Brownsville native "El Relampago" Omar Jaurez 14-2 (5), originally set to fight Luis Hernandez on Wednesday, March 27th, in Plant City, Florida, on the PROBOX TV main event. He will now face local fan favorite veteran Clarence Booth 21-9 (13). Booth has lost five fights in a row, including losing to West Texas native Michael Dutchover at the same venue where he will face Juarez. Prior to the five-fight losing streak, Booth had compiled a 21-4 record. Those four losses were all to high-level prospects, including Cletus Seldin, Maxim Dadashev, Sergey Lipinets, and Alex Saucedo. Booth last fought Kelvin Davis, also on PROBOX TV in Plant City, Florida.
Omar Juarez Returns on March 27th PROBOX TV Card
Brownsville favorite son Omar "El Relampago" Juarez is set to return to the ring on March 27th in Plant City, Florida, on a PROBOX TV card. The 24-year-old, who just became a father, will look to bounce back from the second controversial loss of his young and promising career. Last May the South Texan seemed to outwork and outland former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy. However, the judges scored for Barthelemy. The 10-month layoff will be the longest of the Juarez's career. The Brownsville native will get a chance to get back in the win column against a formidable opponent in, Luis Hernandez, 23-4 (20), of Chihuahua, Mexico. Hernandez, a rugged and hard hitting veteran, is best known for fighting fellow 140-pound title contender Lindolfo Delgado.t
Delgado finished Hernandez in just four rounds. So this fight will be a good metric for the RGV native. If Juarez scores a dominant win or stoppage over Hernandez, like Delgado did, he will keep apce and stay relevant in the world title picture. Hernandez, has fought in Texas once before and was narrowly outpointed by Houston native Quinton Randall at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. The bout will air live on the PROBOX TV app.
Omar Juarez Likely to Return on September 30th Canelo-Charlo Undercard.
Omar "El Relampago" Juarez, 14-2 (5), of Brownsville, will likely return on the September 30th, Canelo-Charlo card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Juarez is coming off a tough-luck decision loss to former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy. A hotly contested and debated majority decision loss that nearly all observers felt Juarez had won. Unfortunately, for the Brownsville native, the official judges did not concur.
According to Juarez's team, they have been contacted and are expecting to fight on the card. Juarez's father Rudy said, "He's leaving for camp on Monday." Currently, no opponent has been announced. A motivational speaker, Juarez was not down for long from the controversial defeat and will look to get back in the win column just four months after the loss, and on arguably the biggest card of the year. The 24-year-old South Texan has two blemishes on his resume, each one is highly contentious. Juarez suffered a highly controversial loss to All Rivera in the Summer of 2021 in a fight again, nearly all observers thought “El Relampago” deserved the nod.
Juarez will begin his camp in San Antonio and then move to Las Vegas to close out camp. In the early stages of his career, Juarez did his camps in the San Antonio Gym South Park Boxing Academy, his home away from home. The Brownsville native has since done his full camps in Las Vegas. Since he will be in the Alamo City, Juarez will be available to help out with his younger brother, and a USA Boxing National Champion, Sebastian "Treuno'' Juarez, 1-0 (1), who will be fighting in San Antonio at the Shrine Auditorium. The younger Juarez made his successful professional debut on August 4th and scored a second-round knockout in Matamoros, Mexico.
Sebastian Juarez, Younger Brother of Omar Juarez, To Turn Pro In Mexico on August 4
Boxing in the Rio Grande Valley is alive and well. It has become one of the premier boxing hotbeds anywhere in the world. It's about to get even better as a pair of amateur standouts from Brownsville are set to make their professional debut on Saturday at the Auditorio Matamoros in Matamoros, Mexico, just a stone's throw away from their hometown and their home gym, RGV Elite Boxing in Brownsville. The gym was made famous by Omar "El Relampago" Juarez and his father, the owner of the gym, Rudy Juarez. Now it's time for my little brother to make his professional debut. The 18-Year-Old Sebastian "El Tureno'' Juarez, who had a tremendous amount of amateur success, including being number one in the nation according to USA Boxing at 156lbs, 145lbs, and 119lbs at various points of his outstanding amateur career, will leave the amateur ranks for the paid ranks. His last amateur bout was in April. The teenager will now turn pro at 160 lbs. Juarez has been bred for this at an early age, being from a high-level fighting family. He has been around world-class training camps with his brother for years and has worked with "Trainer of the Year" Bob Santos. Juarez is also scheduled to fight in San Antonio on August 26th.
