He’s Back!! Ray Ximenez shines in Comeback

Michael Montoya, as well as Kingdom Boxing, put on a sensational card in Dallas at Gilley's. A spectacular event from a gathering of DFW ring legends included Errol Spence, Derrick James, Maurice Hooker, Donald Curry, and others to the spectacular return from Ray "Valentino"  Ximenez. 

Ximenez of Dallas returned in the evening's main event and returned in spectacular fashion after a three-year layoff from the ring. The quickness, speed, reflexes, and style that made Ximenez a blue-chip prospect were all still on display after the extended layoff. Ximenez who switches out of the southpaw and conventional stance caught his opponent, Darryl Hayes, of Houston, with a perfectly placed left hand, out of the southpaw stance, that dazed Hayes towards the end of the opening round. Ximenez got going in the second. Backing his man into the ropes and unleashing a series of violent, accurate hooks. The Houstonian fought back valiantly, scoring with a few sharp right hands of his own and making a fight of it, particularly in the early going. However, it was Ximenez scoring with the sharper and harder shots. Valentino again battered his man against the ropes in the fourth mixing up head and body shots to perfection. He seemed to have Hayes in a bit of real trouble for the first time, beating him up on the inside. The fifth round saw Ximenez switching to the conventional stance and scoring with a sharp right and again stunning Hayes. Ximenez, able to keep his opponents trapped against the ropes closed out the show in professional fashion. Dominating the 6th and final round. ripping body shots and dominating with hand speed and combination punching and taking the hard-earned by clear-cut unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 on all three cards.

In the co-main event, Adrian Taylor, of Dallas,  bounced back nicely from the only a controversial draw to Rafayel Simonyan back in September. After a feeling-out process in the first round that saw the shorter Taylor try to time and get on the inside of his opponent, Dennis Williams, The Dallas native was able to close the distance in the second round. Scoring with a massive right hand stunned Williams for the first time.  Taylor followed up with a right hand upstairs and clearly had Williams in a bit of trouble. He was again able to close the distance in the fourth, as Taylor set things up beautifully with the jab and was hitting on all cylinders. Working his way onto the inside with jab and scoring thudding right hands while in close range and had Williams on the ropes. Taylor was in complete control to close out the fourth. The fifth picked up where the fourth left off, the writing was on the wall and another straight right caught the attention of Williams and worsened the cut above his eye causing referee Robert Chappa to waive a halt to the bout giving Taylor a fifth-round TKO. Taylor moved his record to  12-1-1 (5)

Also on the card was the return of fan-favorite "Chiccn" Shurretta Metcalf of Dallas. After a two-year layoff, she displayed incredible footwork, a lightning-quick jab, and slick defensive skills in dominating her opponent, Karen Dulin. Metcalf worked behind the stick, using her reach to her advantage and controlling the action throughout. She capitalized on outstanding head movement making her opponent miss over and over again. She mixed in right hands as well as a barrage of well-timed combinations that seemed to hurt her opponent in the fourth. She fought off a brief rally from Dulin in the fifth and quickly regained control. Well ahead on the scorecards Metcalf didn't let off the gas in the sixth and final stanza. She dominated the final round and staggered her outmatched opponent with just seconds remaining to cruise to a unanimous decision victory 60-54 on all three cards.

The card also featured what was perhaps the performance of the night from St Louis born Samuel Arnold, who now fights out of DeSoto. Arnold, a 6'3, 18-year-old middleweight put on an incredible display of power and speed, scoring multiple knockdowns of  Travaslo Talley on his way to scoring a second-round stoppage victory to move his record to 4-0 (2). In what was perhaps the fight of the night. Edwin Pena, of Dallas, making his pro debut fought Orlando Collins, of Euless, tooth and nail in a four slugfest. Collins seemed to control the first two rounds and Pena rallied to apparently win the last two rounds to earn a unanimous draw.

Ray Ximenez Returns to the Ring

After a sensational amateur career that started at the age of 10 and included a 120-9 total record. Was highlighted by National P.A.L. Championships, Ringside World Championships. 2009 Silver Gloves National Championships and Junior Olympic National Championships, representing and being Team USA Captain at the 2009 Youth World Junior Olympics. Plus loads of local success including six-Dallas Golden Gloves championships. Ray "Valentino" Ximenez turned pro making his debut on September 25th on the undercard of Charles Hatley vs Emmanuel Augustus in his hometown of Dallas Texas. Valentino took on  Cristoval Larrazolo, dominated him, beat him up, dropped him twice, and scored a unanimous decision victory. It was a highlight performance that made everyone in the Quick Trip Ball Park think, "wow there's a kid with world champion talent." That was the beginning of a sensational start to Ximenez's career who scored 13 consecutive victories including four by way of knockout.  He fought on ESPN and had garnered national attention. 

That set up the biggest moment of his career. The Texan traveled to Puerto Rico in 2016 to take on highly touted prospect and future world title challenger Christopher "Pitufo" Diaz in Diaz's backyard in a battle of highly touted undefeated Featherweight prospects. Ximenez accounted well for himself and appeared to outbox the Puerto Rican. When the judges did the unthinkable and stole the fight from Ximenez and scored it for the hometown fighter.  It was the first blemish on Ximenez's record. However, it was not about to hold him down.

