Jesus "Panterita" Martinez signs with Joe Calazaghe and Darren Barker

Former World Champions Joe Calzaghe and Darren Barker are again throwing their hats into the boxing ring with the announcement of the launch of their management group, International Sports Group (ISG). The pair wasted no time making a major splash in the Lone Star State, signing 14x amateur US National champion, and former International amateur champion, Jesus "Panterita" Martinez of Del Rio, Texas. Martinez compiled an outstanding amateur record of 137-9 and won every conceivable amateur tournament in the US and just recently went viral when he scored a vicious knockout in the opening rounds of the USA Boxing national championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, last month. Martinez had considered staying in the amateur ranks but this opportunity was just too good to pass up. Martinez said of Joe Calzaghe " I looked up to him and I still look up to him. He was one of my favorites. I use to always watch the greats, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, and Joe Calzaghe were one of them. It's amazing to be signed by him and Darren Barker" 

An exciting opportunity for the kid from Del Rio, who has incredibly lofty goals. "I think by like 21, 22 I want to have my first world title and then over the years gain my other world titles... I want to be a five or six-division world champion. I wanna make history and I don't want to be one of the best, but the best to ever do it." He additionally dreams of bringing home the first world champion from Del Rio, a boxing-crazed border community Panterita describes what being a world champion from Del Rio would mean " It would just mean the world to me, to win a world title and they announce me being from Del Rio would mean the world to me. That's my birthplace, I grew up here in Del Rio. It would mean everything to me"

Martinez has been equally credited for his incredible punching power as well as his tireless work ethic. He said of his incredible one-punch power that it "doesn't really surprise me, I see it every day in the gym.. what does surprise me is the way it happens" he also explains where his incredible work ethic and drive comes from saying it's his "Passion for the sport. I come from a boxing family, my uncles my dad, my grandpa my cousins everyone boxed. Our dream always was to become a world champion. I want to make everyone proud" he says but "I also want to achieve my dream and be the best who has ever done it" He want on to add that being targeted and being the favorite in so many tournaments serves as extra motivation, saying  "Even though I had God-given talent I know there are kids who have my head as their target they are training to beat me and I slip and stop training head or I get distracted they're gonna be right on my head. So I cant slip up I have to be focused"

It looks like April will be the month Martinez makes his pro-debut but as of now, nothing is written in stone for his pro debut. The 17-year-old explained "right now April is looking good. Mid-April or end of April, but fingers crossed that pulls through. It's looking good. By April I should be 1-0" Whenever he does make his pro debut he is under the tutelage of the right people and his career is on the right path to meeting his lofty goals. When asked how cool it is to be signed with two ring legends, Martinez explained "It's surreal being signed to two-notch fighters...I got to talk to them and they're amazing, lovely people. I trust them I know they are going to guide me to a good career. They've been through it all."

Two Texans Featured on February DAZN Card in Phoenix

Eddie Hearn's Matchroom boxing will visit The Footprint center in Phoenix, Arizona, and will feature two highly touted Texans on the card that is headlined by the rematch of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Carlos Cuadras on February 5th. Undefeated featherweight upstart Edward "Kid" Vazquez, 11-0 (3) looks to start 2022 how 2021 ended.  Vazquez, of Fort Worth, emerged on the scene in 2020 after having multiple fights that delayed his return to the ring in 2020. Vazquez finally broke through against Adan Ochoa in September of 2020 facing real adversity, being dropped in the second round, the Fort Worthian got up and dominated the final four rounds and took a decision victory. He followed that up less than three months later in a fight of the year slugfest on the PPV blockbuster that featured Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. Vazquez stood in with Irvin Gonzalez and traded shots at close range on his way to take a split decision victory capture vacant World Boxing Council United States (USNBC) Featherweight title in closing out a spectacular 2020. In 2021 Vazquez fought twice more and scored two impressive stoppage victories including a first-round TKO of Ezequiel Alberto Tevez in Irving back in November. He will take on Camden NJ native Raymond ford who sports a 10-0-1 record who is a highly-touted prospect with a sparkling amateur resume. He emerged on the scene looking brilliantly before facing the Fort Worth Wolf Tony Lopez, a stablemate of Vazquez at FHG, in December of 2020. Ford survived a scare and scored a seventh-round TKO. He then suffered the first blemish on his record settling for a draw with Aaron Perez. Ford has however bounced, scoring TKO's of Reece Bellotti and Felix Caraballo. 

The card also features  San Antonio's own Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, 14-0 (10). The undefeated 108 pounder is perhaps the best pound-for-pound prospect in the world. The now 21-year-old is long overdue for a title shot. The opportunity has eluded him due to covid and other reasons. He was our Prospect of the Year in 2020 and fought just once in 2021 but made it spectacular. Destroying Jose Alejandro Burgos over four one-sided rounds and scoring a sensational KO. There is no opponent confirmed for Rodriguez yet. Bam is the younger brother of WBA Super Flyweight world champ Joshua Franco.

Jermall Charlo FINALLY closing in on Canelo Fight

WBC Super Middleweight champ Jermall Charlo, older twin brother of unified Jr Middleweight champ Jermell Charlo, has long awaited a big-money mega fight. He has consistently been on the outside of the pound for pound elite and mega fights with Canelo, GGG, Jacobs, and Benavidez have always alluded him. However, He may be closing in on the moment he has been preparing a lifetime for.

Canelo Alvarez, the pound-for-pound king shocked the boxing community last November by announcing he'd challenge Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserweight strap. That now looks unlikely and a showdown with undefeated middleweight champ Jermall Charlo looks much more likely. A bout that would likely take place on Cinco De Mayo weekend is now 'more likely' according to multiple sources. Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza recently confirmed the rumors that the pound-for-pound king is open to facing Charlo next.