Also, on the card and in Matamoros, Mexico, and also making his pro debut is Moses Garcia, an RGV Elite stablemate of "El Trueno" Garcia also had a successful amateur career that included making it to the semi-finals of the USA National Championships in 2021. He will look to make his pro debut a successful one at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Three Texans Look to Shine in Vegas on PBC Card
On Saturday, May 13th, three Texans will take to Las Vegas and look to take a major step forward in their respective careers. In the evening's co-main event, Omar "El Relampago" Juarez, 14-1 (5), of Brownsville, takes the biggest fight of his career as he battles former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy, 29-2-1 (15), of Havana, Cuba. Juarez is now 23 years old and has scored three highly impressive victories since his lone career defeat to All Rivera in the Summer of 2021. A win here gets the Rio Grande Valley native into the title picture. The 23-year-old has brought in the help of world-famous strength and conditioning coach Tony Brady to prepare for the biggest fight of his professional career.
On the undercard portion of the card is PBC's 2022 Prospect of the Year, Michael Angeletti, 7-0 (6), of Spring, Texas. Angelletti will battle rugged Venezuelan contender Michell Banquez 20-3 (14), in a Super Bantamweight bout. Banquez recently fought San Antonio native Ramon Cardenas in San Antonio and gave the touted prospect a competitive 10-round scrap. Angeletti, who is also nearing a world title shot, last fought in October and blew away fellow undefeated prospect Jeremy Adorno in just five rounds. Angeletti dominated his outmatched opponent in every single round and made Adorno quit on the stool following the fifth round.
Also on the card is hard-hitting, fan-favorite, knockout artist Javi Vargas 3-1 (3), of McAllen. Vargas suffered the lone defeat of his career back in December. The McAllen native has bounced back nicely and, in April scored a sensational first-round TKO of Milton Banks in San Antonio on a P4P Promotions card. He will enter as the B-side, but as a very live dog as he battles undefeated 154-pound prospect David Whitmire, 1-0 (1) of Washington DC. Whitmire made his pro debut in February in San Antonio and scored a brutal first-round TKO of fellow Rio Grande Valley native Keith Foreman.
"More Than a Champion" Omar Juarez to be Subject of Upcoming Documentary
After a long week of school, therapies, and other strenuous activities, there's a boxing gym filled with excited youngsters of all abilities having fun, relieving stress, and sharpening their skills, not exactly a typical scene in most boxing gyms. However, there's nothing typical about what's going on at the RVG Elite Boxing Gym, and there's nothing typical about WBC International Welterweight title holder Omar "El Relampago" Juarez and his father Rudy, who call that gym home. The pair spend their Friday evenings dedicating their time and knowledge to helping special needs kids in their home gym. Giving their time to those who are often ignored and overlooked. The Juarez family is giving these kids a fighting chance. Not exactly how the typical 23-year-old, who has achieved fame and success, spends their Friday nights, but again there's nothing typical about Juarez "My parents told me to love one another...my Dad's always been like that. He told my stories when he was in high school, he used to hang out with [special needs kids] because no one would listen to them or pay attention to them. My siblings are the exact same way. We have always been extra nice to them." A humbled Juarez explained.
The 23-year-old has served as Master of Ceremonies for The Tim Tebow Foundation's Night to Shine multiple times. The Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God's love for people with special needs. Juarez has always had a heart for special needs children "I see what you guys go through [special needs parents], and it makes me feel so grateful for what I have... Honestly, since I've grown up as a little kid, I've had a soft spot for special needs kids. They need more attention, they need a voice." The boxer has served not just as their voice but as a source of motivation and inspiration for so many in the special needs community.