The Dallas native bounced back nicely from the controversial decision lost and just six months later scored an impressive UD victory over John Herrera, in Midland, Texas. He scored two more victories in Dallas looked highly impressive. Which set up his  February 2019 showdown with Eugene Lagos on the main event of a big card that aired on national TV on beIN Sports. Ximenez brought the has down with a career-best performance dominating his Filipino foe over eight violent one-sided rounds.  

Ximenez picked up another UD victory and was rewarded with a promotional contract with Roy Jones Jr Promotions and looked to be on a path to a world title! Ximenez displayed his confidence by saying  “I plan on showing everyone that I will be the next world champion from Dallas." Everyone who had seen the Lagos fight seemed to believe him as well. In January of 2019, he took on an unknown and awkward Mexican prospect named Luis Alberto Lopez in what was supposed to be a test for the Texas prospect but one he was expected to pass. Ximenez ended up losing the first few rounds, being cut from an unintentional headbutt before rallying in the seventh and eighth rounds getting him back in striking distance. When the bout was waved off because of the head-butt and Ximenez dropped a technical decision after just eight rounds. A loss that looks not that bad in retrospect as Lopez has gone on to defeat several prospects since and has fought his way into a position to fight for a world title and a Top Rank promotional contract.

That was three years ago and due to promotional issues a global pandemic and a litany of other issues Ximenez has been out of the ring since. The now 29-year old is set to return for the first time and make one last run at that featherweight title he seemed destined to win. He will battle a rugged veteran from Houston called Darryl Hayes at Gilley’s in Dallas. Hayes has been durable and has been in with highly touted prospects such as Javi Fernandez and Joseph "Mongoose" Rodriguez of San Antonio, Floyd Schofield of Austin, and Angel Alejandro of Dallas. He has battled each man tough and valiantly but came up short in each fight. It's a scheduled six-rounder and Ximenez should get past Hayes in a bout that will serve as a metric to see how much ring rust he has gathered and how much he has left in the tank.

The Tremendous One returns plus Gibson in action in Florida

The ever-entertaining Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda has hit a bit of a snag after a sensational start to his career, that included 17 straight victories eight by knockout, capturing the WBA-NABA 140-pound belt, was highly ranked by the WBA, and appeared to be on his way to a world title shot. That's when things hit a bit of a snag. Tremendo traveled to Florida and took on fellow unbeaten 140-pound prospect, Yomar Alamo. Castaneda seemed to dominate the fight, applied constant pressure hurt his opponent several times, and landed much cleaner and more effective shots on the elusive Alamo. When the scorecards were read two of the scores were wide 98-92 and 97-93, it seemed about right, had they scored the fight for Castaneda. Except they didn't, two of the judges did the unthinkable and scored seven and eight rounds for Alamo, who seemed to be beaten fairly convincingly. Castaneda went on to bigger and better things despite his first career loss. He fought Jose Zepeda who is among the best 140-pounders in the world and lost a very competitive and close decision, then lost to upstart prospect Josue Vargas in Las Vegas. Moved up to 147, got robbed again, this time in Mexico dropping a decision to Mauricio Pintor. After that Tremendo returned home fought in San Antonio on a big Golden Boy Card against Raul Curiel in another competitive scrap that Castaneda rallied in the sixth and seventh before being stopped in the seventh. 

Castaneda now returns to Florida was his skid all started to battle another touted welterweight prospect who looks to bounce back from a loss. The San Antonian travels to the Whitesands Event Center, in Plant City, Florida, to battle the hard-hitting Mark Reyes Jr who hails from nearby Tampa. Reyes Jr 14-1(12) last fought a year ago and dropped a very disputed decision to Janelson Figueroa Bocachica, on a card that aired on Showtime's SHOBOX series. Reyes takes a big challenge against the best fighter he has faced in his pro career looking for big gains. Whoever wins the bout will be propelled into contender status once again and the loser takes a giant step back. 

The card also features fellow San Antonian Trenton Gibson, 1-0 (0) in a lightweight bout. Gibson will look to play spoiler against Julio Solis, a highly-touted prospect from Puerto Rico. Gibson made his pro debut back in December on a TMB card in his hometown and looked impressive in scoring a cleat cut unanimous decision victory over Vincente Loredo also of San Antonio.

Joshua Franco to battle Estrada

Bam Rodriguez defeated a super flyweight legend and now big brother, Joshua Franco, will get his chance to do the same. In what will be a mega-fight for the 115-pound division the two WBA champs will collide as Franco puts his WBA belt on the line against Estrada who will put his "Super" world title on the line. The two sides have until March 11th to come to terms. 

Estrada is coming off of a sensational career-best win over "Chocolatito" Roman Gonzalez, as controversial as it was, many thought Chocolatito was the rightful winner, Estrada unified WBC, and WBA belts in what was a fight of the year candidate and he exacted revenge on a previous loss. Prior to the Estada scored a sensational come from behind victory of Carlos Cuadras in 2020. Cuadras was thoroughly outclassed by Franco's younger brother last week in Phoenix. Estrada was scheduled to have an epic trilogy with Gonzalez. However back in September Chocolatito caught covid postponing the scheduled fight. The trilogy match was rescheduled for March 5th however back in late January Estrada tested positive for COVID. He was replaced by Julio Cesar Martinez and the card is scheduled to take place in San Diego. That left Estrada out in the cold.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was asked if he could snap his fingers and make any fighter for Rodriguez, he said without hesitation Estrada in San Antonio. Going on to say the fight will be "huge!" Instead, it's Rodriguez's older and more experienced brother Josh Franco who secured the bout. Franco was originally scheduled to fight the winner of the Estrada-Gonzalez trilogy but when Estrada had to pull out with covid that fell through. That, however, cleared the way for the WBA to call the unification bout of sorts between Franco, 18-1-2 (8) and Estrada 42-3 (28). 