The two world champs have been linked together for a fight for several years. Perhaps, because of promotional issues and other reasons, it never happened. The belt that Charlo now holds (WBC middleweight) belt previously was held by Canelo who won it from Gennady Golovkin in 2018. He was mandated to fight Charlo but the fight never came to fruition and Canelo was delegated the organization's franchise champ and the older Charlo twin promoted to WBC world champion in June of 2019. He has held the belt ever since. Having defended 

The fight will likely be held in Vegas however the lone star state will remain an option. Charlo has sold well there and it's been a type of home away from home for Canelo. Who set an indoor record in 2021 drawing over 70,000 fans into AT&T Stadium when he stopped Billy Joe Saunders in 8 rounds back in May. He also fought in San Antonio in 2020 and has fought in Texas a total of five times in his career. The Cinco de Mayo weekend, which the event is rumored to take place, has been a historic weekend for boxing, many of the sport's biggest fights were staged that weekend. Mayweather fought Mosley, Pacquiao, Maidana, and many others on the weekend and Oscar de la Hoya also fought on that weekend taking on Mayweather Steve Forbes

Houston Native Looks to Become Undisputed in Clutch City

The Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano rematch for undisputed supremacy of the 154-pound division is being moved to Houston on March 12th or 19th and will take place in Hoston at the Toyota Center. Houston hasn't done much winning all year at the Toyota Center the past few seasons and the 31-year -old Charlo, a Houston native looks to reverse the trend and set the record straight against Brain Castano of Argentina. The two fought to a disputed draw, last July in San Antonio.  The Houstonian started off slow but rallied the last few rounds to at least get the draw in his home state. 

Charlo sports a record of 34-1-1 and suffered his only loss back in December of 2018, a very disputed and hotly debated decision loss to Tony Harrison. Charlo righted the wrong and removed all doubt and stopped Harrison 364 days later in the 11th round of the rematch to reclaim his WBC junior middleweight strap. He then added the WBA & 1BF titles in his only fight in 2020 and stopped Jeison Rosario with a body shot in the eighth round.  The only belt of the major four he has not captured is the WBO the belt currently held by Castano. The Argentine captured the title when he outpointed heavy-hitting Brazilian Patrick Teixeira over 12 one-sided rounds. That bout was just 12-months after he emerged on the scene out of nowhere where he fought Cuban legend Erislandy Lara, who also trains in Houston, to a disputed draw. A fight the vast majority of viewers that he eeked out, in what was a highly entertaining and competitive contrast in styles. 

The bout was originally scheduled for February 26th and potentially in Houston. The location was confirmed and the date was pushed back a few weeks. There will be a potential conflict with another Texas fighter who may be making a homecoming appearance. Top-rated welterweight prospect Vergil Oritz who hails from the Dallas area is confirmed by promoter Golden Boy, to be fighting on March 19th and that fight will likely be in Dallas as well. Ortiz has fought in the DFW metroplex three times since 2019, the other two fights were during the height of the pandemic and were in "The Bubble" in Indio, California

Josh Franco Awaits Career Defining Fight With a Legend

San Antonio's "El Profesor" Josh Franco did more than just defend his WBA super flyweight title back in August when he dominated former champ, Andrew Moloney, over 12 dominant rounds In Tulsa Oklahoma. He secured himself a shot at history and to possibly enter the pound-for-pound rankings. Franco secured himself a shot at a future hall of fame, "Choclatito" Ramon Gonzalez who is perhaps the greatest little man the sport has ever seen, and Juan Francisco Estrada will do battle for the third time in March. The winner will hold the other version of the WBA and is mandated to fight Franco as the organization looks to consolidate its world champions. 

Gonzalez and Estrada fought for a second time back in March at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, in what was the 2021 fight of the year. It was an incredibly high pace all-action war that most thought Chocolatito of Nicaragua eeked out. Two of the three judges surprisingly went the other way and awarded a split decision to  Estrada of Mexico. Chocolatito has held world titles at four different weight classes (105,108,112,115) and has accumulated a record of 50-3 (41) and outpointed Estrada in their first fight back in 2012, that fight was for the WBA light fly (108-pound) world title. Estrada has amassed a record of 42-3 (28) and has captured world titles at 112 by outpointing Brian Viloria and then captured a world title at 115 by outpointing Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2019. Rungvisai has handed Chocolatito both of his losses. 

Franco won the WBA belt back in 2020 when he outpointed Moloney in June of 2020 and scored a massive upset. The two battled five months later but the bout was ended prematurely after an accidental head butt caused a gruesome amount of swelling as well as broke his right orbital bone. The trilogy was back in August and Franco set the record straight in a performance that both El Professore and his trained the famed Robert Garcia described as "the best performance of his career". Franco's manager Rick Mirigian confirmed via  Twitter when he was asked if it was finalized that Josh [Franco] gets the winner. Mirigian replied "He will get the Winner"

"The Phenom" John Vera Set To Return

33-year-old John Vera of Fort Worth looks to make the last run at the world title shot. "The Phenom" as he is known sports 20-1 (12) record and is set to return to the ring on January 22nd in his hometown of Fort Worth Texas. He will headline a card loaded with Fort Worthians and metroplex natives at the Rail Club Live.  

Vera turned pro back in 2012 and scored a sensational second-round knockout of Cedric Shepard in Fort Worth on his way to winning his first 18 pro bouts and ripped through the rankings. In 2018 the Texan earned a WBA final eliminator bout against Michel Soro of France with the winner earning the right to be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Erislandy Lara vs Jarrett Hurd in a junior middleweight unification bout the was scheduled for later that year. Vera traveled to Soro's home nation of France and came up short and dropped a tough decision to the hometown fighter. 

