Big-time boxing returns to "the Gateway City" Laredo, Texas, in a major way. A talent-loaded and star-studded card invades the Sames Auto Arena on July 1. Laredo natives the legendary Canizales brothers will be in attendance, and so will four-division, seven-times world champion Roberto Duran. The card itself is headlined by the future world champion, all-world featherweight prospect, 17-year-old Felix "Gatito" Garcia, 5-0 (1) of Laredo. The undefeated hometown fighter puts his perfect record on the line against Jose Casiano of Nuevo Laredo. Casiano has gone the distance with other big-time undefeated prospects from Texas, including Rick Medina and Biggie Rodriguez, both of San Antonio. It will be a metric to see exactly how far the 17-year-old phenom has progressed. The card will also feature a must-win, super featherweight match-up between the surging Joshua Montoya, 5-3-2 (0), and hometown fan favorite "El Gallo Giro '' Jorge Ramos, 8-3-1 (5). Ramos has been featured on Top Rank cards and has world-class talent, as does Montoya, who has won three fights in a row against stiff competition. His last three opponets have a combined record of 20-5, including his last win, an upset victory of a 10-0 fighter, Marshall Sanchez of Houston. Ramos's little brother Alex will also be on the card. He will battle with San Antonio native Frank Brown in a four-round lightweight scrap.
Other bouts of note include Laredo native Nicholas Molina, who was featured on the Benavidez-Plant PBC card. He will scrap with Jermaine Whittington, the older brother of Legendary Texas Longhorns wide receiver Jordan Whittington. Additionally, undefeated blue chip prospect Jesus "Panterita '' Martinez 3-0-1(1), a 14x US national champ and international champion from Del Rio will be featured on the card. He takes on Laredo native Jaime Guevara in a battle of undefeated prospects. Also featured on the card is 20-year-old KO artist Juan Garcia, 2-0 (2) from nearby Carrizo Springs. Hard-hitting 6'3 super middleweight Bruno Pola, a southpaw, originally of Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, now fighting out of San Antonio, will also return to the ring. Pola looks to follow up on his spectacular fourth-round KO in his last outing in April in San Antonio.