Franco last fought in August in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and defeated Andrew Maloney in a trilogy match via unanimous decision. A performance both he and famed trainer Robert Garcia described as the best performance of his career. He had previously won the world title from Maloney to capture the WBA belt in June of 2020, in Top Rank's bubble in Las Vegas. The two rematched five months later but the bout was declared a no-decision as a result of a hellacious head butt that broke Franco's orbital bone. Franco set the record straight in the third bout with a dominant UD victory.

Spence to return home; takes on Ugas

The long-running rumor is indeed true. WBC & IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBA kingpin Yordenis Ugas will unify three-quarters of the 147-pound gold in Spence's backyard, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, on April 16th. Spence hails from DeSoto in Dallas County. The unbeaten Spence,27-0 (21) confirmed the fight and location through his various social media accounts. Spence's last fought at AT&T Stadium was three-years-ago and unanimously outpointed Mikey Garcia in front of nearly 50,000 fans.

In the last three years, Spence has battled major outside the ring issues including a horrific car crash and a detached retina. He has fought just twice since that Garcia fight. He outpointed two former world champions in Shawn Porter and most recently Danny Garcia back in December of 2020.

Yordenis Ugas put the welterweight division and the boxing world on notice when he retired the legendary eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, back in August. He was scheduled to fight on the undercard of Pacquiao-Spence, but when the Texan had to pull out of the fight due to the retina issue, Ugas stepped in and scored a career-changing 12 round unanimous decision. Ugas sports a 27-4 (12) record and has won four in a row since losing a controversial split decision to Shawn Porter back in 2019 including a win over Brownsville native Omar Figueroa a former world champion.

Spence has since recovered from the retina injury and was cleared to return to the boxing activity in late in 2021. He has had a full recovery. The 12-round, 147-pound unification bout will headline a four-fight pay-per-view event that either FOX or Showtime will air. Fight night is officially less than 10 weeks away.

Jorge Castaneda heads back to UK; Battles former World Champ

Jorge Castaneda, of Laredo, looks to pull off the trifecta. He has beaten two of Eddie Hearn's top 130-pound prospects and now he looks to beat former world champion Kid Galahad. Castaneda, 15-1 (11) will defend his WBC International Silver Super Featherweight Title that he won back on October 30th.

2021 was a breakthrough year for the Gateway City native, after being out of the ring for all of 2020, Castaneda came back with a vengeance. He was used as an opponent for one of Matchroom Boxing's elite prospects, Otha Jones III, and was supposed to lose. Castaneda had far, far, different plans and outclassed the unbeaten OJ3 on the undercard of Andrade-Williams back in April of last year. Six months later Hearn took the Laredo native over to the UK to challenge a more experienced fighter in Youssef Khoumari but the result was the same. Castaneda rallied and pulled out a decision victory over Khoumari to capture the WBC international silver title in October on the undercard of Chantelle Cameron vs Mary McGee at the 02 Arena in London

This time Hearn brings the tough Texan back to the UK but at the Motorpoint Arena, in Nottingham as part of the Leigh Wood VS Mick Conlocard. Castaneda will look to move to 3-0 against Matchroom Fighters in just a 12-month span. Galahad certainly represents the biggest challenge of the three. Galahad, who is moving up from featherweight to super featherweight, briefly held the IBF 126-pound world title. He stopped Jazza Dickens in August of last year before losing the belt to Kiko Martinez in what was a shocking upset in his inaugural defense this past November.

Laredo is best known in the boxing world for producing the Canizalez brothers Orlando and Gaby both held world titles. Orlando held the IBF bantamweight title from 1988 to 1995 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Gaby won the WBA bantamweight title by knocking out Richard Sandoval in the seventh round of the scheduled 15 rounder in 1986. He also captured the WBO version of the title in 1991 when he stopped Miguel Lora. Should Castaneda defeat Galahad, he will find himself in an excellent position to challenge for a world title later in 2022. The current champion in the 130-pound division is Oscar Valdez, Shakur Stevenson, Roger Gutierrez, and Kenichi Ogawa.