Vera has fought sporadically since, having fought just once in 2019, taking a six-round decision over Ravshan Hudaynazarov, at the Thomas & Mack Center in las vegas. He did not fight at all in 2020 and fought just once in 2021 when he did score a sensational first-round knockout over a rugged, veteran opponent in Cleotis Pendarvis at the Civic Center in Biloxi Mississippi.  Pendarvis had previously been the distance and lost a very close majority decision to former world title challenger Mauricio Herrera. 

Vera's last fight was back in March of last year and it will be close to another year out of the ring for the Phenom, who is still young enough and still possess the skills to challenge anyone at the 160-pound division. A division in which another Texan, Jermall Charlo, holds one of the major belts. The bout is scheduled for six rounds and will be the main event, however, no opponent has been named yet. The card also features  Fort Worth fan favorite  "The Fort Worth Wolf" Tony Lopez, who is coming off a spectacular decision victory over veteran Diuhl Olguin. Lopez scored a career-best win at the Staples Center back in 2019 on the undercard of  Spence Porter when he scored a W for Fort worth in the Dallas-Forth Worth rivalry by upsetting Fernando Garcia. Also on the card is hard-hitting southpaw "Marvelous" Jarvis Shepard who will put his undefeated record on the line in a super welterweight bout.

Vergil Ortiz set to Return

Grand Prairie native, the former prospect of the year, and unbeaten welterweight phenom Vergil Ortiz appear to be set to return. Although no date or venue has been announced, multiple sources have reported that Ortiz will return to the ring and battle unbeaten British prospect Micahel McKinson. Both prospects are undefeated. Ortiz sports a perfect 18-0 (18) record and thee 27-year-old McKinson has a record of  21-0 but has shockingly won only two of those fights within the distance. 

McKinson held the WBO European welterweight title from 2019 to 2020 and currently holds the WBO Global title. he is trained by his father Michael Ballingall and most recently fought in Eddie's Garden in Brentwood, England, and defeated  Przemyslaw Runowski via wide decision. He scored his last win via stoppage all the way back in 2017 when he stopped Colin Lyles via 6th round TKO. 

Vergil Ortiz last fought in August as well and was challenged early on by Egidijus Kavaliauskas but rallied to score four knockdowns and secure an 8th round TKO. Ortiz was formerly trained by the legendary Robert Garcia, but the two ended the relationship back in November. Garcia traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to work Josh Franco's corner, and Vergil was trained by his dad and other members of the Garcia family. It is unclear exactly who will be working Ortiz's corner for the McKinson fight.

Last month, the WBC ordered Ortiz its #1 ranked welterweight to face #3 David Avanesyan in a final eliminator.  Rick Mirigian the manager of Ortiz informed the WBC to turn the fight down.  Although there has been no official word as to whether it’s an eliminator, however seeing as Ortiz is also ranked #1 by the WBO and McKinson is ranked third by the same organization, it seems like that's the direction the WBO will go with it. There's no date but it is expected to be televised on DAZN and will be the main event.

Zurdo Shines in San Antonio

The main event between Yunieski Gonzalez of Cuba and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez of Mexico at the AT&T Center delivered a fight-of-the-year candidate. It featured an action-packed first round where Gonzalez rocked Ramirez with a right hand just seconds into the fight. However, the southpaw Ramierz came charging back scoring with left hands and right hooks in the final seconds of the round to even things up. Gonzalez stepped back on the gas and fired off combinations forcing the undefeated Mexican backward, behand a snappy jab Ramirez was able to get inside of the charging Gonzalez and land uppercuts and solid body shots. If the action was good through the first six minutes, which it was, it really got going in round three where each man traded power shots against the ropes with Zurdo getting the better work landing a massive left that shook the Cuban just before the bell. Gonzalez came out aggressive in the fourth landing solid straight right hands but a left hook from Ramirez landed on the button and rocked Gonzalez. The two exchanged for the remainder of the round with the Mexican getting the better work in and having Gonzalez on the brink at the end of the fourth round with the referee looking in closely. Gonzalez was not deterred as he rallied back and had Zurdo in trouble midway through the fifth, unleashing heavy artillery while his opponent laid with his back to the ropes. The frenzied pace kept up for the remainder of the fight, which came in the 10th. as a right hook about took Gonzalez's head off and left him out on his feet and defenseless as Zurdo began teeing off on the Cuban who was helpless against the ropes and brought referee Rafael Ramos in to waive the bout off midway through the 10th giving Ramirez his 43rd win in 43 fight and 29th KO. 

In the co-main event, Seniesa Estrada defended her WBA 105-pound strap against unbeaten Maria Santizo of Guatemala City, Guatemala City. After finding the distance Estrada exploded in the third Estrada tied a perfect left hook that went over a shot from Dantizo and put her down and nearly out. She courageously got to her feet and was nearly dropped again after a straight right buckled her sending her telling into the ropes. After landing a vicious left hook early in the fourth that rocked the Guatemalan she finished the job moments later with yet another picture-perfect left hook that sent her opponent crushing to the canvas1:51 of round number four. Moving her record to 22-0 (9)

The undercard featured two Texans of note Marlen Esparza of Houston not only defended her WBC Flyweight title and put on a show controlling the action and making Ortiz miss wildly, a barrage of head movement at the end of the first round that was Pernell Whitaker-esque. She then scored a knockdown in the second. Remaining in control she continued to use swift lateral movement to get in and out on Ortiz she scored a second knockdown in the fourth and remained in control throughout begins a snappy jab and excellent footwork kept her out of the way of Ortiz's return fire. The Houston native cruised to a wide decision victory by scores of 100-88, 99-90, and an extremely interesting and much to close  95-94-94. 

The other Texan on the card didn't fare as well. Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda, the lone San Antonian on the card was just "a step or two behind" as famed trainer "Jesse" James Leija said. He fought competitively against undefeated prospect Raul Curiel and after an early knockdown rallied in the fifth and sixth rounds. However, it wasn't enough and in the seventh Curiel landed a crushing body shot that dropped Castaneda for the 10-count and some. Handing Curiel has 11th win in 11 fights.

