World Boxing Council featherweight champion Elio “The Kid” Rojas will make his first title defense against WBC No. 3-ranked Guty Espadas on Saturday at Paliforum Zamna in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Cancun Boxing and Don King Productions are promoting the event, which has been branded “The Kukulcan Battle at Yucatan, Mexico.” The same firms promoted the highly successful 2008 WBC heavyweight championship match between Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and Oleg Maskaev in Cancun. Rojas (21-1, 13 KOs), 27, a native of the Dominican Republic now fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y., arrived in Merida late last week to make final preparations for Saturday’s match..
“Merida and all of Yucatan are very beautiful and I’m happy to be here,” Rojas said. “I have been greeted warmly by the Mexican people, and I want to win them over in the ring. It is always an honor to fight in front of fans that love boxing and are part of all the great history here.”
Espadas (45-7, 28 KOs) is a native of Merida who has tangled in the past with big names like Erik Morales and Rocky Juarez. A win here in front of his hometown fans would be the highlight of his career.
Meeting fighters on their home turf is nothing new for the rapidly emerging Rojas. He won the WBC crown at the 126-pound limit in Tokyo, Japan, winning a convincing unanimous decision over then-champion Takahiro Aoh on July 14, 2009.
“The Double Assault” PPV line-up changes – Mijares Injured
HOBOKEN, N.J. (Feb. 16, 2010) – An injury to Cristian Mijares has forced the former 2-time world champion off a February 27 card in Cancun, which has been cancelled and replaced by a world-class show in Guadalajara, Mexico, on “The Double Assault” pay-per-view extravaganza. “After looking forward to coming back and restoring his rightful place among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world,” KO Entertainment president Ignacio “Nacho” Huizar explained, “Cristian Mijares was crushed with disappointment to learn a broken eardrum he suffered December 12 hasn’t healed properly and doctors wouldn’t clear him to fight Feb. 27.”
Instead, the revamped PPV show now features two world championship fights from Guadalajara, presented by Boxeo De Gala, to replace the Cancun card that was to be headlined by Hugo Hernan Garay vs. Chris Henry. The 12-round main event finds WBA light flyweight champion Rodel “Bantang Mandaue” Mayol (26-4-1, 20 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring, defending his crown against the WBC No. 1 contender, former WBC light flyweight titlist Omar “Giant Killer” Nino (28-3-1, 20 KOs). Also airing from Guadalajara is a 10-round WBC Youth lightweight championship match between defending champ Daniel “Tremendo” Estrada (21-1, 17 KOs) and veteran Angel Alirio “El Morocho” Rivero (21-7-1, 14 KOs).
The unique, double-barrelled broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.
“The Double Assault” pay-per-view action commences at 9 PM/ET live from Reben Rodriquez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, with hometown hero Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez, Jr., who plans to make Puerto Rican history when he fights the 19-year-old Philippine sensation, “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona, for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO junior featherweight title.
PR Best Boxing Promotions, in association with All Star Boxing and Sampson Boxing LLC., is presenting the Puerto Rican segment of “The Double Assault” pay-per-view.
WBO No. 2 rated Vazquez, Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KOs), the WBO Latino super bantamweight champion, would become the first Puerto Rican son of a world champion (Wilfredo Vazquez, Sr.) to capture a world title by defeating former WBO super flyweight titlist Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KOs), ranked No. 3 by the WBO.
Unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Carlos Negron (7-0, 6 KOs), 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, provides chief support in a 6-round bout against Rudy Ashworth. Also fighting on the card in their pro debuts are flyweight McWilliams and bantamweight McJoe Arroyo, 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian twins.
LAST MINUTE CHANGES FOR “FIGHT NIGHT 2010”
February 17 (Merrillville, In) -Training injuries have hit two of the fighters for “Fight Night 2010” Shay Mobley had incurred an injury this last week during training for his upcoming bout with Darnell Wilson removing Mobley from the bout. When I asked about the fight Mobley stated, “I was really looking forward to getting back in the ring this year, but I will continue to keep my head up and recover and get ready for the next event.” Due to Mobley’s injury undefeated Middleweight Orphius Waite (5-0, 3KO’s) will take Mobley’s place against Wilson (8-1, 6KO’s).
