moment for over eight years.
Raul reflects on his path of progress with great humility.
“I have been working my entire adult life for this moment and I plan to make the most of this great opportunity. I know this wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and support of my trainer James Gogue and promoter Julio Marines.”
“My career was reborn when they entered my life and I am truly thankful for everything they have done for me. Although this fight is the culmination of all of our hard work, this is only the beginning.”
After experiencing two disappointing losses in 2005, Casarez has compiled an impressive nine consecutive victories since adopting the rigorous training regimen of veteran coach James Gogue.
“Before I started working with ‘Tigre’ he had some bad habits in and out of the gym, but I keep him mentally and physically prepared now all year round,” claims the veteran trainer of 29 years. “Tigre is a very exciting fighter and has a lot of potential in this business.”
“He fights in a very fan friendly style and always puts forth a spirited, high energy performance. He’s a very aggressive, pressure fighter who doesn’t take a back step for any opponent.”
On March 17th, Casarez will take a big step towards much bigger fights when he takes on a much more experienced opponent.
“I want to fight the biggest and best that’s out there,” declares Casarez. “I feel like I am at the top of my game right now and I would step in the ring with the best of the Junior Middleweight division if I could. But, I ultimately leave that up to James to decide because he is very experienced and knows what I’m ready for. I trust his judgment.”
“I know that my path to the big fights begins with J.C. Candelo on March 17th, and I will treat this like the most important fight of my life. I am fighting in front of my hometown fans and I plan to put on a memorable show for everyone. I feel that next Saturday night will be the beginning of something really special.”
“Casarez vs. Candelo” headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Don Chargin Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate. Doors open at 6:30pm, the first bell rings at 7:30pm and the TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:00 pm ET / PT (10:00pm CT).
Tickets, priced at $25, $40, $60 and $80, may be purchased online at http://pharrevents.com/index.php.