Big Time Boxing Returns to San Antonio

Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez has called Texas his "second home" he has fought in Galveston Island, Corpus Christ, the RGV, and previously in San Antonio in recent years. He has built up a loyal fan base and has become a draw here in the Lose Star State. He will return to San Antoni on Saturday to battle with hard-hitting Cuban contender Yunieski Gonzalez 21-3 (17). Gonzalez is certainly a worthy opponent but is certainly the B-side and a sizeable underdog to the 42-0 (28) Ramirez, who has bigger plans after this fight. The winner will be mandatory for WBA light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol, a fight that Ramirez is already looking forward to saying "Bivol is my number one target since he's been calling me out and publicly announcing that he's ready, thanks to the WBA and Mr. Gilberto Mendoza, this fight is the eliminator and he'll have no choice but to face me or vacate the belt." 

The card features an intriguing co-main and a stacked undercard. The co-main is an intriguing woman's scrap between pound for pound elite and is headlined by  WBA mini weight titleholder Seniesa Estrada, who puts her belts and perfect 21-0 (8) against undefeated Guatemalan contender Maria Micheo Santizo 9-0 (5). Also on the undercard is the NABA super featherweight title as former world title challenger Lamont Roach looks to continue his two-fight win streak against former super featherweight world titleholder Rene Alvarado of Nicaragua. In which will be an intriguing contrast of style, both fighters like to come forward and mi it up combined with Roach's new found power this fight promises to deliver non-stop action.

Two Texans are on the card as well. As Marlen Esparza, 10-1 (1)  of Houston puts her WBC women's flyweight title on the line against Anabel Ortiz, 31-4 (4) of Mexico in a highly anticipated showdown.  Ortiz last fought in Texas, dropping a 10-round decision to Estrada at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. Also, is the return of fan-favorite San Antonio native Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda who looks to snap a four-fight slide and pick up the NABF welterweight title as he battles undefeated prospect, Raul Curiel in a 10 round affair. 

The card starts at 3:30CST, with Norfolk, Virginia, native, Nicholas Sullivan kicks off the action and is aired on Golden Boy's Facebook page with commentary from there Rincon Brothers (Alex & George) of Carrolton. The fight then moves to DAZN at 8PM CST.

Kendo Castaneda Looks to Bounce Back

It wasn't long ago that Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda seemed like a star in the making. He had headlined RJJ Promotions cards, had compiled a 17-0 record captured a WBA (NABA) 140-pound title. He had championship talent and the personality to match. However, Castaneda, who hails from San Antonio, ran into a series of speed bumps. Just prior to the pandemic he went down to Florida and fought a fellow prospect in Yomar Alamo of Puerto Rico. Castaneda got his pocket picked in what was one of the worst decisions of 2020. He lost a decision to a house fighter fighting in front of his local fans. Not a first in boxing and it didn't seem to hurt Castaneda that much, the entire world thought he won and he was actually given a bigger fight, a huge opportunity. During the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2020, Castaneda was rewarded with a fight against Jose Zepeda. A fight in the main event with one of the premier 140-pound fighters on ESPN with just not the boxing world watching, but the entire sporting world watching as there were no other sports on. "Tremendo" took the fight on short notice and fought valiantly coming up just short in a decision loss.  When asked if he had a full camp to prepare for the fight would the result ahve been different? He responded "Of course" and perhaps it would have been. 

Three months later Castaneda was given another big fight against Top Rank's premier prospect  Josue Vargas. Castaneda was not on point and handed in a career worse performance, being dropped and then ultimately dropping a lopsided decision. Things got worse when he dropped yet another decision to Mauricio Pintor in Mexico in April of this year. Castaneda had a few fights fall through and things looked bleak for the once-promising San Antonio Prospect. The now 28-year-old ring veteran gets a big opportunity in his hometown. As he battles unbeaten Golden Boy prospect Raul Curiel on the undercard of Gilberto Ramirez vs Yunieski Gonzalez. A big fight for the San Antonian and the best news is he gets to return home and fight in front of his Alamo City fanbase at the AT&T Center. an experience the Tremoundous one is excited for saying "I am honored, I am just happy to be back in front of my main support systems"

There is good reason for optimism in the Tremendo camp. Castaneda is back with his former trainer "Jesse" James Leija a former world champion who had been with Castaneda when he was an up-and-coming prospect. Additionally, Castaneda is fighting at a new and more comfortable weight, he has moved up to welterweight. Saying "it's still a struggle but I'm making weight better than I did at 140" adding "I am here to stay at '47 and I want all the fights at 147" Getting all those fights begins tomorrow, right back where it all started in San Antonio with Leija in his corner. A win over a fighter, Curiel, who does fight into Catendas hands, could lead him to bigger fights with the other big names in Golden Boy's stable of welterweights which include, Rashidi Ellis, Alexis Rocha, and Blair Cobbs.

San Antonio's Favorite Son Set To Return At New Weight

San Antonio loves a champion and when "El Azteca" Mario Barrios rallied to score a 12th round knockdown of Batyr Akhmedov to capture the WBA Jr Welterweight crown, becoming San Antonio's first world boxing champion in a quarter-century.  He was treated to a hero's welcome. He was honored by Southwest High school where he graduated from. He was also honored by the cities other champions the San Antonio Spurs. He made the first defense of his belt back in his hometown and got a massive applaud when he stopped fellow Texan Ryan Karl in October of last year. When he came up short for the first time in his career against Tank Davis in what was a fight of the year type brawl, Barrios was again treated as a hero when he returned home. San Antonio has continued to celebrate and support El Azteca and he is set to embark on the biggest fight of his career. He will step in with former unified welterweight kingpin, Keith "One Time" Thurman. Thurman held welterweight world titles from 2014-2019 and was working on putting together a hall of fame resume when he suffered his first career loss. A split decision loss to the legendary Manny Pacquiao in July of 2019. Thurman has been inactive since. 

