The 2009 season of “Next Boxing Generation” will get off to an explosive start on Saturday, January 31st, when HBO Plus’s hit boxing series returns with a hard-hitting card that will take place at Palenque del FEX de Mexicali in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. In the 12 round main event, Mexicali’s own Ricardo Castillo and Mexico City’s Abraham Rodriguez will challenge for the vacant NABF featherweight championship. The co-feature will see junior lightweight prospect David Rodela in a ten rounder against Mexicali’s Antonio Meza..
Castillo (35-7, 24 KOs) is a two-time world title challenger with power in both hands who is looking to position himself for another shot at a title. Standing in his way is Rodriguez (14-5-2, 7 KOs), winner of nine of his last ten bouts and a fighter eager to score the upset and begin his own march on the 126-pound division’s elite.
Rodela (11-1-2, 6 KOs) bounced back from a rocky start to his pro career to go unbeaten in his last 10 fights, with his biggest wins coming over Jose Luis Soto Karass, Julio Gamboa and former world champion Kevin Kelley, who the 26-year old out-pointed in his last fight on October 10th. In Meza (24-5-1, 16 KOs), he will be facing a hard-nosed battler who has been in with the likes of Rey Bautista, Julio Zarate and Ricardo Castillo and who, at age 26, is just hitting his stride in the pro game.
This ten bout card of world-class professional boxing, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Boxing Promotions and Produccciones Deportivas de Ricardo Maldonado Jr., will be presented live on the HBO Plus service in Latin America beginning at 7:00 pm local time. The first bout begins at 6:30 pm local time.
Tickets priced at 350, 300, 250, 200, 150 and 120 pesos can be purchased at: Mariscos El Samy en la calle once y Baja California # 1852, Colonia Pueblo Nuevo, Mexicali, Baja California phone 686-553-8251. They can also be purchased at Promociones Internacionales, Avenida Madero # 400-A Zona Centro Mexicali, Baja California, phone 686-551-9510.
“Next Boxing Generation”, which was launched in August by Golden Boy Promotions in association with HBO Latin America Group, features the top Latin American fighters in boxing today in exciting bouts that will appeal to fans across all demographics.
In undercard action, three of Mexico’s finest prospects will thrill the crowd and risk their unbeaten records, as lightweight Pablo Cesar Cano (13-0-1, 11 KOs) of Tlandeplanta faces off against Luis Rey (7-1-1, 5 KO’s) of Ciudad Obregon in a eight round bout; Chihuahua welterweight Luis Enrique Grajeda (3-0, 2 KOs) will take on Mexicali’s Rafael Ortiz (3-2-1, 1 KO); and super middleweight Marco Antonio Periban (2-0, 1 KO) of Mexico City will be featured in a four round bout against Adan Fortanel who is making his pro debut.
In a ten round special attraction, flyweight Ruben Lopez (15-11-2, 13 KO’s) of Mexicali will face Tijuana’s Roberto Lopez (28-17-1, 12 KO’s).
Also appearing on the show will be San Felipe’s Javier Arostegui (8-0, 8 KO’s) in a four round junior welterweight battle against Roberto Hernandez (1-0) of Mexicali and Ciudad Obregon native Ruben Tamayo (2-0-1, 1 KO) against Israel Barron (1-8) of Mexicali in a four round bantamweight contest. Mexicali’s Rodolfo Castro (4-1-1, 3 KO’s) will be in a six round welterweight battle and Poza Rica Veracruz native Azael Villegas (9-0) will battle in a six round lightweight bout against opponents to be determined.
Manfredo High On Prospect Rodriguez
WORCESTER, Mass. (January 15, 2009) – Veteran boxing trainer Peter Manfredo, Sr. has only worked less than a year with unbeaten middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, but the experienced cornerman is high on his former 2-time national amateur champion. Rodriguez faces Brad Austin (8-5, 2 KOs) this Saturday night (January 17) in his first scheduled 8-round bout on the off-televised HBO undercard, headlined by the Andre Berto-Luis Collazo WBC welterweight title fight, at the Beau Rivage Resort Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez (8-0, 5 KOs), who fights out of Worcester (MA), often sparred with world title challengers Peter Manfredo, Jr. and Elvin Ayala, as well as Jessie Brinkley, since his last fight August 20 when he won all six rounds against Marcus Upshaw.
“There’s been a complete turnout,” Manfredo explained what’s been happening with him and Rodriguez the past four months. “I had to put in his mind that he needs to stand strong with his head high and to throw body punches by stepping to the side. He’s not where we want him to be, yet, but he’s improved. I want him thinking that defense is a responsibility in order to last in this game. We’ve worked on him being good defensively and it’s slowly coming around. I became his head trainer eight months ago to get him to the next level. We’ve reached a happy medium. He’s learning to use range with his long arms. Everything works off the jab and Edwin’s technique is improved to where he’s throwing good jabs and hooking off the jab to the body and head.
“The best thing about him is he’s a real good kid. He’s clean; hard worker and very respectful. The road is long and there are no guarantees for anybody in this game but, what I really like is his desire to work. He has that long range. He’s strong and has a good chin, too. Edwin’s a quick learner. Like with the jab, he’s learning why to use it – to set up combinations and use his range to keep his opponent off balance. I want his jab to control his opponent, which will make fights a lot easier for him.
RYAN SMEDICK FIGHTS BACK IN CICERO ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 23RD
CHICAGO, IL (January 15, 2009) Popular welterweight prospect Ryan Smedick returns to action against Tyson Schwieger on Friday, January 23rd at Cicero Stadium as part of NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION, an outstanding evening of world class boxing, presented by Chicago’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.
Advance tickets for “NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION”, starting at $30, can be obtained in advance by calling the 8 Count Productions office at 312-226-5800. Cicero Stadium is located at 1909 S. Laramie in Cicero . Doors on the evening of the event will open at 7pm with the first bell at 8pm.
Smedick, 2-0-0 (1KO), turned professional six months ago and has impressed fans at both the Aragon Ballroom and Cicero Stadium in his first two bouts.
“Our fans are always interested in seeing talented newcomers but they’re not so easily impressed. However, Ryan has won them over. He’s from Chicago so some fans knew about him from the Chicago Golden Gloves but those that are now just watching him have been very impressed” said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions.
“He’s looked good in his first two bouts, but what I really like is that he’s such a hard worker in the gym. He’s here at JABB almost every day working with his trainer Al Ortiz Jr. and fully understands that the hard work will pay off in the ring.”
Schwieger, of Kansas City , brings a record of 2-6-2 (2KO’s) into the fight with Smedick, but as often is the case in boxing, records can be very deceiving.
Continued Pesoli, “Schwieger’s a bit of a road warrior taking fights in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles but I understand he’s a real tough guy who will pressure Smedick which should make for an entertaining fight. Schwieger just knocked out a kid in the first round last month so he’s not going to be shy about letting his hands go from the opening bell.”
The full NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION card is as follows;
Ivan Popoca vs. Daniel Garcia, six rounds, junior welterweights
Eric Estrada vs. Steve Cannell, six rounds, super bantamweights
Andrzej Fonfara vs. Terrence Wilson, six rounds, super middleweights
Ryan Smedick vs. Tyson Schwieger, four rounds, welterweights
William Hernandez vs. Quincy Johnson, four rounds, featherweights
“NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION” is presented along with Miller Lite, TCF Bank, Jack Daniels and EL Jimador Tequila.