Rick Medina Returns on June 25 in San Antonio on Bam Rodriguez Card

Unbeaten San Antonio featherweight prospect Rick Medina Jr returns to the ring on June 25th  and will put his undefeated 13-0 record on the line when he battles Raymond Ford. He will fight on the undercard of fellow Alamo City native Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, who puts his WBC Super Flyweight title on the line against former world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at the Tech Port Arena. Medina has predominantly fought in his home city and has built up a massive fan base. In becoming a local celebrity He has fought and beaten very solid competition for being 21-years old and just 13 fights into his professional career. Medina has beaten Omar Castillo of the Rio Grande Valley, Oscar Mojica, and Armando Frausto, in the last 12 months. Ford is ranked #8 by the WBA and holds the organization Continental Americas Featherweight strap will be a massive step up. Ford has an 11-0-1 (6). He was touted as one of the sports premier prospects when he made his pro debut back in 2019. He ran  his record to 8-0 and then fought Aaron Perez to a draw in march of 2021. In his last outing, fFord was awarded a totally bogus decision against Fort Worth native Edward "Kid' Vazquez. A decision that was met with outrage from everyone in attendance and Ford's promoter Eddie Hearn, all agreed that Vazquez had clearly won the fight. 

Medina, who is known as "El Castigo", last fought in March and took apart La Marque, native, Armando Frausto in seven rounds at the Scottish Rite Theatre in San Antonio. El Castigo has fought in the San Antonio area eight times during his professional career, winning them all. He also beat Omar Castillo in Houston at the Toyota Center on the undercard of Jermall Charlo vs Juan Macias Montiel. Medina and Bam Rodriguez fought on the same card back in the summer of 2019 on a Rick Monroes promoted card in Floresville. Both fighters scored impressive third-round knockouts.

Vergil Ortiz returning August 6th? Likely in Dallas.

Undefeated Welterweight prospect Vergil Ortiz, of Grand Prairie, was scheduled to fight in Los Angeles back in March but had to pull out when he was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, commonly known as rhabdo, a condition that can be life-threatening and is caused by muscle breakdown and muscle death. This dangerous muscle damage can result from overexertion, trauma, toxic substances, or disease. As muscle cells disintegrate, they release a protein called myoglobin into the blood. The kidneys are responsible for removing this myoglobin from the blood so urine can flush it out of the body. The Grand Prairie native has apparently made a full recovery and will return to the ring on August 6th to take on rugged veteran David Avanesyan. A 33-year-old Russian contender that has won six consecutive fights, including stopping unbeaten prospect Josh Taylor. He last lost to Egidijus Kavaliauskas, a common opponent with  Ortiz who stopped Kavaliauskas back in August via 8th round TKO. Avanesyan also lost to Lamont Peterson in his lone world title shot back in 2017. He has wins over former world champion Shane Mosley, as well as contenders Liam Taylor, and two wins over Kerman Lejarraga.

Ortiz is ranked number one by the World Boxing Organization and could be in line for an immediate world title shot if he should win on August 6th. Avanesyan is ranked seventh by the organization. The north Texan has been out of the ring for what will be just a week shy of a year when he steps into the ring with his Russian opponent. His last outing was the highly impressive 8th-round TKO of  Kavaliauskas. Ortiz knocked down the former world title challenger five times before finally finishing him off for good in the eighth. Ortiz sports a perfect 18-0 record with all 18 wins coming by way of knockout. This will be the longest layoff of the 24-year-old Ortiz's career. The August 6th date is and the fight itself is still not signed currently, according to Golden Boy. However, the location and venue are not set in stone. Ortiz has fought his last two bouts in the metroplex and has fought in the metroplex three times since 2019. He was scheduled to fight Michael Mckinson on March 19th in California on the grounds of USC at the Galen Center  prior to being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.

Castaneda and Dutchover Complete Texas Two Step

Kendo "Tremendo" Castanada, 28, from San Antonio, ended his five-fight slide with a vicious one-punch, left hook, knockout just two minutes into the opening round against Sonny Fredrickson of Toledo, Ohio. Castaneda got to work early with an aggressive Fredrickson, who tried to rush the Texan and ate some big shots early. Castenada was able to land power shots at will and appeared comfortable, and in complete control in the opening moments. When Castaneda saw his opening and he did not wait, unleashing a tremendous left hook that dropped Fredrickson like a building imploding on itself, causing referee Michael DeJesus to waive off the bout at the 2:02 mark of round number one. The bout was featured on the launch of the all-new boxing app Pro Box TV and is part of the Last Chance tournament. Which features eight 140-pound contenders. Castaneda captured the WBA/NABA Super lightweight belt back in December of 2018 and ran his record to 17-0 by the end of 2019, when he stopped Stan Martyniouk, in Reno. He had suffered five straight setbacks before the tremendous knockout Friday night in Plant City, Florida, and improved his record to 18-5 (9). The Alamo City native will fight Florida-based Joseph Fernandez in the semi-finals.