That will change, and Thurman will end the 30-month hiatus on January 29th when stepping back in the ring with El Azteca.  Thurman has long been linked to a fight with another Texan, Errol Spence Jr, for many years. That fight never came to fruition and Thurman will try and mess with another Texan in Barrios in a fight that will likely lead to the winners getting that Spence fight later in 2022.  It's a big test and challenge for the highly inactive Thurman, it's no tune-up fighting a former world champion, showing that he wants to get right back into the mix and challenge for a world title this year. For the San Antonian, it's a huge test, Thurman marks the best fighter Barrios has ever been in with, and it's a monumental step up as well as an incredible display of courage and confidence to step into the ring with an all-time great 147-pounder like Thurman. Barrios clearly wants to become a two-division world champ and now has a clear path to doing so by 2022.

Giancarlo Rodriguez puts Carrizo Springs on the map, advances to finals

Carrizo Springs is a town of about  5,000 located 45 miles north of the Mexican border just over an hour's drive from Laredo.  If you have not heard of it, you're about to.  It's the home of Giancarlo Rodriguez. Rodriguez scored a unanimous decision points victory to secure a spot in the finals of the USA Boxing National Championships in the finals of the 110-pound junior division. Scoring with a second-round counter left hand from the southpaw dropped his opponent Jallen Young of Tampa Florida. The South Texan remained very active on his toes firing combinations from the outside and then getting on the inside in a fan-friendly style and unleashing with lightning-quick combinations on the inside. The victorious South Texan calls his style Mexican-Style. Young down on all cards after two came out storming and the two combatants exchanged heated shots on the inside throughout a fan-friendly third round. It was not enough tho as Rodriguez rolled to a wide points decision. He will fight Ra-leek born in the finals who defeated Jose Artiga of Houston Texas in the semi-finals. 

  Moises Rodriguez of El Paso moves to Finals kicks off the day strong for Texas in the opening bout in ring 3 dominating Yedrian Otero of Kissimme FL. Working his body and breaking him down with a consistent left hook to the body that kept finding its mark. The bodywork took its toll as Otero, clearly down on points, stepped up the aggression and started walking into more power shots that caused an eight-count and sealed the deal for Rodriguez who moves onto tomorrows finals .

In what was a break through performance for Rio Grande Valley antive Fabian Diaz he dominated and outclassed Khallq Harrison of Washington DC on his way to a uniamous decision victory and earning a trip to the fianls of the 139 pound youth division tomorrow in Shreveport. He used a thudding jab and mixed in straight hand to perfection forcing Harrison backwards and into the ropes. Diaz, clearly the stronger man,  kept the pressure on and kept landing. Harrison, apparently didn't like the taste of Diaz's power and never got aggressive or picked up the pace allowing Diaz to fight his fight and roll to the clear points victory.

In the 156-pound youth division semi-finals there was an all-Texas shootout between two national champions fighting in a new weight class. As RGV native Sebastian Juarez of Brownsville and DFW Joseph Almajdi of Fort Worth battled it out in a very high-speed chess match. It was Almadji’s jab that carried the day. Landing from long range he was able to keep Juarez coming up short and was able to avoid much of his combinations. Having dropped the first two rounds across the board Juarez picked up the pace and got going landing thudding right hands and precise combinations. He carried the final round on 4 of the 5 cards but it was not enough. As the DFW fighter earned the nod in this all-Texas shootout.

The following is a list of other semifinal winners from Texas:

Rene Camacho Houston W Yu'shore Williams

JayShawn Wallace Dallas W Yahsin Arrington

Jose Artiga Hoston W Ra-Leek Born

Giancarlo Rodriguez Carrizo Springs W Jallen Young

David Lona Kyle W Yahir Diaz Martinez

David Cardenas San Antonio W Terry Washington

Jesus Martinez Del Rio W Troy Nah

Fabian Diaz Edinburg W Khallq Harrison

Joseph Almadji Fort Worth W Sebastian Juarez Brownsville

Jaycob Ramos Plano W Jeremy Ortiz

Richard Fernandez San Antonio W Jordan Roach

Emilio Garcia Laredo W Deric Davis

Gerardo Favila Weslaco W Jayden Jr

Different Weight Same Results for Almadji & Juarez:Will Meet in Semi's

Sebastian Juarez of Brownsville and Joseph Almadji of Fort Worth are no strangers to winning championships. Both Texans have won USA Boxing national titles in their recent past and both have moved up to the 156-pound weight division for similar reasons. Both the South Texas native and the Nort Texas native scored dominant wins in their quarter quarterfinal bouts on Thursday in Shreveport.  Juarez goes by the nickname "El Trueno" and he showed off both thunderous power and lightning-like hand speed in his three rounds against Tymir Daniels of Irvington NJ. Juarez took over the fight with his jab, hand speed, and brilliant combination punching in the second and got better in the third and round to a points victory.  He will face off against Almadji who similarly showed off brilliant skills in taking apart his opponent, Tavorian Anderson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Almadji used his height and reach to perfection nailing him with the jab and controlling both the tempo of the fight and the distance. He'd set him up with the jab and then time Anderson perfectly and connect with flush power shots on his way to the one-sided victory. The two  Texans will square off in Friday one session at noon. With the winner advancing to the finals of the 156-pound youth division. 