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

Two Texans take a Huge Step Up on DAZN Card

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez of San Antonio got the phone call that could change his life. On Sunday Rodriguez was the newest member of the Matchroom Boxing and was preparing to fight a solid opponent in Fernando Diaz for a regional belt. No small task. That's when the San Antonian got the phone call that could change his life. He was informed that Srisaket Sor Rungivisai who twice beat the legendary Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, was out of a world title fight with Carlos Cuadras, due to an illness and he was in. He would get his world title shot, one that even at just 22-years-old is long overdue for. It's just not a title shot it's a shot at a legend of the ring. One of the best and most exciting little men to have ever done it. It's also against a fighter two weight classes bigger than him. That's how confident Bam is and how confident his famed trainer Robert Garcia is and the rest of his team is in him. There was no hesitation to throw Bam in on short notice against a former world champ and legend of the ring that's two weight classes bigger than him on six-days notice. There is a mystique around the name Bam Rodriguez people don't just expect him to be a world champion they expect him to win multiple world titles in multiple divisions. He's one of a handful of fighters that represent the future of the sport. In simple terms "Bam is special". He gets to show the world just how special he is this Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Should he win, should he jump up not one but two weight classes and beat a potential future hall of fame,  at just  22-years-old, Rodriguez would find himself in pound-for-pound discussions.

Also, on the card is Fort Worth's own Edward "Kid" Vazquez who, just like Bam, undefeated, but has taken a far different path. Vazquez found himself in a contract dispute that kept him out of the ring for prolonged periods. He finally got himself out of the contract. Signed with a new management company and got ready to fight. Then Vazquez ran into another issue, he had about half a dozen flights canceled due to the pandemic. One fight after another was postponed or canceled. "Kid" kept doing the only thing he knows to do. He kept fighting and he finally got his shot to shine. He got a fight on ESPN in the Top Rank bubble in Las Vegas. After a clean and impressive first round, the Fort Worthian found himself on the canvas and despite having just eight pro bouts got himself up, dusted himself off then controlled the final four rounds to take a decision over Adan Ochoa. He came back just two months later came back and on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, Vazquez scored a thrilling decision victory in a fight of the year, non-stop, action-packed, eight-round war with Irvin Gonzalez to capture the WBC USNBC featherweight title. He has scored a few more victories in stay busy fights and again gets to play the role of underdog and spoiler. Raymond Ford had a spectacular amateur career and was one of Matchroom's most touted US prospects and after a brilliant start, he suffered a draw with Aaron Perez. He bounced back nicely and scored some quality wins but is now matched incredibly tough with Vazquez. The two unbeaten prospects have more than an "0”' in their L columns the winner will jump to the head of the line and could be in a position to fight for a world title later in 2022.

Rodriguez Gets Major Opportunity; Will Fight Cudras for WBC Super Fly Title

Back in August at the Hard Rock,Tulsa Undefeated light flyweight, Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez. 14-0 (10) said in an interview with 3DBoxing that he was "Long overdue for a title fight" At that time he was there to support older his older brother, Josh Franco in his title defense against Andrew Maloney. Franco won by unanimous decision. Bam said he was willing to fight any of the champions. Rodriguez, of San Antonio, has got his wish in the most unconventional fashion. He will jump up not one, but two weight classes and fill in for future hall of famer, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, who had to pull out of the fight due to an illness, and will battle former world champion Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight title. Cuadras won the WBC 115-pound world title from Sor Rungvisai back in 2014 in their first epic bout. He went on to defend the title six times before losing the strap to Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez in 2016.

Bam was already scheduled to face off with Fernando Diaz 10-1-1 (3), for a regional WBC title in a 10 round affair on the same card, that will be streamed live on DAZN and will take place at the home of the Phoenix Suns, the Footprint Center, in Phoenix, Arizona. The 22-year-old from San Antonio agreed to take a massive step up in both talent and weight and accepted the fight on short notice against Cuadras when Sor Rungvisai had to withdraw due to a non covid-19 illness. Rodriguez was previously scheduled to fight for a WBA world title back in October of 2020 tiin Fresno, California, on the undercard Mikey Garcia vs Sandor Martin against Esteban Bermudez, however the bout was nixed by the WBA just days before the fight. Rodriguez scored a sensational fourth round stoppage over Jose Alejandro Burgos. Like Cuadras, Burgos was a naturally larger fighter who fought at 115 in the past including fighting Franco in January of 2020 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. A fight Franco won via 9th round TKO.

Cuadras, a long reigning super flyweight is looking for his second world title reign in the division and will enjoy a noticeable size advantage. However, Rodriguez is no stranger to fighting larger opponents. A natural Light flyweight, Bam has fought at both 112 and 115 in the past. The surging Rodriguez was our 2020 Prospect of the Year and has scored six consecutive victories by way of stoppage. He is considered one of the most elite up and coming young fighters in the sport regardless of weight.

Ben Gurment Scores Devastating KO Wins WBC Tournament

Fort Worth's Benjamin Gurnment an Army specialist can now add WBC champion to his impressive and growing resume. After two fairly even rounds,  Gurment turned to his opponent and had something to say to him, Yainiel Alvarez Telemaco, originally of Cuba, now fighting out of Hutto. The native Cuban turned to Gurment and allegedly mocked his power. That quickly proved to be a massive mistake as just two minutes into the third round Gurment, a southpaw,  landed a perfectly timed left hand that about took Alvarez's head off and collapsed him like a building imploding. Instantly Alvarez was out and Gurment had his second unforgettable KO in his second consecutive fight. He moved his record to 6-0-2 (4) and claimed the WBC four-round big belt championship in the 140-pound weight class. 