That motivation is a two-way street. As Juarez prepares for the biggest fight of his career, a May 13th date in Las Vegas against two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy originally from Arroyo Naranjo, Cuba. Juarez cites the kids he works with as the source of his motivation "The kids are the motivation. When I feel like giving up, that's what I remember the most, that I'm representing a lot of kids. I have to show them it's not just talent that gets you here. It's the discipline, the hard work. It's the grind. I always preach you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable", the 23-year-old explained.
Juarez is the subject of an upcoming Documentary directed by Marie J. Magdaleno, which will be released in the Fall and is titled "More Than a Champion". It's a personal and in-depth look at Juarez as he trains for his upcoming battle. Magdaleno, also a Brownsville native, will get to tell the incredible and inspiring real-life story of a fighter, an inspiration to the voiceless, and a philanthropist, from Brownsville to the world. The director was presented with other possible candidates but was moved and inspired by the story of Juarez. She knew that she had to tell his story, "There were other candidates on the table that I was going to move forward with to document, and then Omar got brought to me. I did some research on him, and we are very similar. We're both very hard-working, driven, and determined, yet we care about our community and want to give back, so when I saw Omar was like that, I said this is the gentleman that I want to tell the story of. I want people to know hes more than a champion."
Having spent several days with the WBC title holder at his fight camp, Magdaleno was amazed by the work ethic and determination of the champ. The acclaimed director described the experience "It was quite an experience. I went in with no expectations, I have always followed boxing, but I have never seen how a boxer prepares for a big fight... Seeing Omar on the verge of tears at one point, the workout is so intense and so hard, and he follows through! It's pretty amazing and impressive to see that type of ethic. I can't wait for the fight. I've seen already what he has done to prepare for it."
What amazed the decorated film director the most was the ability the fighter showed to "hit the switch" and go from dangerous world-class fighter to gentle monster, "Omar is soo dangerous inside the ring, and then he switches the switch, and he's this gentle monster. That's Omar! He's so kind in person."
The gentleness and kindheartedness seem to be the exact opposite of what we see from the dangerous, body-snatching warrior in the ring. He hits the switch and transforms from a warrior to a genuinely loving person with a heart as big as Texas for kids who are often marginalized and forgotten about. The Texan describes his connection with the kids "The reaction and the connection that I get from them all it's beautiful, and its extra motivation."
Motivation is another reoccurring theme in the boxer's life. In addition to his work in the special needs community, the championship boxer volunteers as a motivational speaker, having worked with and inspired the kids in Brownsville since he was 16 years old. In the Summer of 2021, Juarez needed to "practice what he preaches", as he says, after suffering a controversial and disputed loss to All Rivera. Juarez recalls the immediate aftermath of the verdict "I cried like a baby, but it was time to practice what I preach." He decided to record a video telling the kids, "You can never give up on your dreams, and I'm not going to give up on mine. No matter what happens, I'm going to be great, no matter what happens. I'm going to keep pushing." The kid from Brownsville did just that he bit down, put it behind him, and got back to work.
That loss has been used by detractors to try and get under the skin of Juarez. It's been used to try and irritate him. However, it has not sidetracked him at all "No matter what knockdowns, or what losses, you can still make your dreams come true if you're persistent and disciplined and most importantly if you are faithful with yourself and the man upstairs." Juarez said. He's been able to focus through the distractions and get back on track. His laser-like focus is something he credits both his wife and his faith in Jesus Christ for "God always gives me strength, through the dark times." Juarez said. "Through the storm, I'm holding His hand, and we are pushing through. I just got to keep pushing through that storm, and after that storm is the beautiful sunshine." He explained.
That beautiful sunshine is now on the horizon for the 23-year-old. He has put together three consecutive wins since the 2021 loss, including his most recent win back in December against Austin Dulay. Juarez has been patient and, through hard work, discipline, and determination, has gotten himself back into the world title picture. It has also taken a lot of patience to get back into this position. Juarez credits his patience as the most important thing he has learned from the countless hours working with the special needs kids, " I've learned patience, being patient with yourself, and being patient with others," Juarez explained.