In the bout prior "The West Texas Warrior" Michael Dutchover, of Midland, got himself back on track, scoring an impressive points victory over Clarence Booth of Florida. The 24-year-old west Texan out-jabbed and outmaneuvered his opponent. He skillfully out-jabbed the Floridian from long range. When the fight moved into close quarters, Dutchover was able to land with solid left hooks and right hands on the inside. After several fairly close rounds. Dutchover was appearing to break down his opponent, and late in the sixth, the west Texan scored with an overhand right and moments later scored again with a short left hook that buzzed Booth. Sharpshooting in the seventh, Dutchover again stunned his opponent with just about 15 seconds remaining in the round via a right hand. Dutchover seemed confident he was well ahead on the scorecards and appeared to run out the clock in the eighth and final rounds. The judges scored the fight shockingly close. James O'Connor handed in a real head-scratcher of 77-75 in favor of Booth overruled by Joanne Richard scored (78-74) and Tito Wilgo had (77-75) both in favor of Dutchover, who moved his record to 16-2 (10) now advances to the semi-finals to face rugged veteran Antonio Moran. Dutchover lost his previous fight via sixth-round stoppage to Nahir Albright last September.

Texas Pound for Pound List

1.Errol Spence -DeSoto

2.Jermell Charlo-Houston

3.Bam Rodriguez- San Antonio

4.Jermall Charlo-Houston

5.Brandon Figueroa- Weslaco

6.Vergil Ortiz -Grand Prairie

7.Josh Franco-San Antonio

8.O'shaquie Foster- Orange

9. Mario Barrios -San Antonio

10.Adrian Taylor-Dallas

Honorable Mention

Maurice Hooker-Dallas

Hector Tanajara- San Antonio

Omar Juarez- Brownsville

Rick Medina- San Antonio

Jorge Castaneda -Laredo

Edward Vazquez- Fort Worth

Alex Rincon- Carrollton

Charlo Makes History at the "Punch Bowl"

Jermell Charlo, of Houston, made history last night at the venue dubbed "The Punch Bowl"  by stopping WBO 154-pound world champion Brian Castano to become the undisputed junior middleweight champ.  He came up just short of accomplishing the feat in July of last year when the two settled got a hotly disputed draw in his home state at the Alamo in San Antonio. Little Charlo becomes just the seventh fighter, and the first Texan, to become undisputed in the four-belt era. His stablemate and fellow Texas, Errol Spence jr, may get the chance to accomplish the feat in the division directly south, the welterweight division. It seems like Spence and WBO welterweight champion Terrence Crawford may come to an agreement. 

Charlo becomes the first Jr Middleweight to get all the belts in the four-belt era in what will be a candidate for fight of the year. Things started off well for the Houston-based champion who was able to score with his jab and establish his rhythm and scored the best punch of the opening round when he scored with a thudding left hand that stopped Castano in his tracks. He started the fight much more aggressively than he did in the first fight putting some early rounds in the back as Castano, applying constant pressure on and swarming Charlo cutting off the ring and scoring with a thudding right hand at the end of the fourth that seemed to hurt the Texan. Castano seemed to have seized the momentum after six but Charlo regrouped in the seventh. He got back to moving and outboxing his opponent and seemingly regaining control of the fight taking the eighth and ninth rounds. In the middle of a heated exchange, Charlo scored with an uppercut that stunned Castano. Charlo jumped on his opponent like a dog on fear and rocked his opponent with another picture-perfect left hook that Castano put Castano down in what looked like a delayed reaction. The referee allowed Castano, who was clearly out on his feet, after beating the count, but the writing was on the wall, and Charlo, an excellent finisher, closed the show and secured the stoppage at  2:33 of the tenth round.

Najmitdinov Spoils Hatley's Homecoming on Great Night of Dallas Boxing

Michael Montaya and Kingdom boxing hosted another night of exciting, can't miss fights, in Dallas. A crowd that was filled with legendary hall of farmers such as Heisman winner Tim Brown, former four-division world champ Roy Jones Jr and Christy Martin as well as former world champions such as Paulie Ayala and Jesus Chavez. It was the perfect crowd, the perfect atmosphere for a card loaded with so much Dallas talent. Unfortunately, former WBC 154-Pound silver champ and world title challenger Charles Hatley had his homecoming fight spoiled by Jamshidbek Najmitdinov, of Uzbekistan via second-round KO. After a fairly impressive opening round that saw Hatley moving well and outboxing and out moving his Uzbeki opponent. The second round was filled with combustion and ended with a massive left hook that landed on the chin of Hatley, during a heated exchange that sent the former champ tumbling to the ground and left him unable to beat the count. Dropping the 36-year-old Hatley's record to 30-3-1. Najmitdinov Improved his record to 19-3 and secured the biggest win of his career.

