Friday night in Houston. The Red Owl Boxing promotions series returns to DAZN, and the card features an intriguing bout, between the son of an H-town legend. Former Olympian and world champion Raul Marquez's son Giovanni Marquez, 9-0 (5), takes perhaps the biggest challenge of his career when he challenges 22-year-old San Antonio Prospect Jason Limon, 8-1-1 (2). Limon is coming off the best win of his career when he put on an absolute boxing clinic in taking apart the unbeaten Christian Foley at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Limon has won four in a row since his 2022 loss to Yaniel Alvarez. Included in those four wins are two unbeaten prospects. Marquez has caught national headlines and is not just one of the premier prospects in the world. He has gotten plenty of national exposure and television time since turning pro in 2022. He last fought on DAZN in Atlanta in March. He outclassed tugged veteran Jayson Velez over six one-sided rounds.
Tanajara, Cortez, Impress in San Antonio Homecoming Fights!
Photo Credit: Alamo City MediaGroup
In the evening's main event, "El Finito" Hector Tanajara, of San Antonio, made it 2-0 in his comeback at 140 pounds, with a textbook, vintage, "El Finito" performance! Tanajara was as sharp as ever in scoring a lopsided unanimous decision over Johnny Arellano of Austin. Tanajara improved to 21-1-1 (6). The new weight seems to be a fit for the San Antonian. Tanajara has shown more pop on his punches. He was able to hurt Arellano time and again with clean, crisp combinations. He staggered Arellano in the second, again in the third, and nearly finished him a number of times, on his way to a lopsided victory by scores of 60-54xs and 59-55. It was the type of performance that reminds the world of the sharp skill, Tanajara posses that had him in the conversation with Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. "I give myself maybe a B or a B+. I would have given myself an A if I got the stoppage." a victorious Tanajara said "I felt great in there. I felt calm, more like myself, and more aggressive. That's thanks to my team" It was vintage "El Finito" but the San Antonian wasn't satisfied or resting. The victorious San Antonian plans on being back in the ring in May and said he's going to be right back in the gym tomorrow "I'm going to be right back in the gym tomorrow. This was only a six-round fight. I feel great." a motivated Tanajara explained. As motivated as ever, he gave thanks to his Dad and Robert Garcia for the great work they did and said there's still work to do "I could have done some things better. I could have caught and shoot a little bit better." It's the best Tanajara has looked since his Alamodome victory over Juan Carlos Burgos back in 2020. It was a great sign that Tanajara is back and close to competing at the most elite level again. When asked what's next "We have one more fight in May." Tanajara said, "after that, sky's the limit. We are looking at any fighter at the top of 135 or 140... whatever is the best opportunity. If I get a fight at 135 with the right amount of time, I can make 135, but I like how I feel at 140, but if I have enough time, I can make 135 as well."
In the Co-main Daniel Cortez improved his record to 4-0 (2) with a first-round stoppage. The highly touted prospect from San Antonio, patiently stalked his much larger opponent, Ruben Martinez. Walking down his man, the 20-year-old Cortez was the physically strong man, and in complete control, Snapping off his jab, Martinez was uncomfortable from the opening bell. Cortez dropped his man with a single jab just past the midway point of the opening round, displaying his unique power. Martinez was able to make it to his feet. However, Cortez stepped up the pace a bit and ripped his opponent with a left hook to the body. He stayed on the attack and again rattled his opponent, this time with a one-two combination. Cortez struck again, Just before the bell rang to end the opening round. He put together a perfectly placed left-hook and right-hand combination that again put his outmatched opponent on the floor. Martinez reached his feet, but his corner had decided he had seen enough and stopped the fight. Giving Cortez the first-round TKO victory.
Also on the card was fan favorite Mayra Rodriguez of San Antonio. Rodriguez is also a professional model and ring-card girl. She can now add successful professional boxer to her impressive resume. Rodriguez scored a third-round TKO at the 1:31 mark and moved her record to 1-1 (1) by stopping Domonique Hernandez of Seguin fell to 0-1.
In two other fights of note, Jason "El Gallo" Limon outboxed Alexis "Bam Bam" Balderas, from the Rio Grande Valley, for the Texas State welterweight title. Limon needed to stay away from the heavy bombs from "Bam Bam" and he was largely successful in doing so. Bouncing back from his first career loss, Limon secured the biggest win of his career via unanimous decision by scores of 60-54x2 and 59-55 to move his record to 6-1-1 (2).
Another one of Robert Garcia's pupils Sylvestre Quinonez improved his record to 3-0 (1) picking up a third-round stoppage of Keith Smart. Quinonez scored a first and second-round knockdown. Overcoming a cut over his left eye, from a head butt, Quinonez stayed calm and in control and dropped Smart again right at the end of the second. In the third round, he again rocked his opponent with another clean left hook that staggered Smart. Quinonez pushed hard and unleashed a whirlwind of pinpoint power shots that poured in one after another until the referee came in to waive off the bout at 1:12 of round three.
In what may have been the most fan-friendly fight of the night, Luis Gallegos and Mustafa Malik traded knockdowns in the first round. Gallegos stayed on the aggressive and scored with a big right hand that rocked and wobbled Malik late in the second. Gallegos scored again moments later with another right hand that sent Malik into the corner. A massive right hand followed that up and put Malik down again right at the end of the second, this time for good. Giving Gallegos a second-round knockout to move his recur to 5-1 (5).
"El Finito" Hector Tanajara Returns in March on Loaded San Antonio Card
One of The Alamo City's brightest young stars Hector "El Finito" Tanajara, returns to the ring at the Shrine Auditorium in his home city, on Marvh12th. The fight will be held on a Sunday afternoon and is put on in conjunction with Gamez Law Firm, South Park Boxing, Robert Garcia Boxing Academy as well as Triple-A promotions.
Tanajara, a promising now junior welterweight fighter, ended a two-fight skid in 2021 and '22 that resulted in his first career blemishes a loss in 2021, and a draw in 2022. He returned home to San Antonio this past November to get back on track at a new weight and scored an impressive fifth-round TKO over Antonio Meija at the Tech Port Arena on the city's west side. It was an impressive return from the super-sharp contender who sports a 20-1-1 (6) and is still just 26 years old and still has world title aspirations to go along with world title skills that he reminded the boxing world of last November.
The card will feature a load of Robert Garcia fighters that will include surging prospect, Daniel Cortez of San Antonio who was one of the top Texas prospects to watch emerge in 2023. Plus the long and rangy Junior Middleweight prospect Sylvestre Quinonez who resides in the nearby hill country will be featured on the card. There will also be a loaded undercard that will feature highly touted and hard-hitting Super Featherweight Henry "World Star" Arredondo, who has gone viral for a variety of knockouts and has been featured on nationally televised PBC cards. Additionally, rising blue chip prospect Javy Fernandez, who was also featured as one of the best prospects to watch in Texas will be back in action and will look to move his career record to 13-. Plus, touted welterweight prospect and former amateur standout Jason Limon will be in action, all of San Antonio. In another special attraction fight, fans will get another look at fan-favorite women fighter and professional model Mayra Rodriguez. Rodriguez has previously worked as a ring girl and is the current face of, and official model for, Fade Life Clothing.