04.06.05 – Sycuan Ringside Promotions has signed the No. 2-ranked bantamweight in the world, Mauricio Martinez of Panama, to an exclusive, multi-year promotional agreement. The first fight for the 29-year-old southpaw under the Sycuan Ringside Promotions promotional banner will be on an ESPN2-televised card June 7 in at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Calif..
The main event on that card features former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Julio Diaz against Marco Angel Perez of Las Vegas, Nev.
“We’re delighted to add Mauricio to our growing stable of world champions and future world champions,” said Glenn Quiroga, president and chief operating officer of Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
Martinez, the former World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion has a record of 27-5-1 with 18 knockouts and currently is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Association and No. 6 by the World Boxing Council among 118-pounders.
Martinez, who is managed by Randall Ramirez, was the WBO bantamweight champion during 2000. He won the title with a fifth-round knockout of Lester Fuentes Sept. 4 in England and then defended successfully Dec. 16 with a first-round knockout of Esham Pickering in England.
Martinez, who has won eight straight dating back to February of 2003, won the WBO Latino and the WBA Fedecentro bantamweight championship in his most recent outing, a fifth-round knockout out Gerardo Espinoza Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered to be the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during 2004, but already has or had four world champions and has promoted and presented world title bouts on premium cable networks.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable, including, in addition to Diaz and Martinez, IBF junior featherweight champion Israel Vazquez; WBO junior featherweight champ Joan Guzman; and Carlos Baldomir, the WBC’s No. 1-ranked welterweight.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is led by Quiroga; Willie Tucker Sr., senior vice president; Scott Woodworth, vice president of boxing operations; and Michael Marley, vice president of public relations.