In the co-main event, Dallas native, Shurretta "Chiccn" Metcalf came up short in a very controversial decision in which it appears that she had certainly done enough to secure a points victory. She worked well behind her rangy jab, and controlled the distance. She was able to move away from Danielle Bennett's shots and was able to close the distance at times. In a fight that did seem extremely close, it did appear to most at ringside and in the crowd that "Chiccn" did enough. Scoring with often more with her jab, and then followed up right hands to secure most of the rounds. One particular straight right stunned Bennett in the second round. However in the end it was Bennett who two of the three judges preferred scoring the bout 79-73 and 78-74 overruling the third judge who scored the bout 76-76.

It wasn't all bad for Dallas fighters, as Ray Ximenez scored his second consecutive win in his comeback, following a three-year-layoff. Ximenez outboxed a rugged and determined Eric Manriquez of Houston over six rounds. After a bit of a feeling-out process in the opening stanza, the Dallasite got to work in the second. Switching in and out of both the conventional and southpaw stances and working his way onto the inside. Firing off combinations, staggering him with a 3 punch combo midway through the round. The two combatants finished the second round slugging toe to toe. Ximenez stayed on the attack, ripping body shots downstairs, which he he mentioned was part of the game plan going into the fight.  A determined  Manriquez stayed aggressive and kept coming forward keeping Ximenez honest but ultimately it was the Dallas native landing the better shots and winning the exchanges. Scoring with lead right hands caught the attention of the Houston native. One particular right hand rocked Manriquez late on the 5th and Ximenez followed up and appeared to hurt a resilient Manriquez. Manriquez scored with a big right that caught his opponent's attention in the sixth and final round. However, Ximenez answered right back with a massive right that sent his opponent's mouthpiece flying across the ring. Like two determined warriors the two stood toe to toe and slugged out the final 10 seconds of a highly entertaining and competitive but clear-cut victory for Ximenez, who took the UD  by scores of 58-56 59-55x2. Ximenez moved his record to 20-2 (4) and expects to be back in the ring in July to continue his comeback.

Also on the card was Edwin Pena, who trains and fights out of the Montoya Boxing Gym and scored a dominating third-round knockout of Waldo Zamudio. Scoring a total of three knockdowns and stopping Zamudio just past the midway point of the third round. Pena improved his record to 1-0-1 (1) and Zamudio fell to 0-6.

Charles Hatley Continues Comeback "To be back home on a big card it feels good"

Former 154-Pound WBC Silver champ and world title challenger Charles "The Future" Hatley continues his comeback Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in his home city of Dallas. Hatley sports a 30-2-1 (21) record and is now 36-years-old but appears to have plenty left in the tank. He suffered his second career loss to two Houston Native Jermell Charlo back in 2017 in a scrap for Charlo's WBC 154-pound world title. After taking a year off from the ring, he came back in 2018. The Dallas native has put together four consecutive wins since the loss to Charlo. Fighting once a year from 2018to 2021. He looks to continue that streak Saturday night when he clashes with the battle-tested and very durable Jamshidbek Najmitdinov, 18-2 (14), of Uzbekistan. This bout marks the biggest challenge of Hatley's comeback and is the main event of a card that features Shurretta Metcalf fighting for the NABF Super Bantamweight women's titles and Ray Ximenez in the second fight of his comeback.

It's a big moment for Hatley, whose career has taken him all over the world, including beating Anthony Mundine in Australia. It's a big fight on a big card back home for Hatley who said "To be back home on a big card it feels good, I got all the support I need" Back home in Dallas, there is no shortage of world-class welterweights, the city of home to not only unified champ Errol Spence, but all world undefeated prospect of the year Vergil Ortiz and former 140-pound world champ Maurice Hooker. Fights that Hatley is open to in the future. However those all Dallas showdowns are dependent upon Hatley winning Saturday night. Despite being 36, Hatley is in incredible shape and appeared sharp and as lightning-fisted as ever. He could make the dream of becoming a world champion at 147-pounds a reality. A weight that seems more fitted for Hatley, who said "I am happy to be at 147 I knew if I could make the weight they were gonna be in trouble... and I am making it easy."

That's not great news for the rest of the 147-pound division as Hatley appears to be at his best weight with plenty left in the tank. The next stop is Saturday night at the Bomb Factory in Dallas. Should he defeat Najmitdinov and look impressive in doing so, he could find himself in the world title picture again and this time at his more natural weight of 147.

Vergil Ortiz set to return

It looks like Vergil Ortiz's layoff won't be too much longer as Golden Boy CEO, Oscar  De La Hoya has announced that their prized possession, Vergil Ortiz will return on MAugust arch 6th. No Opponent has been named and no site has been set. Ortiz 18-0 (18) has not fought Ortiz does not yet have an opponent and there is no set location, but De La Hoya said that Ortiz will headline a card. WBA super-flyweight champ Joshua Franco, also of Texas has an upcoming fight as well; there is no confirmation if the two will fight on the same card.

