12.04.06 – Kassim Ouma will face dangerous Mexican bomber Marco Antonio Rubio in the featured undercard attraction on the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga ‘Danger Zone’ promotion, Saturday, May 6 from MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout, announced today by Golden Boy Promotions also will be part of the live broadcast on HBO Pay-Per-View..
In addition to Ouma vs Rubio, former WBO super bantamweight champion Joan Guzman will make his junior lightweight debut on the live broadcast against the always tough Javier “Chatito” Jauregui. Rounding out the show in non-television bouts will be unbeaten prospects Rock Allen and Jonathan Oquendo, and once-beaten welterweight contender Ishe Smith, a competitor of the hit reality series ‘The Contender.’
Awarded the inaugural Pat Putnam Award for Perseverance by the Boxing Writers Association of America, Kassim ‘The Dream’ Ouma (23-2-1, 15 KOs) rose from unspeakable conditions in his native Uganda to become one of boxing’s best, pound-for-pound. Ouma, the charismatic former IBF junior middleweight champion who now makes his home in Florida, has scored two impressive TKO wins in a row since losing his crown, and he is on the doorstep of another title shot.
Since making his United States debut in August 2004, Torreon, Mexico’s Marco Antonio Rubio (32-2-1, 29 KOs) has made a name for himself with his concrete fists and exciting style. Winner of seven fights in a row, six by knockout, ‘El Veneno’ knows that a win over Ouma will place him among the elite at 154 pounds.
Co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions, Joan Guzman (24-0, 17 KOs) is a certified superstar in his native Dominican Republic, and is now looking forward to reaching those same heights in the United States. Already a world champion in the super bantamweight division, the concussive punching ‘Sycuan Warrior’ is making his junior lightweight debut after a brief stay at featherweight.
One of the fight game’s truest warriors, Javier Jauregui (51-12-2, 35 KOs) has been competing in the world’s toughest sport for more than 18 years since making his 1988 debut at the age of 14. A former IBF world champion at 135 pounds, and currently No. 3 in the world at 130 pounds, Mexico’s ‘Chatito’ has a junior lightweight title in his sights for 2006.
Junior middleweight contender Ishe ‘Sugar Shay’ Smith (16-1, 7 KOs), who recently signed a multi-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, will make his long awaited ring return against hard-hitting Alexis Divison (16-3, 12 KOs). A slick boxer with pop in both hands, the Las Vegan became a nationwide superstar with his appearance on the original series ‘The Contender,’ and after his decision win over Anthony Bonsante last May, he’s ready to get back to the business of winning a world championship.
Junior welterweight Rock Allen (6-0, 5 KOs), a member of the 2004 US Olympic team, has impressed boxing insiders with his punching power and enthusiasm between the ropes. The Philadelphia fighter is looking forward to his return to Las Vegas, where he stopped Calvin Pitts in two rounds last December.
Vega Alta, Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo (8-0, 5 KOs) has wowed fans with an intriguing mix of speed and power, leading many to believe he is going to be the next champion from the island that has produced Wilfred Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, Jose Torres, and Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad. In his last bout, he stopped Terrence Roy in three rounds.
De La Hoya vs. Mayorga, “Danger Zone,” is brought to you by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Don King Productions. Tickets priced at $1,250, $950, $750, $350 and $150 are now on sale. Tickets are available at any MGM Grand box office outlet and also are sold at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (Tower Records/WOW!, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Robinsons-May stores and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The De La Hoya vs. Mayorga pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST Saturday, May 6, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be distributed domestically by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in high-definition television for those viewers who are HDTV capable. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. De La Hoya vs. Mayorga daily updates can be found during fight week at www.HBOPPV.com.