With a win on the 13th, all the patience and perseverance may very well pay off. A win would put Juarez in position for a world title fight. A dream come true for the Brownsvillian that would mark the culmination of his relentless hard work, determination, and his blood, sweat, and tears. All the elements that took the humble, polite kid from Brownsville to the top of the boxing world. When Juarez does get to a world title, it is something he said he would give full credit to the kids for, "they have served as motivation and kept me going through all the difficulties and distractions." Juarez said of the kids.
Juarez Gets Biggest Challenge of Career, May 13th in Vegas.
"El Relampago" Omar Juarez of Brownsville has taken a cosmic leap in 2022, taking two step-up fights and getting decision victories over two well-known opponents. In February, he outpointed former World title challenger "Cowboy" Ryan Karl of Milano, Texas, in what turned out to be a highly entertaining blood and guts scrap. Juarez took the split decision and captured the vacant WBC international welterweight title. He then came back in December on the undercard of Michel Rivera VS Frank Martin and scored a one-sided beat down of noteworthy contender Austin Dulay. Despite being deducted three points due to low-blows, the Rio Grande Valley native still rolled to a wide unanimous points victory.
Juarez has just gotten his next opponent, and it will be no easy task. "El Relampago" will battle 37-year-old former two-division world champion "Kid Blast" Rances Barthelemy on May 13th in the Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas. Barthelemy 29-2-1(15) captured the IBF 130-Pound title in 2014 and defended once before moving up to lightweight and captured the vacant IBF title by outpointing the rugged Denis Shafikov in December 2015. He defended that belt once in 2016 before moving up to 140 pounds, where he twice challenged for a title and came up just short both times. He lost a decision to Kiryl Relikh for the vacant WBA strap at the Freeman Coliseum in 2018 and then fought Robert Easter to a draw in 2019 for the same belt.
It will be the first former world champion that the 23-year-old from Brownsville has faced. He has been moved along quickly and is 3-0, since his lone career setback, a hotly debated and very controversial loss to All Rivera in the summer of 2021. The winner will take another giant step toward a world title. The world titles at 140, are currently held by Scotsman Josh Taylor, who holds the WBO belt. WBC champion Regis Progrias who trains in the Main St Gym in Houston with famed trainers Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro. The WBA champ is Albert Puello of the Dominican Republic, and hard-hitting Puerto Rican KO artist Subriel Matias owns the IBF strap. The latter two champions fight on the PBC side, as does Juarez, meaning a world title fight with Juarez versus either of those two would be very easy to make. Juarez has a 14-1 (5) record and turned pro in October 2018.
Texas Pound For Pound Top 10
1.Errol Spence- Dallas
2.Jermell Charlo -Houston
3.Bam Rodriguez- San Antonio
4.Jermall Charlo- Hosuton
5.Brandon Figueroa- Weslaco
6.Joshua Franco -San Antonio
7. Vergil Ortiz Grand Prairie
8. O'shaquie Foster -Orange
9.Mario Barrios -San Antonio
10. Omar Juarez- Brownsville
Also Receiving Consideration
Austin “Ammo” Williams- Houston
Abel Mendoza- El Paso
Edward Vazquez Fort Worth
Ramon Cardenas- San Antonio
Michael Angeletti- Spring
Adrian Taylor -Dallas
Floyd Schofield- Austin
Hector Tanajara- San Antonio
Ray Ximenez- Dallas
Omar Juarez Shines in Vegas, Moves One Step Closer to a World Title
Brownsville native "El Relampago" Omar Juarez made the 956 proud Saturday night in Las Vegas at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan as he scored a career-best win against touted 140-pound contender Austin Dulay of Nashville, Tennessee. Juarez may have been a bit of his own worst enemy having to overcome three points deducted for low blows. In all, Juarez landed just four low blows. Some were highly questionable. The first appeared to be a result of Juarez having his head pulled down. The third, which resulted in a second-point deduction in the second round appeared to be a legal blow landing right on the beltline. Juarez landed yet another low blow in the fourth, resulting in a third-point deduction. At that point, the RGV native was facing a disqualification loss in a fight that he was in complete control of otherwise. Head Trainer Rick Nunez said, "I told him, don't throw to the body at all. Everything chest and up."