Also on the card Jake "The Snake" Ysasi captured the same WBC belt but in one division north. He scored a four-round dominant unanimous decision, which saw him pull all the tools out of the toolbox in what was likely his most impressive career performance. He switched southpaw at time, couldn't miss with the left hook, scored a vicious knockdown of his opponent, Sergio Augustin of Mexico, with an uppercut in the third round, and dominated the fourth to capture the WBC four-round belt and move his record to 4-0

In the main event, Marco Vazquez scored his second consecutive first-round knockout. Back in October, Vazquez stopped veteran Ulisses Jimenez in less than a minute and then completely overwhelmed Kasimu Yakubu with one second left in the opening stanza to move his record to 8-1(5) and recorded the fifth consecutive victory of his comeback, since suffering the only set back of his career to Jon Bullock back in 2016. Vazquez took over three years half. His comeback is going extremely well and Vazquez takes about moving down from 160 to 154 and making a world at an elite level at that weight class. The 6- foot- one-inch Vazques would have tremendous size at 154 to go along with the tremendous power and skills he possesses.

The card at the Southern Junction in Irving also featured two other four-round championship fights. In the first championship bout in the lightweight division, Omar Urieta of Tyler and Juan Manuel Castaneda, of Mexico City, Mexico, traded heavy artillery in the center of the ring for four incredibly exciting and event rounds. A left hook nearly dropped the Tyler native in the second, who was able to keep his footing, stay on his feet and rally back to earn a draw. Urieta has been the most exciting fighter in the series having scored two first-round knockouts in the first two rounds of the tournament.

In the featherweight division Moises Andres Sixto, scored a highly controversial majority decision victory over Haltom City's Brandon DeSpain. In a fight that DeSpain seemed to dominate the action and easily outbox Sixto, also saw DeSapin eat several low blows. The judges added insult to injury in scoring the bout in favor of Sixto in majority fashion. DeSpain suffered a controversial draw in the opening round against Luis Fernandez, in a bout the DeSapin also appeared to outbox his opponent but had to settle for a draw. Despain advanced to the next round automatically however when Fernendez missed weight.

Bam Rodirguez Signs Deal with Eddie Hearn

2020 Prospect of the Year Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez of San Antonio, has signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Rodriguez is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in the sport and the future of the smaller weight classes he sports a 14-0 (10)  and is long overdue for a world title fight. He will certainly bring excitement to Matchroom cards and has the right style to be a fan favorite especially with the rise in popularity of the smaller weight classes. Something Hearn and Matchroom have helped drive. 

Rodriguez will be in action next Saturday, February 5th, at the Foot Print Center in Phoenix Arizona where he will do battle with  Fernando Diaz of Riverside, California. The two will battle it out for the WBC USNBC Flyweight title and the bout will be streamed live on DAZN. The bout is on the undercard of what promises to be a fan-friendly slugfest between two of the great little men of all time as former world champion Srisket Sor Rungvisai battles former world champion  Carlos Cuadras in a Super Flyweight battle who will battle for the vacant WBC Super Flyweight title. 

Rodriguez expressed his excitement about joining the Matchroom family saying "I’m very excited to be joining the Matchroom team...This is huge for me and my career. This is my coming-out party – in 2022 we secure my World title shot, and then go looking for the biggest fights there are out there.”

"Bam"  who last fought in October n the Mikey Garcia vs Sandor Martin Card in  Fresno, California, is trained by Robert Garcia and has been called by Garcia and others as the best fighter in the camp. He is also the younger brother of WBA Super Flyweight Champ Joshua "El Profesor" Franco. He is co-promoted with Japanese promotional outfit Teiken Promotions.

Jesus "Panterita" Martinez signs with Joe Calazaghe and Darren Barker

Former World Champions Joe Calzaghe and Darren Barker are again throwing their hats into the boxing ring with the announcement of the launch of their management group, International Sports Group (ISG). The pair wasted no time making a major splash in the Lone Star State, signing 14x amateur US National champion, and former International amateur champion, Jesus "Panterita" Martinez of Del Rio, Texas. Martinez compiled an outstanding amateur record of 137-9 and won every conceivable amateur tournament in the US and just recently went viral when he scored a vicious knockout in the opening rounds of the USA Boxing national championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, last month. Martinez had considered staying in the amateur ranks but this opportunity was just too good to pass up. Martinez said of Joe Calzaghe " I looked up to him and I still look up to him. He was one of my favorites. I use to always watch the greats, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, and Joe Calzaghe were one of them. It's amazing to be signed by him and Darren Barker" 

An exciting opportunity for the kid from Del Rio, who has incredibly lofty goals. "I think by like 21, 22 I want to have my first world title and then over the years gain my other world titles... I want to be a five or six-division world champion. I wanna make history and I don't want to be one of the best, but the best to ever do it." He additionally dreams of bringing home the first world champion from Del Rio, a boxing-crazed border community Panterita describes what being a world champion from Del Rio would mean " It would just mean the world to me, to win a world title and they announce me being from Del Rio would mean the world to me. That's my birthplace, I grew up here in Del Rio. It would mean everything to me"