Ortiz (18-0, 18 KOs), 24, of Grand Prairie has been out of the ring since last August when he knocked out former WBO welterweight title challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas in the eighth round at the star in Frisco. So it will be nearly a full year out of the ring for Ortiz who was originally scheduled to fight back in March in Los Angeles but was forced to pull out when he was hospitalized just days before the scheduled fight against Michael McKinson. Ortiz was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can be life-threatening and is caused by muscle breakdown and muscle death. This dangerous muscle damage can be a result of overexertion, trauma, toxic substances, or disease.

Ortiz is the top-ranked 147-pounder by the  WBO and will be in line to fight the champion, Terence Crawford, at some point in the not-so-distant future. The Grand Prairie native recently turned 2,4 and is considered to be among the very best young fighters in the world. He has won all 18 of his professional bouts by way of stoppage. 

Carlos Alcocer to bring first of at least 5 cards a year to Gateway City on June 17th

Laredo is quietly becoming one of the premier fight cities. It has an impassioned and knowledgeable fan base that supports its local fighters. At the same time the "Gateway City" is producing several elite-level fighters such as Jorge Castaneda, Josh Juarez, and Nick Molina, in the amateur ranks, Jennifer Lozano has become a national and international champion and is currently representing Team USA in Turkey. There's a ton of talent for a city of around 250,000 people and now there's a promoter, a former fighter, who knows the industry inside and out, who wants to big that talent to the world championship stage. Former fighter and Laredo resident Carlos Alcocer founded Alcocer Entertainment and plans on bringing at least five fights a year to the Gateway City. Alcocer stated "that's what I am trying to do with my promotions give them at least five fights a year and get their records up. I know I can help the guys get their record up, I can protect my own from Laredo and give them a pathway to a championship and not just throw them to the lions"

The loyal fan base will certainly support more boxing shows and consistently show up for their Laredo fighters. There is something about Laredo fighters that is unique in boxing today. They simply aren't afraid to take the toughest fights. They aren't trying to take easy fights and build their record, they'll fight anyone, anytime. as Alcocer described "Everyone wants to watch a video on the opponent, check him out see some flaws but these Laredo fighters are ready to fight...They're not scared of anyone, it's a pretty tough city"

As for the night's main event, it's an intriguing and competitive fight between local fan favorite Jorge Ramos (7-3-1) vs Alec Magee (7-2) of El Paso. A huge fight and a must-win for both men and one that neither hesitated to accept as the promoter shared "they both said yes, they didn't hesitate at all! it's going to be a really good fight"

In the evening's co-main event is the highly touted undefeated prospect Nick Molina, a fighter everyone agrees has the talent and ability to reach the highest of highs will battle in a light heavyweight attraction against an opponent who has not yet been confirmed.

In other bouts of note Daniel “The Disciple” Villarreal who has a huge, loyal, following from Zapata will be in action and Robert Ocampo who is currently in camp with WBC super featherweight International silver champ Jorge Castaneda will be making his pro debut as well. 

It's an absolutely talent-loaded card and the first in a series that will help these young upstarts stay bust improve their craft and move on to bigger fights in the future. Fights that Alcocer thinks they can still do here in Laredo at the Arena "Sames Auto Arena" saying "there's a big arena, I feel that we can bring belts here and pack the arena"

Charles Hatley Returns on Massive Dallas Card

Michael Montoya and Kingdom Boxing Promotions announced they are bringing a sequel to their premier boxing event in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Royal Roundz II is back in Dallas on May 14th at the Bomb Factory. The card is a talent-loaded, action-packed card that will showcase some of the best fighting talent in Metroplex. In the main event, Charles Hatley, now 36, looks to get back in the world title picture as he takes on Uzbeki knockout artist Jamshidbek Najmitdinov. Hatley, a Dallas native sports an impressive 30-2-1 (21).  Hatley's best win came back in November of 2015 when he stopped former world champ, Anthony Mundine, in 11 rounds. Hatley next fought for a world title in April of 2017 and came up short, falling to fellow Texan Jermall Charlo. He captured the WBC (USNBC) Welterweight strap in his last outing when he stopped Frederick Lawson back in September of 2021. 

In the co-main event is fan-favorite, woman's fighter, "Chiccn" Shurretta Metcalf, who puts her 9-fight unbeaten streak on the line against Danielle Bennett for the NABF Female Super Bantamweight belt. The lone blemish on Metcalf's record in her last nine fights is a draw with Jamie Mitchell back in 2018, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. Mitchell has since gone on to win a world title traveling over to Liverpool, England, outpointing Shannon Courtenay, and then defended that title successfully over Carly Skelly. Chiccn last fought back in February as well and outpointed Karen Dulin over six one-sided rounds taking a 60-54 decision on all three cards.