Below is a list of winners of the Evening session on 12/9:

Emilio Garcia Laredo W Jacob Cuevas 

Joseph Almadji Fort Worth W Tavorian Anderson

Ranulfo Bocanegra Donna  W Kevin Ayala San Antonio

Jesus Martinez Del Rio W Wilkins Candelario

Richard Fernandez San Antonio W Steve Ponce  Houston

Emanuel Moreno Wichita Falls W Hugo Mendez Austin

Joshua Jenkins Mesquite W Nehemiah Jones

Emmett Villaplando Weslaco W  Brandon Rodriguez Hewitt 

Diego Barron Mesquite W Hser Htoo

Sebastian Juarez Brownsville W Tymir Daniels 

Ethan Tilman Red Oak W Daniel Bykhovski

Javier Meza Amarillo W Richard Hogan 

Joshua Edwards Houston W Jarvis Jones Needville 

Fabian Diaz Edinburg W AC Cannon-El

David Cardenas San Antonio W Santiago Veloz

Alex Holley Dallas W Jessie Fletcher 

Ruben Salazar Cypress W Sharirif One

Ali Almajdi Fort Worth W Julian Smitth

Moses Garcia Harlingen W Jaydell Pazmino

Jaycob Ramos Plano W Keon White

Geovanni Alonso Channelview W Sai Maldonado

Clutch City Comes up Cluth in Noon Session

Clutch city came up clutch on 12/9 at the USA Boxing Championships in Shreveport, Louisiana securing victories in two all Texas showdowns to advance to the semi-finals which will be held tomorrow 12/10 in ring 4 bout 10 Jose Artiga showed precisely why its called Clutch City in what was no doubt the fight of the session against Armarillo native Sevein Portillo rented the third round of what was a really even and highly competitive bout. The Houstonians repeatedly rocked his opponent with his right hand stopping him in his trap. A very let surge sealed the deal for Artiga who scored with a right hand and left hook in the final moments against an ultra-aggressive Portillo who was perhaps trying to turn the final round in his favor. Artiga will fight in the semi-finals of the 110-pound Juniors division tomorrow afternoon.  

In a 101 pound all Texas scarp Rene Camacho of Houston dominated a very high-level chess match standing in the middle of the ring and winning the battle of the jab with Andrew Rodriguez of Grand Prarie. Double up on the jab and making his North Texan opponent miss. After taking the first round the Houston native stayed in control as Rodriguez tried to pick up the pace and bring the fight into close quarters. Showing off incredible ring generalship Camacho was able to keep the fight at the mid-distance and on the outside and use his jab, his slick footwork, and exceptional timing to ward off Rodriguez and secure a unanimous decision victory and advance to the semi-finals.

In additional news, Damoni McMillian became the first Texan to capture a championship in the 2021 tournament. He scored an impressive one-sided victory over Samuel Ojo in the championship round of the 65-pound division in the bantam division. Scoring with a laser-like right hand. He easily rolled to the points victory in the finals round. Javezz Shabazz of Houston became the second moments later when he won an all-Houston shootout via split decision in a highly competitive 95-pound bantam level scrap over Julian Camacho.

Please see list of Texas Fighter who won in the 12/9 Noon Session

Roy Garcia Laredo W Ahmed Almajadi

Moises Rodriguez El Paso W Jorge Lievana-Galvan

Anthony Glavan Houston W Chevy Rodriguez

Jayshawn Walalce Dallas, W saleem Rafale

Juan Galvan Houston W Ricardo Gomez

Joshua Franco Odessa W Michael Perez Rosenberg Texas

Jose Artiga Houston W Sevein Portillo Amarillo

Gerardo Favila Weslaco W Jaren Colon

Antonio Rico Austin W Michael Gomez

Isaac Flores Fort Worth W Jimmy Carranza

Isaac Torres Dallas TX W Jaderick Perez Wichita Falls

Rene Camacho Hoston W Andrew Rodriguez Grand Prairie

Guillermo Trujillo Mesquite W Orlando Martinez

Domani McMillian Forney W Samuel Ojo

Giancarlo Rodriguez Carrizo Springs W Drezan Rocili

Javezz Shabazz Houston W Julian Camacho Houston

Puro 956: Emilio Garcia & Ranulfo Bocanegra advance, lead a strong Texas Showing in the USA Boxing National Championships

Laredo’s Emilo Garcia Scores Impressive Victory in Shreveport

Laredo is known as the Gateway City and is best known for being home to the legendary Canizalez brothers. Orlando and Gabriel both captured world Titles in the '80s and '90s. The city is having a reboot of amazing young boxing talent. Jorge Castaneda, Josh Juarez, each scored major wins on massive cards and upstarts like Jaime Jasso and Nick Molina are emerging world-level talents in their own right. The talent in the gateway city continues to shine as Emilio Garcia, perhaps the favorite to win the USA Boxing National Championships in the 139-pound Elite division scored a sensational 4-1 decision victory over David Villalobos of San Joaquin County, California. Controlling the fight with his jab and not letting his elusive and quick-footed opponent out of his sight, Garcia set up perfect power shots that rocked his opponent and body shots the slowed him down. Garcia, perhaps the favorite to win Nationals advances on to the round of 8 and will face the winner between Jacob Nuevas of Nevada and Joseph Audby of California. Garcia has an outstanding amateur career that includes a win over Austin, native, and current NABF Junior Super Featherweight Titleholder Floyd Schofield of Austin, Texas, who sports a perfect record of 8-0 (6).

In the Youth division 15-year old Rio Grande Valley native Ranulfo Bocanegra put on a show to lead the Texas Youth movements in the USA Boxing National Championships. Bocanegrawho sports over 100 amateur fights beat fellow Texan Jeremiah Martinez of Houston on points in a 112-pound bout. Bocanegra, of Donna, Texas moves on to the next round of the prelims and will fight tomorrow. The star amateur does not plan on turning pro in the near future and says he wants to stay in the amateur ranks and compete for a spot on the US Olympic team in the 2024 Paris Games. *Emilio Garcia W Davis Vilalobos 

In other Texas news #1 ranked 112-pound youth fighter Diego Barron of Mesquite, Texas, survived a bit of a scare from a very game and tricky Armando Juarez of San Antonio in an All-Texas showdown after a very competitive opening three minutes that the judges favored the Alamo City native 4-1, Barron righted the ship and dominated the final two rounds to earn the decision victory and move to the next round. Barron will fight on Thursday in the Quarter Finals. 