Martinez has been equally credited for his incredible punching power as well as his tireless work ethic. He said of his incredible one-punch power that it "doesn't really surprise me, I see it every day in the gym.. what does surprise me is the way it happens" he also explains where his incredible work ethic and drive comes from saying it's his "Passion for the sport. I come from a boxing family, my uncles my dad, my grandpa my cousins everyone boxed. Our dream always was to become a world champion. I want to make everyone proud" he says but "I also want to achieve my dream and be the best who has ever done it" He want on to add that being targeted and being the favorite in so many tournaments serves as extra motivation, saying  "Even though I had God-given talent I know there are kids who have my head as their target they are training to beat me and I slip and stop training head or I get distracted they're gonna be right on my head. So I cant slip up I have to be focused"

It looks like April will be the month Martinez makes his pro-debut but as of now, nothing is written in stone for his pro debut. The 17-year-old explained "right now April is looking good. Mid-April or end of April, but fingers crossed that pulls through. It's looking good. By April I should be 1-0" Whenever he does make his pro debut he is under the tutelage of the right people and his career is on the right path to meeting his lofty goals. When asked how cool it is to be signed with two ring legends, Martinez explained "It's surreal being signed to two-notch fighters...I got to talk to them and they're amazing, lovely people. I trust them I know they are going to guide me to a good career. They've been through it all."

Two Texans Featured on February DAZN Card in Phoenix

Eddie Hearn's Matchroom boxing will visit The Footprint center in Phoenix, Arizona, and will feature two highly touted Texans on the card that is headlined by the rematch of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs Carlos Cuadras on February 5th. Undefeated featherweight upstart Edward "Kid" Vazquez, 11-0 (3) looks to start 2022 how 2021 ended.  Vazquez, of Fort Worth, emerged on the scene in 2020 after having multiple fights that delayed his return to the ring in 2020. Vazquez finally broke through against Adan Ochoa in September of 2020 facing real adversity, being dropped in the second round, the Fort Worthian got up and dominated the final four rounds and took a decision victory. He followed that up less than three months later in a fight of the year slugfest on the PPV blockbuster that featured Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. Vazquez stood in with Irvin Gonzalez and traded shots at close range on his way to take a split decision victory capture vacant World Boxing Council United States (USNBC) Featherweight title in closing out a spectacular 2020. In 2021 Vazquez fought twice more and scored two impressive stoppage victories including a first-round TKO of Ezequiel Alberto Tevez in Irving back in November. He will take on Camden NJ native Raymond ford who sports a 10-0-1 record who is a highly-touted prospect with a sparkling amateur resume. He emerged on the scene looking brilliantly before facing the Fort Worth Wolf Tony Lopez, a stablemate of Vazquez at FHG, in December of 2020. Ford survived a scare and scored a seventh-round TKO. He then suffered the first blemish on his record settling for a draw with Aaron Perez. Ford has however bounced, scoring TKO's of Reece Bellotti and Felix Caraballo. 

The card also features  San Antonio's own Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, 14-0 (10). The undefeated 108 pounder is perhaps the best pound-for-pound prospect in the world. The now 21-year-old is long overdue for a title shot. The opportunity has eluded him due to covid and other reasons. He was our Prospect of the Year in 2020 and fought just once in 2021 but made it spectacular. Destroying Jose Alejandro Burgos over four one-sided rounds and scoring a sensational KO. There is no opponent confirmed for Rodriguez yet. Bam is the younger brother of WBA Super Flyweight world champ Joshua Franco.

Jermall Charlo FINALLY closing in on Canelo Fight

WBC Super Middleweight champ Jermall Charlo, older twin brother of unified Jr Middleweight champ Jermell Charlo, has long awaited a big-money mega fight. He has consistently been on the outside of the pound for pound elite and mega fights with Canelo, GGG, Jacobs, and Benavidez have always alluded him. However, He may be closing in on the moment he has been preparing a lifetime for.

Canelo Alvarez, the pound-for-pound king shocked the boxing community last November by announcing he'd challenge Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserweight strap. That now looks unlikely and a showdown with undefeated middleweight champ Jermall Charlo looks much more likely. A bout that would likely take place on Cinco De Mayo weekend is now 'more likely' according to multiple sources. Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza recently confirmed the rumors that the pound-for-pound king is open to facing Charlo next.

The two world champs have been linked together for a fight for several years. Perhaps, because of promotional issues and other reasons, it never happened. The belt that Charlo now holds (WBC middleweight) belt previously was held by Canelo who won it from Gennady Golovkin in 2018. He was mandated to fight Charlo but the fight never came to fruition and Canelo was delegated the organization's franchise champ and the older Charlo twin promoted to WBC world champion in June of 2019. He has held the belt ever since. Having defended 

The fight will likely be held in Vegas however the lone star state will remain an option. Charlo has sold well there and it's been a type of home away from home for Canelo. Who set an indoor record in 2021 drawing over 70,000 fans into AT&T Stadium when he stopped Billy Joe Saunders in 8 rounds back in May. He also fought in San Antonio in 2020 and has fought in Texas a total of five times in his career. The Cinco de Mayo weekend, which the event is rumored to take place, has been a historic weekend for boxing, many of the sport's biggest fights were staged that weekend. Mayweather fought Mosley, Pacquiao, Maidana, and many others on the weekend and Oscar de la Hoya also fought on that weekend taking on Mayweather Steve Forbes

Houston Native Looks to Become Undisputed in Clutch City

The Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano rematch for undisputed supremacy of the 154-pound division is being moved to Houston on March 12th or 19th and will take place in Hoston at the Toyota Center. Houston hasn't done much winning all year at the Toyota Center the past few seasons and the 31-year -old Charlo, a Houston native looks to reverse the trend and set the record straight against Brain Castano of Argentina. The two fought to a disputed draw, last July in San Antonio.  The Houstonian started off slow but rallied the last few rounds to at least get the draw in his home state. 

