Amateur welterweight star Eric Mendez has signed an exclusive promotional contract with TKO Boxing Promotions, it was announced today. The 19 year old Mendez, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Hawaiian Gardens, finished his outstanding amateur career with a record of 74-9 including a two-time first place finish at the highly regarded Desert Showdown Invitational Amateur Boxing Championships. Along with his new promoter, Mendez is guided by award winning manager Cameron Dunkin and trainer Armando Valenzuela..
“I’ve been training Eric since he was 9 years old and he’s always in the gym 5-6 days a week and always getting better. He’s sparred with almost all the top pro’s in California and all of them will tell you how impressed they are” said Armando Valenzuela.
Said Dunkin, “Eric is an exceptionally heavy handed fighter with tremendous power in both hands and is very well suited to becoming a highly successful pro. He didn’t travel much nationally as an amateur but he beat many highly ranked amateurs at smaller tournaments and beat most of them by stoppage. He is very strong and he can really punch with both hands. Eric is the kind of guy boxing fans are going to love. We’re looking forward to announcing his pro debut very shortly.”
The 5’10” Mendez is scheduled to make his professional debut March 25th at Commerce Casino. TKO CEO Chris Middendorf adds, “Our goals at Commerce are to create a series that focuses on some of our world class prospects, to bring terrific fights to the world’s largest poker casino and to have the fans coming back show after show. As we will be doing between 8 and 10 shows a year there, Eric Mendez is the type of young star that we can really build there. Fans in LA are going to love Mendez the first time they see him”.
Kenny Adams Joins TKO Boxing
LAS VEGAS, NV (January 18, 2010) Continuing on their path to becoming the leading international boxing promoter, TKO Boxing announced today the signing of Kenny Adams, long time trainer of numerous world champions to a long term, exclusive contract. With the newly opened TKO Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, having a world class trainer like Kenny Adams work with their growing list of outstanding prospects and contenders was a perfect fit. Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO Boxing Promotions, “Kenny is the best trainer for our growing number of fighters who are based in Las Vegas. He’s an outstanding teacher and true disciplinarian. As we continue to grow it became critical that we bring in a trainer who can really take the prospects and contenders that we have to the next level.”
Continued Chris Middendorf, CEO and Director of Boxing Operations for TKO Boxing Promotions. “Adding a trainer of Kenny Adams’ stature and respect is hugely important to the growth of our company. We are signing the talent and have the shows on which they will fight. Having a major trainer to work with the fighters that do not already have world class trainers is key to the development of the whole program.”
“We are constantly chided or derided as either the new kids on the block or the latest version of America Presents. Signing Adams is the latest example of how we are building TKO to be a major player for years to come.”
For many years, Adams has had great success working with young prospects, starting with guiding the 1988 U.S. Olympic team to three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Amongst the future world champions on that team were Roy Jones, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, Kennedy McKinney and Michael Carbajal.
Since it’s inception in 2008, TKO Boxing has worked closely with award winning manager Cameron Dunkin with many of the sports best prospects.
Said Dunkin, “I’ve worked with Kenny Adams for over fourteen years and he’s trained four world champions for me including the late Diego Corrales and Freddie Norwood. Kenny is a great trainer but an even better teacher. He truly can teach a guy how to fight. Defense, offense, how to lead, counter and engage, he can teach it all.”
“I’ve had over eighty fights with Kenny as the trainer and he’s maybe lost two or three. When he trained Diego and Freddie we would watch a tape of the opponent together and Kenny could tell me what round and what combination they would use for the stoppage and he was always right” continued Dunkin.
“Kenny’s had eighteen world champions and I’m thrilled to have him working with many of the prospects I have placed with TKO Boxing.”