LOS ANGELES, July 13 – As one of the first fighters to put Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on the boxing map, longtime contender and Coachella-valley product Antonio “Toño” Diaz has set a standard of excellence many boxers have tried to reach. On Friday, August 12, in the main event of TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate,” Diaz will fight in the Indio, Calif. venue he helped build, for the first time in nearly 10 years when he takes on Ernesto Zepeda in a ten-round junior middleweight bout.
The bout will be Diaz’ 17th at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and his first since a 2001 technical knockout over Orlando Hollis on October 12. He is unbeaten in the venue at 16-0 and looks to make it 17-0 on August 12.
Diaz vs. Zepeda is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. Doors open at 6:00pm PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:30pm PT. The TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:30pm ET / PT (10:30pm CT).
Fans at home can also be part of the action by participating in Cinturón Tecate and voting for the fighter in the main event who displayed the most character in the ring by sending a text message to 55333. Voting will be open through the end of the weekend.
Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45 are on sale now and available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
An all-action fighter who has never disappointed fight fans with his memorable performances in the ring, 35-year-old Antonio Diaz (45-6-1, 27 KO’s) has always stepped up to fight the best. A veteran of 16 years in the pro game, Diaz has defeated the likes of Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks, Emanuel “Outlaw” Augustus, Ivan Robinson and Micky “Irish” Ward. Winner of four of his last five bouts since returning from a three-year layoff in 2008, with his only loss coming against current WBC Welterweight World Champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, Diaz is eager to return to the ring where he first made his mark in 1995.
A 15-year veteran who, like Diaz, came up the hard way in the ring, Ernesto Zepeda (39-14-4, 32 KO’s) also resembles his opponent in that he never backs down from a challenge. A 34-year-old native of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico who has taken on the likes of Steve Forbes, Matthew Hatton, Demetrius Hopkins and Diaz’ brother, former World Champion Julio Diaz, Zepeda is training for an all out battle on August 12 and he knows “Toño” will give him one on fight night.
Tecate, cerveza con carácter, is the largest beer brand to sponsor boxing matches in the U.S. Part of its commitment to make boxing accessible to consumers is the title sponsorship of “Sólo Boxeo Tecate,” which creates an opportunity for local fans to witness some of the most exhilarating fights by today’s up-and-coming prospects. Additionally, Tecate has been a primary supporter of Golden Boy Promotions’ marquee events since 2007, and has launched a variety of initiatives to ensure consumers are part of the boxing experience, including boxer autograph signing sessions, commemorative cans, PPV mail-in rebate offers, and most recently the launch of a mobile museum “Tecate Museo de Boxeo,” which showcases decades of the most memorable moments in the sport.
Media Accreditation Process for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing, July 31-August 6 in Mobile, Alabama
(COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.) – The Road to London will begin in less than a month at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing, July 31-August 6 in Mobile, Ala. Olympic hopefuls from across the country will convene in Mobile for the double elimination tournament at the Mobile Civic Center. Press accreditation is now open and media members interested in covering the event must complete the attached form and return it by Friday, July 29.
The competitors in each of the 10 men’s weight divisions were determined by five qualifying tournaments with the champions from the 2010 National PAL Championships, 2011 Armed Forces Championships, 2011 National Golden Gloves Championships and the Last Chance Qualifier joining the top four finishers from the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships.
Two-time Olympian Rau’shee Warren (Cincinnati, Ohio) leads a talented group of boxers into the career defining event. WarrrenWarren, a 2007 World Champion, can become the first U.S. boxer in history to compete in three Olympic Games should he win his flyweight division in Mobile and qualify internationally for London. Fellow U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion Michael Hunter (Las Vegas, Nev.) will look to finish what he started in 2008 in a new weight class with a second run at the Olympic Games. Yet Hunter could face 2010 USA Boxing Athlete of the Year Steve Geffrard (Boca Raton, Fla.) as the two both vie for the heavyweight berth in London.
Three-time National Champion Louie Byrd (Denver, Colo.) was just four days too young to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials leading into the Beijing Olympics, but he heads into the upcoming Olympic Trials as the favorite in the light flyweight division. The welterweight division boasts a three-time national champion as well with Errol Spence (Desoto, Texas) taking gold at the past three USA Boxing National Championships.
2008 Olympian Raynell Williams (Cleveland, Ohio) earned a berth in his second straight U.S. Olympic Team Trials just last week at the Last Chance Qualifier tournament in Cincinnati, and will vie for another Olympic berth at the lightweight division. Williams qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in his last opportunity leading into the 2008 Olympics as well.
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing is a double elimination tournament with the champion from the winners’ bracket meeting the victor from the challengers’ bracket in the finals. The challengers bracket representative must beat the champions bracket winner twice in order to win the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing action will commence on Sunday, July 31 with quarterfinal action in all 10 weight divisions. Challengers bracket boxing will begin on August 1 and the event will culminate with the final round contests between the champions bracket winner and the challengers bracket titlist on Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6 if necessary.
The 10 winners at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Men’s Boxing will represent the United States at the first international Olympic qualifier, 2011 AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships, September 22-October 10, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
To obtain a press credential for the event, fill out the attached media credential request form and return it to julie@goldstickerpr.com or fax it to (719) 866-2132 by Friday, July 29.
USA Boxing, as the national governing body for Olympic-style boxing, is the United States’ member organization of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).