Charlo sports a record of 34-1-1 and suffered his only loss back in December of 2018, a very disputed and hotly debated decision loss to Tony Harrison. Charlo righted the wrong and removed all doubt and stopped Harrison 364 days later in the 11th round of the rematch to reclaim his WBC junior middleweight strap. He then added the WBA & 1BF titles in his only fight in 2020 and stopped Jeison Rosario with a body shot in the eighth round.  The only belt of the major four he has not captured is the WBO the belt currently held by Castano. The Argentine captured the title when he outpointed heavy-hitting Brazilian Patrick Teixeira over 12 one-sided rounds. That bout was just 12-months after he emerged on the scene out of nowhere where he fought Cuban legend Erislandy Lara, who also trains in Houston, to a disputed draw. A fight the vast majority of viewers that he eeked out, in what was a highly entertaining and competitive contrast in styles. 

The bout was originally scheduled for February 26th and potentially in Houston. The location was confirmed and the date was pushed back a few weeks. There will be a potential conflict with another Texas fighter who may be making a homecoming appearance. Top-rated welterweight prospect Vergil Oritz who hails from the Dallas area is confirmed by promoter Golden Boy, to be fighting on March 19th and that fight will likely be in Dallas as well. Ortiz has fought in the DFW metroplex three times since 2019, the other two fights were during the height of the pandemic and were in "The Bubble" in Indio, California

Josh Franco Awaits Career Defining Fight With a Legend

San Antonio's "El Profesor" Josh Franco did more than just defend his WBA super flyweight title back in August when he dominated former champ, Andrew Moloney, over 12 dominant rounds In Tulsa Oklahoma. He secured himself a shot at history and to possibly enter the pound-for-pound rankings. Franco secured himself a shot at a future hall of fame, "Choclatito" Ramon Gonzalez who is perhaps the greatest little man the sport has ever seen, and Juan Francisco Estrada will do battle for the third time in March. The winner will hold the other version of the WBA and is mandated to fight Franco as the organization looks to consolidate its world champions. 

Gonzalez and Estrada fought for a second time back in March at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, in what was the 2021 fight of the year. It was an incredibly high pace all-action war that most thought Chocolatito of Nicaragua eeked out. Two of the three judges surprisingly went the other way and awarded a split decision to  Estrada of Mexico. Chocolatito has held world titles at four different weight classes (105,108,112,115) and has accumulated a record of 50-3 (41) and outpointed Estrada in their first fight back in 2012, that fight was for the WBA light fly (108-pound) world title. Estrada has amassed a record of 42-3 (28) and has captured world titles at 112 by outpointing Brian Viloria and then captured a world title at 115 by outpointing Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2019. Rungvisai has handed Chocolatito both of his losses. 

Franco won the WBA belt back in 2020 when he outpointed Moloney in June of 2020 and scored a massive upset. The two battled five months later but the bout was ended prematurely after an accidental head butt caused a gruesome amount of swelling as well as broke his right orbital bone. The trilogy was back in August and Franco set the record straight in a performance that both El Professore and his trained the famed Robert Garcia described as "the best performance of his career". Franco's manager Rick Mirigian confirmed via  Twitter when he was asked if it was finalized that Josh [Franco] gets the winner. Mirigian replied "He will get the Winner"

"The Phenom" John Vera Set To Return

33-year-old John Vera of Fort Worth looks to make the last run at the world title shot. "The Phenom" as he is known sports 20-1 (12) record and is set to return to the ring on January 22nd in his hometown of Fort Worth Texas. He will headline a card loaded with Fort Worthians and metroplex natives at the Rail Club Live.  

Vera turned pro back in 2012 and scored a sensational second-round knockout of Cedric Shepard in Fort Worth on his way to winning his first 18 pro bouts and ripped through the rankings. In 2018 the Texan earned a WBA final eliminator bout against Michel Soro of France with the winner earning the right to be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Erislandy Lara vs Jarrett Hurd in a junior middleweight unification bout the was scheduled for later that year. Vera traveled to Soro's home nation of France and came up short and dropped a tough decision to the hometown fighter. 

Vera has fought sporadically since, having fought just once in 2019, taking a six-round decision over Ravshan Hudaynazarov, at the Thomas & Mack Center in las vegas. He did not fight at all in 2020 and fought just once in 2021 when he did score a sensational first-round knockout over a rugged, veteran opponent in Cleotis Pendarvis at the Civic Center in Biloxi Mississippi.  Pendarvis had previously been the distance and lost a very close majority decision to former world title challenger Mauricio Herrera. 

Vera's last fight was back in March of last year and it will be close to another year out of the ring for the Phenom, who is still young enough and still possess the skills to challenge anyone at the 160-pound division. A division in which another Texan, Jermall Charlo, holds one of the major belts. The bout is scheduled for six rounds and will be the main event, however, no opponent has been named yet. The card also features  Fort Worth fan favorite  "The Fort Worth Wolf" Tony Lopez, who is coming off a spectacular decision victory over veteran Diuhl Olguin. Lopez scored a career-best win at the Staples Center back in 2019 on the undercard of  Spence Porter when he scored a W for Fort worth in the Dallas-Forth Worth rivalry by upsetting Fernando Garcia. Also on the card is hard-hitting southpaw "Marvelous" Jarvis Shepard who will put his undefeated record on the line in a super welterweight bout.