The 23-year-old South Texan heeded the advice of his trainer and stayed upstairs. The young Texan stayed calm and in control of the fight. He controlled his aggression and was able to buckle his outmatched opponent with a right hand in the fifth and then staggered him again with a right-hand moments later. The TheBrownsiville native was in complete control as "El Relampago" struck again in the sixth as he landed a barrage of lightning-quick power shots that had Dulay holding on and in survival mode as Juarez landed a barrage of power punches toward the end of the sixth round. Dulay was able to muster up some offense in the seventh but Juarez regained control in the eighth. Scoring at will with his right hand he was able to walk his man down with power shots. The two stood toe to toe for much of the highly entertaining rounds, perhaps noy knowing what the cards would look like given the three points deducted Juarez opted not to run out the clock.
The cards were academic as Juarez had dominated the bulk of the action and despite the three points deducted the Texan picked up his third consecutive win, This one in unanimous fashion by scores of 96-91 x2 and a much too close 94-93 on the third card. Juarez improved his record to 14-1 (5) and takes a major step forward in getting a world title fight in a now wide-open 140-pound division. The division had all four belts back unified by Josh Tayloe back in 2021. Taylor defended all of them back in February but has since vacated the IBF and WBC belts. The WBC has since been captured by Regis Prograis, who trains with famed trainer Bobby Benton and the Main st. Gym in Houston.
RGV Native Omar Juarez Returns to Ring This Saturday in Las Vegas
Brownsville native "El Relampago" Omar Juarez returns to the ring this Saturday, December 17th, at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will be on the undercard of Michel Rivera takes on Frank Martin who trains in Dallas in a battle of unbeaten lightweights and will air on Showtime.
Juarez is coming off the longest layoff of his professional career. It's been 10 months since he was last in the ring. He last fought in February against fellow Texan Ryan "Cowboy" Karl in a thrilling 10-round affair. Juarez outlasted Karl to capture the WBC international welterweight title and run his record to an outstanding 13-1 (5) The bout was part of the Keith Thurman-Mario Barrios undercard.
The Rio Grande Valley native will take on rugged contender Austin Dulay 15-3 (11). Dulay was a highly tortured prospect and is immensely skilled. A native of Nashville, Tennesse, packs solid pop. A formidable opponent for Juarez without a doubt. The winner of the bout takes a major step forward in the world title picture, while the loser takes a massive step backward.
Juarez has won two consecutive fights since his lone career defeat, a 10-round majority decision loss to Filipino All Rivera. A highly controversial decision that most spectators thought Juarez had done enough to earn the nod.
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.
Bam Rodriguez Becomes Boxing's Youngest World Champ
Seven days ago Bam Rodriguez was supposed to take what amounted to a stay busy fight against Fernando Diaz. A kind of a welcome to the Matchroom family fight. Instead, he jumped up two weight classes and took on a legend of the ring and future Hall of Famer in Carlos Cuadras on less than one week's notice for the WBC Super Flyweight title. Rodriguez did the unthinkable and dominated the former champ, dropped him in round number three, controlled the rest of the fight, rolled to the unanimous decision victory, and captured the Super Flyweight title. He became boxing's youngest world champion at just 22-years-old. He also joins older brother Joshua Franco as a world champion.
