In what was a family affair in the Rio Grande Valley, the Juarez family put on a spectacular night of boxing at the Payne Arena in Hidalgo. Father Rudy Juarez is the promoter, of Juares Rolo's Promotions, and his sons Omar, 17-2 (5), and Sebastian, 7-0 (5), put on 5-star performances.
In the evening's co-main event, Sebastian "Trueno" Juarez entered the ring to an unforgettable ring walk behind a standout performance from a dance squad from his hometown of Brownsville. After the memorable ring walk, the younger Juarez brother started quickly behind a snappy jab and trueno quick right hands. The 20-year-old from Brownsville has filled out his frame, looks like a full-grown middleweight, and has established himself as a much more front-foot aggressive come-forward fighter. He walked down a tough and rugged Juan Loera, originally of Mexico but now makes his home out of Pharr, Texas. Juarez had his man hurt late in the second via a straight right hand/ Loera was clearly in survival mode, and he continued to hold and use roughhouse tactics in an effort to survive. An undeterred Juarez continued to walk him down with the jab and unload power shots at the outgunned opponent. The Final stanza saw the Brownsville native unleash a barrage of body shots that got Loera to drop his guard and protect his body, and "Trueno" started teeing off upstairs. The rugged Loera survived the final bell. However, the decision was academic, as all the judges scored for Juarez 40-36.
In the evening's main event, world-class former title holder Omar "Relampago" Juarez, also from Brownsville, returned to the ring in spectacular fashion. The world-ranked 140-pounder opened up and buckled an outmatched Frank Brown of San Antonio multiple times in the first round. One right uppercut, in particular, sent the Alamo City native into the ropes. Relampago opened up the assault and had Brown staggered in the opening round. The elder Juarez son unleashed on a defenseless Brown throughout the six-round affair. One right hand drove Brown into the corner with his man backed up, and Juarez unleashed and knocked Brown's mouthpiece out in the second. The fight looked to be about over when a single shot dropped Brown in the third. Juarez, like a true professional, stayed patient and picked his man apart to end the third. The Brownsville native operated like a surgeon, picking his shots precisely, mixing up head and body perfectly, but a determined Brown stood up to the test. A body shot late in the final round from Juarez put the rugged opponent down for a second time, however, Brown courageously got up and survived the final bell before dropping the lopsided unanimous decision.
The loaded South Texas card also included a wild opening bout between Michael Ramos and Keith Forman. A memorable scrap in which both fighters were deducted a point, and each fighter touched the canvas. Ramos was knocked down in the third, while Foreman touched the canvas In the 4th. Foreman strangely was allowed to fight without a mouthpiece for a prolonged amount of time despite multiple clinches and lulls in the action. Ramos, who served as a sparring partner for the Juarez brothers, took a split decision by scores of 37-35 x2 and the same tally but in favor of Foreman by the third judge. Ramos improved to 2-0 (1).
21-year-old Brownsville native Juis Luis Infante, put on a very impressive performance. Infante was pinpoint accurate, buckling his opponent Gerardo Fuentes. Infante was scoring at will from the long-range with a thudding jab and laser-like right hand that was thrown right down the pipe. The Brownsville native dropped his man with a single right hand down to the body at the end of the third on his way to a wide and lopsided UD and moved his record to 7-0 (3).
Fan Favorite "Papi Chulo" Jared Mercado, of Brownsville put on a show for his large cheering section After a memorable ring entrance. He scored the first stoppage of the evening. After a well-composed and dominant first three rounds. Mercado scored the stoppage in the fourth round via a left hook that drove his man, Juan Dufresn, making his pro debut backward and into the ropes. Mercado unleashed a series of power shots, that left his man defenseless and unable to answer. Giving him the stoppage victory and moving his record to 3-0 (3).
Additionally, Estaban "Ali" Garza from San Juan, who was dominant in his UD victory winning a wide decision by scores of 40-36x2 and 39-37 and moving his record to 6-0 (2). Also on the card was Mission native Edgar Rosales, who took just 56 seconds to stop Ulises Gomez and improve his record to 4-0 (2), the future is extremely bright for the 17-year-old.
In a shocking turn of events, undefeated "Pretty Boy" Bryan Rodriguez took the first L of his career. After what looked like a mismatch early. Tagging Oziel Rangel with terrific body punches early and controlled range. Rangel changed the momentum of the fight in the fourth 4th with Pretty Boy fading, he snapped his head with a hook and had Rodriguez backing up. Rangel, who moved his record to 5-3 (4), seemed to be the better-conditioned athlete and tagged the fading Rodriguez through the final two rounds and eeked out the close decision victory.