Vergil Ortiz set to Return

Grand Prairie native, the former prospect of the year, and unbeaten welterweight phenom Vergil Ortiz appear to be set to return. Although no date or venue has been announced, multiple sources have reported that Ortiz will return to the ring and battle unbeaten British prospect Micahel McKinson. Both prospects are undefeated. Ortiz sports a perfect 18-0 (18) record and thee 27-year-old McKinson has a record of  21-0 but has shockingly won only two of those fights within the distance. 

McKinson held the WBO European welterweight title from 2019 to 2020 and currently holds the WBO Global title. he is trained by his father Michael Ballingall and most recently fought in Eddie's Garden in Brentwood, England, and defeated  Przemyslaw Runowski via wide decision. He scored his last win via stoppage all the way back in 2017 when he stopped Colin Lyles via 6th round TKO. 

Vergil Ortiz last fought in August as well and was challenged early on by Egidijus Kavaliauskas but rallied to score four knockdowns and secure an 8th round TKO. Ortiz was formerly trained by the legendary Robert Garcia, but the two ended the relationship back in November. Garcia traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to work Josh Franco's corner, and Vergil was trained by his dad and other members of the Garcia family. It is unclear exactly who will be working Ortiz's corner for the McKinson fight.

Last month, the WBC ordered Ortiz its #1 ranked welterweight to face #3 David Avanesyan in a final eliminator.  Rick Mirigian the manager of Ortiz informed the WBC to turn the fight down.  Although there has been no official word as to whether it’s an eliminator, however seeing as Ortiz is also ranked #1 by the WBO and McKinson is ranked third by the same organization, it seems like that's the direction the WBO will go with it. There's no date but it is expected to be televised on DAZN and will be the main event.

Zurdo Shines in San Antonio

The main event between Yunieski Gonzalez of Cuba and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez of Mexico at the AT&T Center delivered a fight-of-the-year candidate. It featured an action-packed first round where Gonzalez rocked Ramirez with a right hand just seconds into the fight. However, the southpaw Ramierz came charging back scoring with left hands and right hooks in the final seconds of the round to even things up. Gonzalez stepped back on the gas and fired off combinations forcing the undefeated Mexican backward, behand a snappy jab Ramirez was able to get inside of the charging Gonzalez and land uppercuts and solid body shots. If the action was good through the first six minutes, which it was, it really got going in round three where each man traded power shots against the ropes with Zurdo getting the better work landing a massive left that shook the Cuban just before the bell. Gonzalez came out aggressive in the fourth landing solid straight right hands but a left hook from Ramirez landed on the button and rocked Gonzalez. The two exchanged for the remainder of the round with the Mexican getting the better work in and having Gonzalez on the brink at the end of the fourth round with the referee looking in closely. Gonzalez was not deterred as he rallied back and had Zurdo in trouble midway through the fifth, unleashing heavy artillery while his opponent laid with his back to the ropes. The frenzied pace kept up for the remainder of the fight, which came in the 10th. as a right hook about took Gonzalez's head off and left him out on his feet and defenseless as Zurdo began teeing off on the Cuban who was helpless against the ropes and brought referee Rafael Ramos in to waive the bout off midway through the 10th giving Ramirez his 43rd win in 43 fight and 29th KO. 

In the co-main event, Seniesa Estrada defended her WBA 105-pound strap against unbeaten Maria Santizo of Guatemala City, Guatemala City. After finding the distance Estrada exploded in the third Estrada tied a perfect left hook that went over a shot from Dantizo and put her down and nearly out. She courageously got to her feet and was nearly dropped again after a straight right buckled her sending her telling into the ropes. After landing a vicious left hook early in the fourth that rocked the Guatemalan she finished the job moments later with yet another picture-perfect left hook that sent her opponent crushing to the canvas1:51 of round number four. Moving her record to 22-0 (9)

The undercard featured two Texans of note Marlen Esparza of Houston not only defended her WBC Flyweight title and put on a show controlling the action and making Ortiz miss wildly, a barrage of head movement at the end of the first round that was Pernell Whitaker-esque. She then scored a knockdown in the second. Remaining in control she continued to use swift lateral movement to get in and out on Ortiz she scored a second knockdown in the fourth and remained in control throughout begins a snappy jab and excellent footwork kept her out of the way of Ortiz's return fire. The Houston native cruised to a wide decision victory by scores of 100-88, 99-90, and an extremely interesting and much to close  95-94-94. 

The other Texan on the card didn't fare as well. Kendo "Tremendo" Castaneda, the lone San Antonian on the card was just "a step or two behind" as famed trainer "Jesse" James Leija said. He fought competitively against undefeated prospect Raul Curiel and after an early knockdown rallied in the fifth and sixth rounds. However, it wasn't enough and in the seventh Curiel landed a crushing body shot that dropped Castaneda for the 10-count and some. Handing Curiel has 11th win in 11 fights.