Waite who is coming off an ankle injury that removed him from the One In A Million Boxing Nov. 13th Fight Card jumped at the opportunity to fight, “I stay in the gym ready to fight for just this kind of situation, if I guy falls out I am ready to go on a days notice if I need to. Wilson is going to be a very tough opponent, but that’s what I am here to do is to prove that I am the best and beating Wilson who is (8-1) is a great sign I am on my way.”
In another exciting scheduled matchup Josh Crouch (5-0, 5KO’s) of Schererville, IN was scheduled to face tough ring veteran Anthony Shuler (20-6, 14KO’s), but due to an arm injury Anthony Shuler has been removed from the bout and replaced by another tough prospect the undefeated Foster Nkodo (4-0, 1KO). Nkodo a top amateur prospect from Cameroon has already defeated other undefeated prospects in his professional career, but Crouch is not waivered by his change of opponent. “This is a way more exciting fight for me,” said Crouch, “just the thought when the announcer says the line ‘SOMEBODY’S O HAS TO GO!!!!’ I get chills, that is what boxing is all about to me and unlike Shuler who has tasted defeat Nkodo and I have not lost as professionals, so we both have that duty of protecting our perfect records.”
“This card has shaped up to be the best One In A Million Boxing card we have ever done!” said OIAMB President Tyree Ortiz. “From top to bottom we have the best matchups possible and everyone of the fans favorite fighters is in the biggest tests of their careers that fight, anyone who has not watched a boxing match before show up February 26th at the Hammond Civic Center and after the first bell at 8:00PM by the end of the night, you will be a fight fan for life!”
In the Main Event Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker and Derrick “Superman” Findley will square off for a IN.B.A. Middleweight Title Showdown. Angel Hernandez is set for an IN.B.A. Title Showdown against Angel Manfredy conqueror Courtney Burton, WBC International Champion “Merciless” Mary McGee faces off against WBC International Lightweight Champion Brooke “No Mercy” Dierdorff, also scheduled to fight are Ed Ochoa vs. Dezi Ford, and Heavyweight David Martin III vs. James Porter.
ONLY VIP TICKETS LEFT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR!!!!
Fight fans will have an opportunity to face each other in head to head Nintendo Wii boxing competition in a single elimination tournament where the winner of the tournament will win the Ultimate Fight Experience. The winner of each of the five events will be awarded two V.I.P. Table hot seats for themselves and a guest and will get to watch the fight front row and receive a FREE LARGE PIZZA and TWO PITCHERS of Miller Lite Beer courtesy of One In A Million Boxing. Contestants must be at least 21 years old to participate in these events.
The event schedule is as follows:
The event schedule is as follows:
– Thursday, February 18, 2010, 7:00pm – Langel’s Pizza – 2833 Highway Ave., Highland
– Thursday, February 18, 2010, 10:00pm – Buddy & Pals – 1206 E. Summit St., Crown Point
– Friday, February 19, 2010, 8:00pm – Flat Rock Tap – 6732 Calumet Ave., Hammond
Tickets for “Fight Night 2010” are on sale now and can be purchased at VIP Table Seat – SOLDOUT,
Ringside Table Seat – $50, and General Admission – $30. Tickets can be purchased at www.oneinamillionboxing.com The Hammond Civic Center Box Office, or by calling (866) 438-7372.
The Hammond Civic Center is located at 5825 Sohl Ave., Hammond, IN. Doors open at 7 p.m. The first bout is scheduled at 8 p.m. and for more ticket information or fight night events please visit us at our knockout website and leave us some feedback: www.oneinamillionboxing.com. Or by calling (866) 438-7372. Remaining tickets for this phenomenal night of boxing are guaranteed to go fast so make sure to get yours now.