At the prefight presser Rodriguez said “When I got the call, I had no hesitation,”. He added “This is my moment. San Antonio will have a new champion and a star will be born” High expectations, but Bam certainly did not disappoint. Landing on 258 of 688 total punches (38%). After a fairly close first-round Bam seized control of the fight in the second and dropped the former champion in the third round. He remained in control of the fight from that point on. Using his incredible angles and combination punching he was clearly wearing Cuardas down. Rodriguez pumped his fist several times while working to his corner, knowing his lifelong dream of being a world champion was becoming a reality. He hurt Cuadras with a body shot in the fourth. He staggered his man in the fifth with an uppercut followed by a left hand. The San Antonian remained in control the remainder of the bout. Cuadras did put some good moments together and Rodriguez said "I am sore" and his face showed some swelling from the non-stop work from a rugged former champ, but his moments were far too few and short-lived. The 22-year-old San Antonian closed the show like a veteran. Firing off a four-punch combination that again Rocked Cuadras and after the two traded heavy artillery Rodriguez finished the final round with two-picture perfect land hands. The scorecards were academic as all three judges scored for Rodriguez, by scores of 117-110x2 and a much too close 115-112.
The undercard featured Edward Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas, who was absolutely robbed out of a win. Vazquez out-landed and outworked fellow unbeaten featherweight Raymond Ford, over 10 competitive but mostly one-sided rounds. After the scorecards were read off 96-94 for Vazquez and 98-92 and 97-93 in favor of Ford, the crowd erupted in boo's and DAZN commentator responded to the decision by saying "Embarrassing" no other words were needed. Ford's promoter Eddie Hearn also acknowledged that Vazquez was impressive and deserved the decsion.
Four additional Texans took the ring just a few hours away in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brownsville native Omar Juarez scored a split decision victory over Milano native "Cowboy" Ryan Karl in a highly entertaining, fan-friendly brawl. Juarez moved his record to 13-1 (5) putting most of the early rounds in the bank using his speed and precise counter-punching to build up a lead on the scorecards. Karl battled back in the second half of the fight and appeared to slow and a cut above Karl's eye caused him to fight with a sense of urgency and he was able to draw the prospect from Brownsville into a slugfest. The 10th and final round was an all-time keeper. The round started with Juarez landing back-to-back right hands that Karl took and answered back with a thudding three-piece combination. The fast-paced round ended with the two warriors exchanging toe to toe for the final 15 seconds.
The card also featured Corpus Christ native John Rincon coming back from a nearly two-year layoff. He scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Ramon Duarte Marquez in a four-round affair. Rincon moves to 6-0 (2) in his promising young career.
The main event didn't go so well for The Lone Star State as former 140-pound world titleholder Mario Barrios of San Antonio, lost a spirited battle to former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman. Barrios fell behind on the cards early but rallied a little bit in the second half of the fight, but it was too little too late as he dropped the decision unanimously to Thurman by scores of 118-110x2 and 117-111.
Two San Antonionians Headline; Six Texans in Action
The first major weekend of boxing of the new year is absolutely loaded and stacked with fighters from the Lone Star State. The two major cards this weekend are headed up by two fighters from San Antonio. Former WBA 140-Pound World champ, Mario Barrios, returns to the ring for the first time since his fight of the year type fight with Tank Davis in June of last year. Barrios suffered his first career loss to Davis, a three-division world champion, via 11th round TKO. Barrios moves up to welterweight for the first time and instead of fighting a soft touch, he opted for the biggest challenge of his professional career. He battles former unified welterweight champ, Keith Thurman in the main event of a card at The Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. About 300 miles away at the Footprint center in Phoenix, Arizona. Barrios's long-time friend and fellow Alamo City native Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez literally and figuratively take the biggest fight of his career. The 22-year-old phenom jumps up not one, but two weight classes to battle future hall of famer Carlos Cuadras for the WBC Super Flyweight strap and looks to capture the first world title of his promising career. A career that is expected to produce multiple world titles in multiple weight classes.