Several other Texans were victories on the day as well!  see the list below:

Anthony Galvin Houston W Michael O'conner

Domani McMillian Forney w Maz Manriquez

Angel Vargas Garland, W Izaac Rivera

Sevein Portillo Amarillo W Roland I vizcarra
Javier Guerro Dallas, W Aidan Flat

Jaime Borja Ceder Creek W Da'Juan Hayes

Jaderick Perez Wichita Falls W Aydin Aydin Nagtalon
Gerardo Favila Welaco wLeonardo Blancas
Antonio Rico Austin W Qawi McFadden

Jose Artigo Houston W Andruw Rodriguez

Guillermo Trujillo Mesquite W Damon Romero Houston

Kayson Jones Grand Prairie W Tyson McGriff Duncanville Texas
Giancarlo Rodriguez Carrizo Springs W Kevin Aceves Garland, Texas

Yandel Pena Houston w Armado Cruz Houston Texas

Tristan Saenz San Juan w Ivan Sanchez Edinburg Texas

steven Grady Katy W Christian Paez San Antonio, Texas

Angel Mata Austin, W John Goodnight
Diego Barron Mesquite W Armando Juarez San Antonio

Ranulfo Bocanegra Donna W Jeremiah Martinez Houston,

Emilio Garcia Laredo, W David Villalobos
Kevin Ayala San Antonio W Anthony Vickers

Narcizo Cerrato Houston W Esteban Orosco Midland

Jarvin Jones Needville, W Kenton Walker

Dylan Ponce Houston W Alexander De Alba

Joshua Edwards Houston W Joe Rinaldi

Henry Richard Conroe w Emiliano Ortiz Uvdale

Two Legends arrive in Texas Ahead of Epic Showdown

Two Mexican legends of the ring arrived in Dallas, Texas today to face off and work out for the public ahead of their December 17th exhibition showdown at the Mesquite Rodeo in Mesquite, TX. The two legends, hall of famer and former four-division world champion "El Terrible" Erik Morales and two-division world champion Orlando "Siri" Salido entered SWEAT Boxing Gym in Irving, Texas today for a meet and greet with the media, to face off and give a short work out. The two hit pads for the media and a crowd of adoring fans. 

A crowd of adoring fans filled the Irving gym to catch a glimpse of the two Mexican icons! Both combatants hit mitts for two rounds and showed that they still had a little something else and that the December 17th showdown will be hotly contested and not just a walk-through. SWEAT Boxing and Training Owner Hector Vazquez said of doing mitts with Morales that "his power is still there you can still feel the power in his right hand" That right hand was what lead Morales to a hall of fame career where he compiled a 52-9 (36) knockouts and secured him wins over the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Kevin Kelley, and Fort Worth's own Paulie Ayala.

Orlando Salido compiled a record of 44-14-4 (31) and captured his first world title in 2006 when he captured the IBF title by outpointing Robert Guerrero but was stripped of the belt after testing positive for steroids. Salido went on to win the title again in 2010 when he beat up Cristobal Cruz in Mexico. He scored his last and perhaps most impressive win in 2014 when he solved the Matrix and handed Vasyl Lomachenko his first career loss.

The December 17th card will be headlined by the two legends but will also feature several elite Texas-based prospects including 25-year old Middleweight Marco Vazquez of  Grand Prairie. Vazquez scored a career-best win in stopping Ulisses Jimenez, a veteran of over 50 pro bouts, in just 34 seconds. Also on the card is fan favorite and Fort Worth Native Tony Lopez. Lopez is coming of a very impressive six-round unanimous decision victory over Diuhl Olguin in Irving back on November fifth.

Houston Hero Returns Home For Biggest Fight

One of Houston's favorite sons, Jermell Charlo returns home in his second bid to become an undisputed jr middleweight champion. The younger Charlo Twin will do battle with Argentine Brian Castano for the second time, on February 26th at the Toyota Center in his home city. The two champions have agreed to terms for the highly anticipated rematch for undisputed supremacy of the division.

Charlo and Castano memorably battled to a draw back in July, in the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Although Charlo enjoyed home state advantage he was unable to secure the victory. In a highly entertaining and competitive fight that Charlo rallied late in was declared a draw despite the majority of the fans thinking it was not Charlo but the Argentinian who deserved the nod. 

Castano bought the pressure and in the eyes of most built up a lead in the early and mid-rounds.  However, with the heart of a lion, Little Charlo came roaring back and rallied late to steal most of the late rate rounds to earn the draw. Charlo seemed cautious and didn't let his hands go in the early and mid rounds seemingly giving rounds away. However, showed superior skills in spots as well. Which led him to say "I do believe I won the fight; I don't believe it was that close should be undisputed right now."

Charlo holds the WBC, WBA,& IBF version of the 154-pound world title and sports a terrific 34-1-1 (18) record will get another chance to capture Castano's WBO version and become the first fighter ever to simultaneously hold all four belts in the 154-pound weight class. He will also look to become just the fifth man ever to hold all four belts in any weight class. The other four are Middleweight Bernard Hopkins, Jr Welterweights, Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor, and cruiserweight  Oleksandr Usyk.

