An Incredible Weekend in South Texas

Three action-packed cards invade the south Texas area. Plus, Rio Grande Valley native and former world champion Brandon " The Heartbreaker" Figueroa headlines a Showtime card in southern California.

The action kicks off in Floresville on a Team Morones Boxing Card. A small town of about 7,000 people located about a half hour south of San Antonio will host a major card. In the evening's main event, two unbeaten south texas based bantamweights put their undefeated record on the line as San Antonio native Guillermo Gutierrez puts his 6-0 record on the line against Rio Grande Valley native Jaden Burnias (2-0-2) in the evening's main event. The card also features undefeated Victoria native, Ramon Acosta and Joshua Moreno, 2-0 will battle with Jesus Angulo Leija in a welterweight bout.

Boxing returns to the home of the legendary world champ Orlando and Gaby Canizales Laredo, The Gateway City. Triple AAA promotions will bring you a card live from Sames Auto Arena. Fan Favorite "Tito" Hector Ferreyro Jr returns to the ring for the first time in three years and will look to move his record to 5-0 as he battles Tre' Dobbins of Topeka, Kansas in a four-round Cruiserweight scrap. Also, on the card will be two up-and-coming Laredo natives Jose Cardenas (6-1) and teenage sensation the blue-chip prospect Felix Garcia.

Saturday's other card will be held in boxing's newest hotbed. The Rio Grande Valley. The Hynes Event Center in Mercedes will host the return of three RGV fight legends, each in separate fights. Raul Casarez and Roberto Garcia, who were originally scheduled to fight each other will be in action in separate fights. Casarez will battle for the vacant ABF Mid America Title as he takes on Rodrigo Octavio Gonzalez, who hails from the Austin area. Garcia will also be in action. Also, fans will get to see the return of hard-hitting cruiserweight and Harlingen native Raphael Murphy returns to the ring for the first time in nearly two years as he battles Leopoldo Reyna of Brownsville in an all RGV scrap.

In southern California, former 122-pound world champ and Weslaco native Brandon Figueroa will headline the evening's main event that will take place at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be aired on Showtime, Figueroa, 23-1-1 (18), held world titles from 2019-2022. The now 26-year-old is on a new journey to become a two-division world champion. He battles former featherweight champ Mark Magsayo in a 12-round affair. The bout will be for the WBC interim featherweight belt. The winner will be in line to fight WBC world champ Rey Vargas, who lost his bid to become a three-division world champ when he was shut out by Orange native O'shaquie Foster in the Alamodome last month for the WBC 130-pound strap. Vargas still holds the belt at 126 pounds.

Small Town Hosts Big-Time Shootout Between undefeated Gun Slingers

Floresville is a small town about a half-hour south of San Antonio, population 7,000. A blip on the radar for those outside of the Lone Star State. However, on Friday, March 3rd, the small town will host a  major boxing event. The south Texas town will host a Team Morones Boxing (TMB)  promoted card that is headlined by two undefeated welterweights with world championship ambitions. 14-0-1 (7) Robert Garcia, 21 years old of Austin, against 22-year-old, Victoria native Ramon Acosts 4-0 (4).

Floresville City Manager Andy Joslin is excited to host the event  " We’re so honored to have Ricky Morones and Morones Boxing family bring boxing to our town... It’s a great event, and we are looking forward to it! "

It is a rare occurrence in today's boxing environment, that two young, touted fighters are willing to risk the "0" in their L column against such a dangerous opponent.  However, that's exactly what Garcia and Acosta are going to do on March 3rd. When asked if either fighter had any hesitation or needed any convincing to take such a big step up, Morones said, "It wasn't difficult at all. They both wanted it. We agreed on the purse, got out the contracts, and got everything going."  

It seems simple enough, but it is an increasingly difficult thing to do in this sport, to get two young, undefeated fighters in the ring together. However, as a result of Morones's work plus Acota and Garcia's willingness to take the risk, the town of Floresville will have a world-class, high-level, meaningful boxing match that also appears to be a 50-50 slugfest on paper.

"It's great! We're so proud to have the event here." City Manager Joslin added.