While Barrios and Bam headline the cards, the undercards are stacked with Texans. On the undercard of Thurman-Barrios, Brownsville native and highly touted jr welterweight prospect "El Relampago" Omar Juarez will battle long time contender "Cowboy" Ryan Karl, who hails from a town called Milano, a small town about 60-70 miles northeast of Austin, in an all Texas throwdown. Karl, 19-3 (12) had previously fought for a world title when he lost to Barrios in San Antonio on the undercard of Davis-Santa Cruz. Juarez, the blue-chip prospect, is on the fast track to fighting for a world title at 140 pounds and sports a 12-1 (5) record, he suffered his first career defeat back in June when he dropped a split decision to All Rivera in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He bounced back nicely and scored a dominant one-sided decision over 40-fight veteran Jairo Lopez. The fight will air on Fox in the build-up to the Thurman-Barrios PPV. Also on the card is Corpus Christi native John Rincon. He puts his 5-0 (2) record on the line against 4-0 (4) Ramon Duarte Marquez in a battle of unbeaten prospects. After a quick start to his career that saw Rincon fight on several major cards, he has been out of the ring for nearly two years for a litany of reasons.
On the Arizona card headlined by Cuadras and Bam Rodriguez, Fort Worth native, undefeated Edward "Kid" Vazquez will battle highly touted and undefeated New Jersey-based prospect Raymond "Savage" Ford in what promises to be a TV-friendly fight between two unbeaten featherweight prospects. Vazquez has delivered action-packed fights in the past when he got up off the canvas to dominate Adan Ochoa in a bout that was televised on ESPN and then he delivered a non-stop fight of the year type slugfest and outlasted Irvin Gonzalez on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr PPV in November of 2020. Vazquez sports a perfect 12-0 (3) record and could be looking at a world title fight by the end of the calendar year should he beat Ford Saturday night at the Footprint Center
El Relampago Shines on FS1 Card
"El Relampago" Omar Juarez of Brownsville bounced back beautifully Sunday night at the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California. Rebounding off the only loss of his career, a very close and controversial loss, to rugged, Filipino, All Rivera in Minnesota back in June. A loss many including his management team thought he clearly won. The decision went one way and not the other and the highly touted prospect from the Rio Grande Valley had the first blemish on his record.
What came next, however, would be of the utmost importance. How would Juarez, who also serves as a motivational speaker in the Rio Grande Valley area, respond to adversity. If that was the question El Relampago answered that question emphatically. Juarez came out like gangbusters and rocked his opponent, Jairo Lopez, just over a minute into the fight with an overhand right and followed up with another straight right hand for good measure and then a third. What happened in the first minute and change of the fight would be indicative of what happened the rest of the night. The Texan would not look back remaining in control throughout. Staying cool and composed Juarez stayed on the outside in the early stages piling up the points. Well ahead on the cards by the fourth Juarez decided to sit and establish his power more. Midway through the fourth Juarez landed split the guard with a perfect uppercut snapping Lopez's head back and then fired off a barrage of hooks and right hands that kept Lopez in a world of trouble. The beatdown continued in the fifth as Juarez now fighting off the front foot landed a massive straight right hand that dropped Lopez. It looked like it may end that fight, however a brave Lopez, of Nuevo Leon, Mexico somehow beat the count and continued. The writing was already on the wall however and Juares on the behest of his trainer Rick Nunez, remained on the aggressive, not gun shy or cautious at all coming off his first career knockdown and loss. Juarez fought the remainder of the fight on the inside unleashing thudding combinations that scored to the head and body. Stunning Lopez from long range and then beating him up on the inside and backing the aggressive Lopez up, Juarez cruised to an impressive unanimous decision victory by scores of 80-71, and 79-72x2 to move his record to 12-1 (5).
The 22-year-old Brownsville native is consistently mentioned among the best young fighters in the world. He is time and again featured on the FOX and FS1 broadcasts as one of the best PBC prospects under the age of 23. With this performance the Brownsvillian reestablishes himself as the force he was considered to be before the controversial loss this past summer and sets himself up for bigger fights in the future. Juarez will likely fight one more time in 2021 before moving up in competition in 2022 and fighting the premier names in the jr welterweight division.
Omar Juarez Returns
The boxing scene in the Rio Grande Valley has been absolutely on fire as of late, and there is no better or more touted prospect than 22-year-old "El Relampago" Omar Juarez of Brownsville. The South Texas native sports an 11-1 (5) record and is set to return September 19th in Bakersfield, California. A PBC on Fox card that will feature the brightest young stars in the PBC Stable. The network had previously mentioned El Relampago as one of the best prospects under the age of 23 and every time the young upstart steps in the ring the boxing world takes note.
