13.09.06 – EL PASO, TEXAS—Once again, the stage is set in El Paso, Texas, for World Championship boxing on HBO Pay-Per-View. UTEP’s Don Haskins Center has been the site of many major boxing events over the past decade, but none with a more appealing mix of Mexican and local stars than MEXICAN GLORY, scheduled for Saturday, October 21..
Highly regarded World Champions Juan Manuel Marquez and Daniel “Ponce” De Leon, both rising stars from Mexico, defend their respective titles on this exciting world championship double-header card, promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s, Golden Boy Promotions,. Slated to headline the undercard of the seven-bout fight card are local El Paso favorites and World rated contenders, Juan Lazcano and Antonio Escalante.
Marquez (45-3-1, Mexico City, MX), who’s sensational draw with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao was a candidate for “Fight of the Year” in 2004, defends his coveted WBC World Featherweight crown against three-time Philippines champion, Jimrex Jaca (26-2-1, Cebu, PI).
The hard punching De Leon (29-1, Cuahtemoc, CH, MX), puts his WBO World Jr. Featherweight title on the line when he faces talented boxer/puncher Al Seeger (27-1, Savannah, GA).
Both world title bouts are scheduled for the championship twelve rounds, Escalante (13-1, El Paso), the #5 WBO World rated contender, is also scheduled for 12 rounds as he defends his NABO Jr. Featherweight title clash against veteran Omar Adorno (16-7-1, Morovis, Puerto Rico).
Lazcano (36-3-1, El Paso), the former #1 World Rated Lightweight contender who is now the #5 WBC World rated Super Lightweight, battles rugged Manuel Garnica (20-5, Guadalajara, JL, MX) in a ten-round contest.
Garnica, who recently upset former world champion Carlos Maussa, looks to be Lazcano’s toughest challenge since losing in his world title bid against Jose Luis Castillo in 2004.
Tickets for the event, which begins at 6:30 pm, are priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 & $30 (plus convenience charges). Tickets go ON SALE Saturday, September 23rd, at the UTEP Ticket Center and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Tickets will also be available online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at 915-544-8444.
For promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, who fought before 52,000 fans at UTEP’s Sun Bowl in 1998, El Paso seemed a perfect fit for MEXICAN GLORY.
“After looking at all the options out there, El Paso just made the most sense as the site for the event,” said De La Hoya, who confirmed he will be attending the event as well.
“The combination of two world title fights featuring two stars from Mexico (Marquez and De Leon), along with the two biggest stars (Lazcano and Escalante) from El Paso, was the determining factor.”
De La Hoya also pointed to the fight fans of El Paso. “El Paso fight fans have proven over an over they will support quality boxing events – and for that, they deserved the opportunity to have this event in their city,” De La Hoya noted.
As for the card itself, De La Hoya says the El Paso fight fans are in for an explosive night at the fights. “All four fights at the top of the card have a chance to be sensational,” said De La Hoya.
“Another thing I like about this event is that local fans will have an opportunity to see two of their own world rated fighters (Lazcano and Escalante) stepping up against top competition. Too many times, fans see their local favorites in against weak opposition, but that’s certainly not the case here.”
For Lazcano, who’s only loss since 1998 was to Castillo for the world title, fighting at home will be a welcomed opportunity. “I can’t tell you how motivated and excited I am about fighting at home again, in front of my friends and family,” said Lazcano, who is training in Los Angeles with trainer Freddy Roach.
“This is a big fight for me, against Garnica – one that I hope leads to me fighting for the world title again. Where better for me to fight an important fight than in El Paso?”
Escalante is happy to be retuning to the home ring, as well. “It’s been over a year (August 19, 2005) since I fought at home and that’s too long,” said the 21 year old Escalante.
“But I have made a lot of progress in my career and now I’m anxious to show the boxing fans there in El Paso that I’m ready step up to the world class level. I’m in a very tough fight and it helps to know that I will have the fans of El Paso in my corner.”