Also on the card is resurgent featherweight contender, Ray Ximenez, who is fresh off his dominant victory over Houston-based tough guy, Darryl Hayes back in February. He will battle another Houston-based tough guy in Eric Manriquez. Manriquez has been in the ring with elite-level prospects like Otha Jones III, who he arguably beat, as well as fellow Dallas-based prospect Angel Alejandro. Plus other elite fighters like Ray Ford and Malik Warren.  He should offer a good test for the lightning-quick, highly-skilled, Ximenez in his second comeback fight. 

Laredo's Jorge Castaneda set to return in Mexico City

25-year-old Jorge Castaneda of Laredo was one of 2021's breakthrough prospects after a two-year layoff due to an illness then a pandemic Castaneda was used as an opponent for Matchroom's hotshot prospect Otha Jones III on the Andrade vs Williams card in Miami, Florida. After that massive upset, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn took the south Texan over to enemy territory to battle undefeated prospect  Youssef Khoumari, at the 02 Arena in the UK and again Castaneda upset the promoter's unbeaten prospect.  Making it 2-for-2 against Matchrooms house prospects. Now the Gateway City native gets to cross the border and take on a high-caliber veteran opponent in Mexico City on June 10th on another Matchroom Boxing card that will air live on DAZN. Castaneda 15-1 (11) will battle Eduardo Hernandez Perez, 31-1 (28) in what promises to be an all-action throwdown for Castaneda's WBC International Silver title. Perez is a hard-hitting upstart prospect who has taken one major stepped-up fight back in 2019 and was destroyed by Roger Gutierrez on a Golden Bowl card at the Punch Bowl on the Rey Vargas vs Tomoki Kameda card. It did not go well for Perez, who goes by the alias, Rocky Nino Artillero, and was destroyed in the first round. Gutierrez would go on to win the WBA super featherweight title. 

Castaneda was originally scheduled to fight former world champ Kid Galahad on March 12th on the undercard of Mick Conlan vs Leigh Wood card at the Nottingham Arena. Galahad pulled out of the fight on late notice due to suffering a self-described setback in training camp. Eddie Hearn did a great job of getting the hard-hitting Castaneda back in the ring relatively quickly and against a quality opponent. Another win for Castaneda into a big money fight later in the year potentially against Galahad or even Leigh Wood who holds the WBA 130-Pound world title.

Bam Returns to San Antonio to make Inaugural Title Defense

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez will return home and defend his WBC Super Flyweight world title against the legendary Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, of Thailand, on June 25th at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio. It's Rodriguez's first time fighting near his hometown of San Antonio since he headlined a TMB card in the Summer of 2019, on a nearby Floresville card. He destroyed Cesar Garcia Torrijos, of Laredo, on that card in just three rounds. Rodriguez also outpointed Robert Ledesma in San Antonio in 2017 and blew out an overmatched Santiago Sanchez Bayardoin one back in 2018.

The 22-year-old Rodriguez became boxing's youngest world champion and the first-ever born in the 2000s when he outclassed the legendary Carlos Cuadras at the Foot Print Center in Phoenix, Arizona, back in February. A world title fight that he filled in for on less than a weeks notice when Sor Rungvisai had to drop out of the fight due to a non-covid illness. Rungvisai, held the WBC super flyweight title from 2017 to 2019 A title he won when he shocked Choclatito Gonzlaez in 2017 via majority decision. He followed that up by destroying the legendary little man in four rounds. Sor Rungvisai lost his belt to Estrada in 2019. Estrada is currently in line to fight Bam's older brother Joshua Franco in the summer as well.

Rodriguez gave a career-defining performance in jumping up two weight classes on a week's notice to outclass Cuadras. He went from being somewhat of a hidden gem to a superstar and being considered the best young fighter in the world overnight. He initially said that he would vacate the belt and go back down to his more natural weight of 108, but after giving the unforgettable performance to win the WBC strap, the 15-0 (10) Rodriguez said he wanted to stay and defend his title. The 115-pound division is perhaps the best in the sport. It is the money division of the smaller weight classes, so Rodriguez appears, at least for the time being, to be remaining at 115 to defend his strap.

World Championship Boxing Returns to Alamo city

Big-time boxing returns to Alamo City! After the massive audience that packed the Alamodome back on April 9th. PBC will try their hand at the Alamodome without a San Antonian in the headline. San Antonio, is quickly becoming boxing's next great hotbed and has routinely produced packed houses. Including the roughly 15,000 that attended Garcia-Tagoe earlier this month. The July 7th PBC card at the Alamodome will feature WBC featherweight champ Mark Magsayo against former WBC super bantamweight champ Rey Vargas.

Magsayo won the belt from long-reigning champ Gary Russell Jr back in January, and this marks his inaugural defense. Vargas held the WBC strap in the division below from 2017 till 2019. He won the belt via majority decision while traveling to the UK to fight Gavin McDonnell, in McDonnell's backyard. He defended the belt successfully five times before vacating it. He was out of the ring for nearly two and a half years, and returned in the fourth quarter of 2021, when he outclassed Leonardo Baez on the Canelo-Caleb Plant undercard.