Weslaco Native looks to Unify Super Bantamweight Belts

Weslaco, Texas, is a non-descript Texas town located in Hidalgo county along the Rio Grande Valley with a population of about 40,000.  It is now becoming a hotbed for the sweet science as it is now home to two world champions. First Omar "Panterita" Figueroa captured lightweight gold when he outpointed Jerry Belmontes in an all Texas showdown in 2014.  Panterita ran his record to 28-0 (19) gained a reputation as one of the sports most entertaining fighters and moved all the way up to welterweight before losing a decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2019. Now it's little brother's turn, "The HeartBreaker"  Brandon Figeroa was thought to be too small and too weak to be a fighter by his father has proved everyone wrong on his way to becoming a super-bantamweight world champ and one of the top young fighters in the sport. The younger Figueroa brother has compiled a record of 22-0-1 (17) and just scored the best win of his young career in stopping undefeated knockout artist Luis Nery in seven rounds a career-defining win that put the entire 122-pound division on notice. 

The Rio Grande Valley native now looks to unify his WBC belt with WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the main event of Saturday night's card in Las Vegas at the Park Theatre. In what is one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Back in August of 2019 the two-faced off after Figueroa had scored a spectacular fourth-round knockout in his homecoming fight at the Bert Ogden Arena, Fulton fought on the undercard and the two undefeated stars vowed to fight.  With Both fighters are coming off a career-best and defining win and now both being world champions now is the perfect time for the two to keep their word and square off. Fulton last fought the swarming, volume puncher Angelo Leo on the inside a tactic not many were expecting Fulton, a master boxer, to do. The surprise tactic paid off and Fulton dominated the fight scoring a lopsided unanimous decision. Figueroa will the fourth consecutive undefeated fighter that Fulton will face and is the 10th undefeated fighter Fulton will face in what will be his 20th fight.

Figueroa will enter the ring a 5 to 2 underdog and should he pull the upset and unify the belts. He will have a solid argument to be the fighter of the year, beating two undefeated world champions in just seven months. The fight card will be aired on Showtime and starts at 9 PM CST. The bout was originally scheduled for September but was pushed back when Figueroa tested positive for COVID-19 back on September 7th.

El Paso Native Abel Mendoza Shines in New Mexico

As Two Mexican boxing icons stepped back into the ring for perhaps the last time Saturday night at Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico  Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera and former two-time world champion Daniel Ponce de Leon fought to the distance in an entertaining, six-round exhibition live on FITE & Golden Boy Fight Night on Facebook. In the co-main event was the young unbeaten upstart from west Texas, Abel Mendoza. The unbeaten youngster entered the ring with a sparkling 30-0 (23)  and his game plan was clear attack the body of his rugged by again opponent, former world title challenger, Victor Zaleta. Mendoza pressed forward buckled Zaleta with a left hook just moments into the fight. Late in the first round, Mendoza scored with a barrage of body shots then dropped the former world title challenger just before the bell rang to end the opening stanza.

The Texan stayed patient and stayed down stares in the second and third rounds battering his man against the ropes. Hurting his opponent again with a three-piece combination that landed upstairs with just about 40 seconds remaining in the second. Mendoza followed up the success he had in the first two rounds with another thudding body shot that staggered Zaleta again right as the bell rang to end the third. At this point, the writing was on the wall and Zaleta was on the way out. Mendoza finished the job with a final right hand to the body that did the job for good 2:23 into round number four. The west Texan moved his record to 31-0 (24). In a post-fight interview, he called out former four-division world titleholder Leo Santa Cruz “We’re hoping to get the fight with Leo Santa Cruz. We’re ready for him,” a victorious Mendoza declared. Mendoza disposed of Santa Cruz in just four rounds Santa Cruz took nine rounds to stop Zelata in a much more competitive fight.  A fact that the victorious Texan was well aware of " It just goes to show, Santa Cruz, I'm not sure if it was seven or nine and We finished him in the fourth so we're ready for him" 

In regards to his performance Mendoza went on to say " I made a few mistakes I think I could I have done better, but we are going to work on those mistakes and I am glad we got the knockout"

As Two Legends prepare for a final Stand Two Upstart Texans Look to Take Next Steps

Former three-division world champion and legendary Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera and fan favorite and former two-division world champ Daniel Ponce de Leon prepare to lock horns in an exhibition bout this Saturday at the Inn of the Moutain Gods. The bout will be the main event of a stacked card that features over 10 bouts and streams on FITE TV. As the two legends will steal the headlines perhaps no fighter on the card has more on the line than El Paso native, Odessa raised, undefeated featherweight & super-featherweight blue-chip prospect Abel Mendoza. Mendoza returns to The Inn of The Moutain Gods for the third time. He has compiled a 2-0 (1) record at the venue and has become his home away from home. The El Pasoan turned pro in 2016 and has compiled a shiny record of 30-0 (23) fighting the majority of his bouts in Mexico. He takes by far the biggest step-up bout of his career in former world title challenger who fought future hall of fame Leo Santa Cruz for the IBF bantamweight strap as well as Omar Narvaez for the WBO Super Fly belt. A win again a fighter of that stature as well as the perfect record makes Mendoza an attractive opponent for anyone in the top ten of either the 126 or other 130 pound divisions. It's a big card against a noticeable opponent that can propel Mendoza from prospect to contender overnight.

In the main event of the free portion of the card, that will stream on Golden Boy's Facebook page will feature the return of the San Antonio teenage phenome whose pro debut first-round knockout went viral and made him a star in the boxing community. and proved his nickname "War Machine"  was a well-deserved one. 1-0 (1) Christian Romero looks to put on an encore performance that is as good or better than thatdebut back in September. In his pro debut, a then 16-year-old landed a single right hand that is now internet famous that dropped  Jose Aguero Guerra like a building imploding on itself. That bout was in Mexico and in the interim the San Anontian has turned 17 and can fight in the US and is set to show the fans in the US the incredible skill and one-punch power that made him a star in the amateurs and will according to his trainer at South Park Boxing Academy, Rick Nunez "Make Him aMuliple weight class world champion"