21.08.07 – Niagara Falls, NY—Jose Hernandez, of Atlanta, GA, will challenge Johnnie Edwards, of Florence, SC, for Edwards’ North American Boxing Association (NABA) featherweight title over 12 rounds on Friday evening, Aug. 31, at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. The non-televised fight will be the first boxing event held in the 1,904-seat Events Center at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, 310 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, NY. First of seven fights begins at 7.30 p.m.
Hernandez, 25, originally from Mexico, steps in for Olivier Lontchi, of Montreal, Canada, who injured his right hand in sparring.
A pro since 2003, Hernandez is 10-6, 5 K0s, but he won his last two fights and he has boxed eight men who were undefeated at the time.
In his last fight April 19 in Glen Burnie, MD, Hernandez pinned the first loss in 10 fights on Tyrell Samuel when he K0d the Maryland fighter in four rounds. Prior to that, Hernandez out-pointed Carlos Rivera (then 9-2-1) over six rounds Dec. 2, 2006, in Tampa, FL.
Hernandez also upset Castulo Gonzalez, of Guatemala, via six-round decision on July 29, 2005, in the loser’s backyard of Brockton, MA. Gonzales was 5-0 at the time.
Edwards, 25, won the vacant NABA title when he knocked out Elvis Luciano Martinez, of the Dominican Republic, in the first round Aug. 26, 2006, in Greensboro, NC.
In his first defense, Edwards earned a unanimous 12-round decision over Angel Chacon, of Puerto Rico, on Jan. 25, 2007, in Charlotte, NC.
After an outstanding amateur career in the Armed Services, Edwards turned pro midway through 2005. His record is 12-1, 7 K0s.
In his last fight May 18 in Broomfield, CO, Edwards won a six-round decision over Jaime Sandoval, of Chicago, IL, in a non-title fight.
Welterweight Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, PA, one of the hottest prospects in the country, headlines the six-fight undercard when he boxes Martinus Clay, of Wilson, NC, in the scheduled eight-round semifinal.
Jones, 24, is 9-0, 9 K0s, and no opponent has lasted more than seven minutes in the ring with him.
In his last fight July 20 at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, Jones stopped Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, who did not answer the bell for the third round. Carrasquillo had K0d seven of his last eight opponents.
Clay, 25, represents a major step up in class for Jones.
Though Clay’s record is 12-16-2, 4 K0s, the combined record of his last 12 opponents is an incredible 165-8-3 and he went into the seventh round before being stopped earlier this year by unbeaten Andre Berto, of New York, considered the finest prospect in the division. Berto is 19-0, 16 K0s.
Another unbeaten Philadelphia welterweight, Kaseem Wilson, puts his 9-0-1 record, 3 K0s, on the line against fellow-lefty Russell Jordan, of Rochester, NY. Jordan is 12-4, 8 K0s.
Featherweights Teon Kennedy (4-0, 3 K0s), of Philadelphia, PA, and Francisco Palacios (1-1-3, 1 K0), of the Bronx, NY, collide in a six-round contest.
Three additional fights complete the program.
Tickets for the Aug. 31 card, which is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., of Philadelphia, are priced at $100, $75, $50. They are on sale at all TicketMaster Outlets and all can be purchased at the Eight Clans Gift Shop at the Seneca Niagara Casino. To charge by phone, call 716-852-5000. From Canada, call 416-870-8000.