So far no undercard has been confirmed. However, the many Texas-based PBC stars may potentially be included on the card. Omar Juarez hails from Brownsville and trains in the Alamo city, has been rumored to potentially appear on the July, 7th card. Juarez last fought in a thrilling fight with fellow Texan Ryan Karl on the undercard of Thurman-Barrios back in February and scored a decision victory and picked up the WBC international welterweight title. Barrios, a San Antonio icon and former world champion, has also been rumored to potentially make his return appearance on the card, possibly in the co-main. As has former world champ and Rio Grande Valley Brandon Figueroa has not been in the ring since his highly controversial loss to Stephen Fulton last November. The timing would make sense for each of these world-class fighters to be featured on the card.

World Championship Boxing Returns to Alamo city

Big-time boxing returns to Alamo City! After the massive audience that packed the Alamodome back on April 9th. PBC will try their hand at the Alamodome without a San Antonian in the headline. San Antonio, is quickly becoming boxing's next great hotbed and has routinely produced packed houses. Including the roughly 15,000 that attended Garcia-Tagoe earlier this month. The July 7th PBC card at the Alamodome will feature WBC featherweight champ Mark Magsayo against former WBC super bantamweight champ Rey Vargas.

Magsayo won the belt from long-reigning champ Gary Russell Jr back in January, and this marks his inaugural defense. Vargas held the WBC strap in the division below from 2017 till 2019. He won the belt via majority decision while traveling to the UK to fight Gavin McDonnell, in McDonnell's backyard. He defended the belt successfully five times before vacating it. He was out of the ring for nearly two and a half years, and returned in the fourth quarter of 2021, when he outclassed Leonardo Baez on the Canelo-Caleb Plant undercard.

So far no undercard has been confirmed. However, the many Texas-based PBC stars may potentially be included on the card. Omar Juarez hails from Brownsville and trains in the Alamo city, has been rumored to potentially appear on the July, 7th card. Juarez last fought in a thrilling fight with fellow Texan Ryan Karl on the undercard of Thurman-Barrios back in February and scored a decision victory and picked up the WBC international welterweight title. Barrios, a San Antonio icon and former world champion, has also been rumored to potentially make his return appearance on the card, possibly in the co-main. As has former world champ and Rio Grande Valley Brandon Figueroa has not been in the ring since his highly controversial loss to Stephen Fulton last November. The timing would make sense for each of these world-class fighters to be featured on the card.

Golden Boy wins Estrada-Franco Purse Bid, Opens Many Possibilities

After WBA Bantamweight World Champion Joshua Franco and WBA Super Champ Juan Francisco Estrada were granted a 24-hour period to come to an agreement for the mandated match and avoid purse bids, an agreement was not reached and the bout went to purse bids and was won by Golden Boy early on Tuesday. It appears the fight will take place in either June or July with a few locations being discussed including Nevada, California, or Franco's hometown of San Antonio. 

The situation begins to get cloudy as the lower than anticipated purse bids may cause Estrada to walk away from the fight and vacate the "super" version of the belt. That would likely leave a fight between Franco and legendary four-division world champ Chocloatito Gonzalez who is ranked number one in the division by the WBA. As confusing as this all sounds it could actually end up being a home run for San Antonio fight fans and a dream come true for the brothers. Matchroom Boxing, which promotes Bam Rodriguez, is headed by Eddie Hearn, who has openly discussed the possibility of staging a massive doubleheader with Franco plus WBC junior bantamweight titlist Rodriguez. Rodriguez is scheduled to take on former world champ Srisaket sor Rungvisai. A doubleheader featuring the two brothers would be a massive draw and could realistically dwarf the roughly 15,000 seats that the Ryan Garica sold for his April 9th, fight in the Alamodome.  

The brothers have not fought in San Antonio on the same card yet. With each brother holding a major world title, the timing does seem perfect. Especially when a massive card that could feature Franco vs Chocolatito and Rodriguez vs Sor Rungvisai would be a ticket sale and ratings bonanza. Franco sports a record of 18-1-2 (8), and has fought in the Alamo city just once he destroyed and stopped Jose Alejandro Burgos in January of 2020 on the undercard of Mungia-O'Sullivan. Rodriguez, 15-0 (10)  scored a sensational knockout of Cesar Garcia Torrijos, on a TMB card in nearby Floresville in 2019 and a year early on a Mikey Garcia promoted card Rodriguez scored a first-round knockout of Santiago Sanchez Bayardo of Corpus Christi, at the Mi Mercado Event Center, on the west-side of San Antonio. 

Rodriguez confirmed that he was being scheduled to fight around the same time “I haven’t heard anything yet but I know I’m going to be fighting sometime around June,” Rodriguez said and went on to confirm "They’re working on a doubleheader with me and my brother. Franco, confirmed his little brother's sentiment adding “There have been talks of the fight coming here [San Antonio] and my brother being on the show. That would be amazing. We’re confident it will come here.” There are still plenty of details to work out and some things that have to fall in place but it seems like a realistic possibility at the moment.

