Manny Pacquiao’s next big test inside the ring will be against Oscar De La Hoya, but before he takes on boxing’s most popular figure, the four-division champion faces the challenge of co-promoting his first boxing show with Sycuan Ringside Promotions on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 at Sycuan Resort and Casino in San Diego, Calif..
“I love the San Diego area,” said Pacquiao, who’s promotional company is titled Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP). “Before I won my title against David Diaz, I spent several hours touring San Diego after one of our press conferences. I can honestly say it is the most beautiful city in America.”
“Sycuan Ringside Promotions is extremely excited to be partnering with Manny in his first boxing promotion,” said Scott Woodworth, vice president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions. “You can only do this once and we’re happy to be a part of it. We’ve lined up an exciting card with an exciting twist.”
Tickets for the outdoor venue are on sale now. Tickets are priced at $250, $150, $75 and $50. You can purchase online at www.sycuan.com, via phone at (619) 659-3380 or in person at the Sycuan box office.
The memorable night of boxing features Mexican boxers against Filipinos with the main event pitting Bernabe Concepcion against Giovanni Caro in a ten-round super bantamweight bout that begins at 7:30 p.m. PT, televised by Azteca America.
Concepcion, who is promoted by Pacquiao, is 26-1 with 15 knockouts while Caro is the Mexican 122-pound champion with a record of 11-4-4 with 9 knockouts.
Pacquiao, who is training in Los Angeles under long-time trainer Freddie Roach, will be seated ringside to watch all the action as it unfolds.
Other Pacquiao-backed boxers include junior welterweight Dennis Laurente (29-3, 15 KOs) fighting against Arturo Urena (20-15, 12 KOs) and lightweight Aaron Melgarejo (11-6-1, 3 KOs) competing against Alain Hernandez (12-5-2, 7 KOs).
Willie Tucker, vice president of Sycuan Ringside Promotions, said Pacquiao’s presence is a highlight of his five-year-old promotional company.
“Dealing with Manny and his organization has been a real honor,” Tucker said. “He is a class act, and he handles the best Filipino fighters. We are fortunate to have thousands of Filipino-American customers in Southern California. We’re expecting ticket demand to be extremely high for this event.”
JESUS CHAVEZ, HYLON WILLIAMS AND JERMELL CHARLO ROUND OUT SEPTEMBER 6TH UNDERCARD
Before hometown heroes Juan Diaz and Rocky Juarez take to the HBO airwaves on “Houston Super Fight Night” set for Saturday, September 6th for pivotal showdowns against Michael Katsidis and Jorge Barrios respectively, fans at Houston’s Toyota Center will be treated to an even bigger array of Texas’ finest, as Former World Champion Jesus “El Matador” Chavez and top prospects Hylon Williams and Jermell Charlo plan on showing their opponents that when it comes to boxing, you don’t mess with Texas.
In a ten round lightweight contest, Chavez battles hard-hitting Colombian Andres Ledesma. Also at 135 pounds, unbeaten Williams takes on Jesse Ortiz in a six rounder and in a welterweight four rounder, Charlo will look to keep his unbeaten record intact against Rodrigo Villareal.
Adding to the Lone Star State theme will be none other than Natalie Foreman, daughter of heavyweight legend George Foreman and the star of the hit television series Family Foreman, who will be singing the National Anthem on fight night.
The former WBC World Junior Lightweight Champion, Austin, Texas’ Jesus Chavez (43-4, 29 KOs) has battled through more adversity in and out of the ring than most people will ever see, but he has still emerged as a true gentleman and one of the top fighters in the world. Sidelined for over a year due to a knee injury, Chavez returned to the ring in April with a hard-fought decision win over Daniel Jimenez and on September 6th he will undoubtedly be raring to go as he fights in Texas for the first time since his title-winning effort over Sirimongkol Singwancha in 2003. In Arjona, Colombia’s Andres Ledesma (14-10-1, 9 KOs), he will not only be facing a seasoned battler with knockout power, but one who issued highly-touted prospect Gary Stark Jr. his first pro loss via knockout in May of 2007, making him a tough test for “El Matador”.