Juarez will battle 30-year-old hard-hitting Mexican veteran, Jairo Lopez, 26-13 (17) in an eight-round affair. Lopez most recently fought back in August in Atlanta suffering a UD loss to Anthony Peterson. Juarez is looking to bounce back from the lone defeat of his career. A close controversial majority decision loss to Filipino veteran All Rivera. Juarez suffered the first knockdown of his career in the ninth round but certainly seemed to win enough of the early rounds to carry a points victory. Two of the judges disagreed with the boxing public and most ringside observers and awarded the fight to Rivera.
The judges' verdict was nothing less than shocking as nearly everyone thought the young Texan had certainly did enough to pass the first serious test of his young career. Juarez's team reassured him that he had done enough to get the win and that the judges got it wrong. His trainer thought they had won seven rounds and "beat him [Rivera] better than Rances Barthelemy did." Barthelemy is a former two-division world champion who beat Rivera via UD in Rivera's previous fight. Juarez who also serves as a motivational speaker to the youth in the Rio Grande Valley said that he needs to "practice what I preach and come back from this...mentally and emotionally I'm 100% I'm ready to come back.
Javier Fernandez Moves to 7-0; caps off exciting San Antonio Card
San Antonio is quickly becoming the fight capital of the Lone Star State, Saturdays card at the Shrine auditorium is a prime example as to why. An electric five-bout card that featured live musical acts and was well attended by a cheering crowd as well as local celebrities such as 140-pound prospect Omar Juarez and Bantamweight contender Ramon Cardenas. In the main event unbeaten 18-year-old Featherweight prospect Javier Fernandez, of San Antonio, improved his record to 7-0. Taking the first major test of his young career he put constant pressure on Darryl Hayes of Houston. Fernadez ripped body shots in the early going and kept Hayes, who was looking to move, kept getting caught in exchanges up against the ropes.
The card kicked off with a highly touted California native making his Texas debut Angel Chavez made quick work of his overmatched opponent Brushnell Robert who was making his pro-debut. Chavez moves his record to 4-0. on a seek and destroy a mission he scored with an overhand right to the side of the that ended the bout just 43 seconds after it started. By the third round, Hayes started to show signs of fatigue as the San Antonian started digging in and for the first time noticeably hurting Hays with a three-piece combination just prior to the bell sounding to end the third. The second of the half looked much the same, with Fernadez trapping and out-working his opponent and landing the heavier shots in the exchanges. Rolling to a clear points victory by scores of 59-51 and 58-52 while the third judge egregiously scored the fight 58-52 in favor of Hayes.
In the co-main event, Fan-favorite Crisanto Lucio entered to a tremendous roar from the crowd. He immediately got to work and gave the crowd what they wanted scoring a vicious second-round knockout via a thudding right hand followed by a body shot that put Corpus Christi, native Christopher Cantu down and out in his pro debut. The 21- year-old Lucio moved his record.
in the next bout unbeaten welterweight, Luis Alberto Gallegos, of San Antonio put together a dominant opening round mixing up body shots and headshots perfectly. Which set up a vicious second-round KO over an overmatched Ruben Martinez, also of San Antonio. Moving onto a thrilling light heavyweight scrap between fan-favorite Enrique Neira, who originally hails from San Angelo, Texas, and received a massive roar from the crowd. He controlled the range rocked his opponent Michael Sanchez with a right hand and then staggered him badly moments later with a left hook double right hand getting back to boxing Enrique controlled his man with the jab in the second. With Neira likely taking the first two rounds Sanchez picked up the pace and exchanged on the inside landing his best shot early in the fourth. The two traded heavy leather for the remainder of the fairly even final round. However, the rally was too little too late for Sanchez as Neira took the majority decision by scores of 38-38 even and 39-37x2 in his favor to move his record to 8-1.