Spence Shines in Unification Bout

Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr seems to save his best performances for his homecoming fights at AT&T Stadium, back in March of 2019 he threw a virtuosos performance against Mikey Garcia, shouting out the four-division world champion, then in his last fight came back and defeat Danny "Swift" Garcia in December of 2020, coming off of the horrific car accident. He pulled off the trifecta and stopped Yordenis Ugas via 10th round TKO when referee Laurence Cole waived the fight off due to Ugas having his right eye swollen completely shut and later admitted he could not see out of the eye. 

After an epic ring walk accompanied by Southside Da Realist the night got off to a less than spectacular start for the South Dallas native he seemed hurt by a body shot and likely lost the first round to the fired-up Cuban world champion. However, the momentum quickly shifted, as a motivated and courageous Ugas took a stylistic risk by standing in with the hard-hitting and freakishly strong Spence Jr. Ugas battled valiantly and had plenty of moments but it was the southpaw from Texas who was clearly getting the best of it as he opened up a lead on the scorecards going into the sixth round. The round in which Ugas did his best work Errol Spence Jr. Stunning the Texan multiple times a right hand from Ugas knocked Spence's mouthpiece, Spence after having his bell rung by the shot looked for his mouthpiece as Ugas guy in landing left hand followed by a right that sent the Spence reeling into the ropes and perhaps could have ruled a knockdown as it did appear that the ropes helped keep Spence on his feet. The sequence of events appeared to wake Spence up who rallied late in the round and then regained control of the fight the next round and put together a dominant round in the eighth banging away on the inside and rocking Ugas with uppercuts and left hands a round so one-sided two of the judges scored it 10-8 in favor of Spence without a knockdown. The now brutal one-sided beatdown came to an end at 1:44. Cole sent Ugas to the corner to be examined by the doctor for a second time and this time the doc instructed Cole to waive the bout off. 

It was the first fight back for "The Truth"  after a 16-month layoff due to an eye injury that forced him out of a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao last summer. Ugas's trainer Ismael Salas claimed Spence wasn't the same fighter following the car wreck and the injury. Salas was correct it wasn't the same Spence, it was actually a much better Spence and Spence is going to have to be this version if he is going to fight WBO champ Terence Crawford next who he directly called out following the Ugas victory. A victorious Crawford explained  “I want Terence Crawford next. That’s the fight I want, that’s the fight everybody else wants. I’ve got these straps, I’m gonna go take his s**t, too.”

No Sweat Spence and Ugas on Weight

No Sweat Spence-Ugas are on Weight

We've got ourselves a fight WBC/IBF Welterweight kingpin Errol "The Truth" Spence of Desoto, and WBA crown holder Yordenis Ugas from Miami, Florida by way of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, both easily made weight ahead of Saturday's unification fight that takes place at World AT&T stadium. The fight will unify three-quarters of the welterweight gold with just the WBO belt outstanding which is held by Terence Crawford and has been since 2018.

The weight went smoothly no major outbursts, no major trash talking, no pushing or shoving just two, toned and calmed professionals who take care of business made weight and faced off, and appear in outstanding shape. The fight will be aired on Showtime PPV and PPV.com for the price of $74.99 and starts at 8PM CST.

The South Dallas native will enter the fight a massive betting favorite. Errol Spence Jr he will be a -450 favorite while Ugas will enter the ring roughly at +350. Meaning a $100 bet on Ugas to win will make you $350 and it will take a $450 bet to make $100. The oddsmakers are extremely confident that Spence will unify the belts and pick up the victory in front of his home crowd tomorrow night. Spence repeated that confidence saying “I’m the best in the division. I’m making a statement come Saturday night. I want the knockout. I’m gonna get the knockout. I’m gonna get his belt and after that, it’s time to be undisputed champion of the world and I’m going after (WBO titleholder) Terence Crawford after I get through Ugas.”

Suggesting that a long-awaited Spence-Crawford showdown could be realistic for later in 2022. It has long been one of if not the most demanded fight on boxing since 2018. A fight Spence appears to want. saying “It’s something that I’m definitely looking forward to and it’s something that I’m willing to work towards,” Spence said. “After I get past Ugas, it could be an easy fight to make. It just depends on stipulations between me and him. I’ll bend but I’m not going to break. I’ll take off my coat but I’m not going to give it to you. So, I think it could happen and I’m looking forward to that fight. I think it’s a legacy fight for him and myself.”