Houston’s own Hylon Williams (3-0, 1 KO) has transitioned smoothly to the pros from an amateur career that saw him win a number of titles, including the National Golden Gloves, the Junior Olympics, the PAL championship and the Silver Gloves. Unbeaten in three bouts, the 18-year old has yet to lose a round in the pro ranks and he has been training tirelessly to keep his string of perfection going against San Antonio’s Jesse Ortiz (4-9-2, 2 KOs) in a six round lightweight bout. In addition to training for his September 6th bout, Williams began classes at Houston Community College on August 25th, following in the footsteps of stablemate Diaz, who went back to school at the University of Houston this week in the midst of training.
Like Williams, Houston’s Jermell Charlo (3-0, 2 KOs) dazzled fight fans as an amateur, winning a Bronze medal at the 2005 Junior Olympics at just 15 years old and ending his amateur career with a stellar 56-8 slate. In December of last year, Charlo turned pro with a near shutout win over Corey Sommerville, but his next two opponents didn’t make it to the final bell. On September 6th, the 18-year old prodigy looks for win number four against Houston’s Rodrigo Villareal (1-1) in a four round welterweight battle.
In other undercard action at the Toyota Center, 8-0 (5 KOs) junior lightweight up and comer Elizar Renteria of Houston squares off against Laredo’s Olvin Mejia (3-2-1, 3 KOs) in a junior lightweight four round contest; Houston’s Crystal Delgado (6-0, 1 KO) risks her unbeaten record against Louisville’s Katlyn Dance (2-2) in a four round showdown; undefeated junior middleweights Lanard Lane (3-0, 2 KOs) of Houston and Quinton Whitaker (5-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio collide in a four round bout; and Houston junior middleweight Roque Moreno makes his pro debut against Victoria’s Jesus Villareal (2-5-1, 1 KO) in a four round matchup.
Tickets for “Houston Super Fight Night” – Diaz vs. Katsidis and Juarez vs. Barrios, priced at $200, $100, $60, $40 and $25, are on sale and available for purchase, at the Toyota Center Box Office, online at www.ToyotaCenterTix.com, by phone at 1-866-4-HOU-TIX and select Houston area Randalls locations.
“Houston Super Fight Night” – the doubleheader featuring Diaz vs. Katsidis, in a scheduled 12 round IBO Lightweight Championship bout as the main attraction and Juarez vs. Barrios, in a 12 round WBO Latino Junior Lightweight co-feature bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, Amigo Energy and Dewalt Tools with Diaz vs. Katsidis being presented in association with Northeast Promotions. The bouts will air live on HBO’s Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET / PT, 9:15 p.m. CT. Doors for the evening’s event will open at 6:00 p.m. with a first fight time of 6:05 p.m.
GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS INKS HOT PROSPECT “VICIOUS” VICTOR ORTIZ
Golden Boy Promotions is proud to announce that one of boxing’s hottest prospects, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, has been added to its extensive roster of fighters. Ortiz signed with Golden Boy today and is slated to make his Golden Boy Promotions debut on the Casamayor-Marquez “The Challenge” undercard on September 13th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a fight which will be distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
“Victor Ortiz is one of boxing’s hottest young stars in the junior welterweight division and we are very excited to add him to the Golden Boy roster,” said President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya. “I see a lot of qualities in him that I had as a young fighter and know that Victor will do big things in and out of the ring.”
“Signing with Golden Boy Promotions means a lot to me,” said Ortiz. “I’m really happy to be under Oscar de la Hoya’s and his team’s guidance. I’m going to do everything it takes to become boxing’s next big star and one day fill Oscar’s big shoes.”
Oxnard, California’s Ortiz (21-1-1, 16 KOs), is not only known for being “Vicious” in the ring but also as being young charismatic man outside the ring, the very qualities of his role model, De La Hoya. The slick southpaw is coming off a decisive fifth round knockout over veteran pugilist Dairo Esalas as the featured undercard bout of De La Hoya’s May 3rd fight at The Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium. The 21-year-old will fight in a ten round bout against an opponent to be determined on September 13.