When Morones, who has been bringing exciting fights to the San Antonio area for 10 years, including delivering cards featuring Bam Rodriguez and Rick Medina, was asked if this is the best main event he has ever made. Morones answered, " I've had some good main events. I always try to put together exciting main events. I had Jairo Castaneda vs James Cantu... but this is a really good fight on paper."

It's a great fight! It's not just a fight between two elite, world-level fighters. It's a can't miss, all-action scrap. Morones noted, "Acosta doesn't take a step backward, and Garcia is a young, strong fighter with a lot of power and a good chin."

The main event has all the ingredients to create an absolutely violent explosion on March 3rd and, create an unforgettable fight that moves the win a major step closer to world title contention. "It's a small town, I have to have a big main event," the promoter added.

In addition to the main event, another important battle of unbeaten fighters will be featured on the card. Highly touted San Antonio-based super flyweight prospect Guillermo Gutierrez, 6-0 (1), will take the biggest challenge of his young and promising career. He puts his unbeaten record on the line against fellow unbeaten and Rio Grande Valley native Jaden Burnias, 2-0-2 (2) in a six-round affair.

Rick Medina and other Prospects Shine in Floresville

San Antonio natives Joshua Franco currently holds the WBA 115-pound title, Mario Barrios recently held the WBA 140-pound title and Bam Rodriguez will challenge for the 108-pound world title. Cementing Alamo City's legacy as one of boxing's premier hot spots of young talent. After those names, there is a litany of upstarts who look to continue that legacy. Of all the young fighters 20-Year-Old "El Castigo" Rick Medina may be the brightest of all those stars. The first fighter exclusively signed to Team Morones Boxing Promotions improved his record to 11-0 (6)  Saturday night passing the biggest test of his young career.  The San Antonio blue-chipper took on veteran and ABF champ Rafael Reyes at the Floresville, Event Center.  Reyes was coming off a career-best win a first-round stoppage of undefeated prospect, Ignacio Chairez. Medina boxed beautifully firing the jab off his back foot. He controlled the pace of the fight as Reyes continued to press forward and tried to rough up Medina even losing a point for hitting Medina to the back of the head. El Castigo, however,  wouldn't take the bait. Fighting beautifully he was able to keep Reyes off of him and the few times Reyes was able to get in close, Medina more than held his own. He would slow Reyes down and get back to boxing and moving in securing the lopsided 8-round unanimous decision by scores of 80-71,79-72 & 78-73. 

In the evening's co-main event another one of San Antonio's young upstart prospects, Welterweight Sebastian "C-Bass" Rodriguez also took a massive step up against the naturally bigger and undefeated Jorge Hernandez. After three fairly even round Rodriguez seized control of the fight in the fourth round backing Hernandez up with vicious bodywork. Then firing off vicious combinations when he had his opponent backed up against the ropes. Hernandez fought well coming forward in the early stages but was broken down by the body attack and became a stationary target for C-Bass in the second half of the fight as Rodriguez took a majority decision by scores of  59-55 x2 and 57-57 even, to improve his record to 5-0. 

The rest of the undercard featured a brilliant performance by super flyweight prospect Guillermo Gutierrez, who moved to 2-0 (1) by brutally beating down  Gabriel Guerrero. Showing off the entire arsenal Guiterrez came out aggressive landing vicious hooks to the head and body. He then slowed down and landed with pinpoint accuracy from the outside. Switching from the conventional to southpaw stance seamlessly throughout the duration of the bout. He nearly stopped a very brave Guerrero in the third and after a long look from the ref and doctor was allowed to continue. Guiterrez stepped on the gas and landed a left hook, straight hand combination that dropped Guerrero and brought the ref in to waive the bout off 18 seconds into the fourth round. 

Also,  Oge Harwell, Destiny Jones, Ramon Acosta, and Jeremaine White all were victories in their pro debuts. Harwell, outpointed all-action, fan-favorite slugger Adam Salazar who fell to 0-3, Ramon Acosta destroyed Jose Rodriguez in under two rounds. Destiny Jones put on a boxing clinic in taking a unanimous decision over Janina Lopez. Jeremaine White dropped and dominated Sean Holcombe on his way to a unanimous decision victory.