Tristian Kalkreuth scores vicious KO in heavyweight debut

Credit: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy

Hard-hitting 20-year old sensation "Sweet T" Tristian Kalkreuth bounced back from a shoulder injury. An injured shoulder back in June of 2021 he suffered during his fight with Demetrius Banks, that left his left arm inoperable. The injury caused him to do one of the most courageous things we've ever seen in a boxing ring and fight truly one-armed. He fought through the pain and said "It was painful but I had to show the doctor I could lift it" he ultimately dropped a competitive decision despite fighting with just one arm. He rehabbed the injury and stepped back into the ring and did so as a heavyweight for the first time he also battled the biggest test of his young and promising a career

Santander Silgado of Colombia, Silgado had battled with undefeated prospect Raphael Akpejiori as well as former cruiserweight world champion Krzysztof Glowacki and hard-hitting former cruiserweight world title challenger Dmitry Kudryashov.

"Sweet T" was unimpressed and with a single right hand in the second round sent his much bigger and more experienced opponent to the canvas and kept him there. Making his comeback from a shoulder injury and his heavyweight debut a successful one. The official stoppage came at 46 seconds into the second round. During a relatively quiet first round, Kalkreuth scored with a right hand towards the end of the round that dazed his opponent. The Duncanville native got the timing down and landed it again in the second and this time it ended the fight. Kalkreuth ended the show with his now-famous backflip and moved his record to 9-1 (7)

George Rincon scores lopsided UD moves to 13-0

George Rincon of Carrollton, Texas, picked up where his brother left off just a few weeks ago with yet another dominant performance. Taking a step up in class Rincon and battling rugged veteran Alejandro Frias of Nayarit, Mexico. The older Rincon brother was in control from the very beginning after a dominating first-round Rincon, a southpaw landed a blistering left hand that put Frias on the canvas just before the bell sounded to end the second stanza. Rincon stayed on the aggressive and again hurt his opponent with a double right hook with about 20 seconds remaining in the third. Throughout the middle rounds, the North Texan stayed in control, showing off a picture-perfect straight left and swiftly moving out of range, making Frias miss wildly over and over again. By the mid-rounds, the difference in skill sets became apparent and Frias attempted to change the boxing match into a street fight. Rincon didn't oblige and continued to spray his opponent with laser-like lefts from his southpaw stance. The two got tangled up and it appeared Frias tackled Rincon less than a minute into the round six. A determined Rincon stretched it out, walked off, and continued the one-sided beatdown. Moments later he backed up his opponent with a pair of quick right hooks that sent him into the ropes. After another dominant round by the Carrollton native, Rincon caught a nasty head butt from Frias in round seven that seemed to affect him. However, after being cleared by the doctor and Frias being warned by the referee for the repeated dirty tactics, the bout continued. Rincon put together a sensational round in the eighth. Driving his opponent into the ropes and then unleashed a barrage of power shots while his man was backed against the ropes. After a ninth-round that saw both fighters land heavy artillery and momentarily stunned. Rincon closed out the show like a professional. Fighting through an extremely nasty gash in his forehead that appeared to be bleeding into his eye, Rincon focused through and again hurt his opponent with a sharp left hand. Picking up the hard-earned and clear-cut unanimous decision by scores of 96-91x2 and 98-89. Rincon moves his perfect record to 13-0 (7) it is Rincon's 4 consecutive points victory, his last stoppage came in the Alamodome just over two years ago when he scored a posterizing knockout of Diego Vicente Perez in January of 2021.

Hector Valdez dominates at Alamodome, scores UD victory

Credit: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy

Hector "el Travieso" Valdez, of Dallas, boxed beautifully showing no ring rust in the early going. He worked behind a patient jab to track down his opponent Daniel Moncada of Mexico City, Mexico, who looked to use the entire ring. The Texan stayed composed, cut the ring off on his opponent, and ripped vicious body shots with both hands that began to slow Moncada down. El Travieso stayed committed to the body and by round four the Mexico City native was much more stationary as Valdez continued to rip thudding body shots on his now stationary opponent. Things escalated in the fifth round as Valdez scored with a wide left hook that sent his man stumbling to the canvas, just past the 60-second mark of the round. Moncada valiantly fought back but the writing was on the wall. Valdez had seized complete control of the fight and used the left hook again in the sixth to stagger his overmatched opponent and followed up with a right hand that opened a nasty gash above the eye of his opponent. Valdez, recognizing his opponent was in serious trouble, stalked patiently and scored with a right hand right before the end of the sixth, staggering his opponent once more. The pace slowed a bit in the seventh as Moncada tried to simply stay away from his surging opponent and Valdez was happy to continue the boxing lesson he was administering. The Dallasite picked up the pace again in the final round, to try and seal the deal for all of his Texas-based fans who were vocal for him throughout the fight and less than a minute into the round had him hurt again. This time with the right hand, Moncada continued fighting hard till the end but it was not nearly enough as Valdez cruised to the wide and well-earned points victory by scores of 80-71,79-72, and a much, much too close 78-73. For Valdez, it was his third consecutive decision victory and it ended a nearly 13-month layoff. For Moncada, the one-sided losses ended a streak of two consecutive TKO victories. moving his record to 15-0 (8) It was the first fight in just over a year and Moncada dropped to 15-6-2 (5).