By David Finger
Boxing has been going by way of one thing of a revival in New Mexico in 2024 and November could find yourself being on of probably the most thrilling months in current reminiscence for struggle followers within the Land of Enchantment. Two thrilling boxing playing cards will probably be held concurrently on November ninth in several elements of the state.
Legacy Promotions will return to Albuquerque as they host “The Battle on the Pyramid” that includes undefeated Hobbs, New Mexico prospect Mario Gonzalez (5-0, 4 KOs). Gonzalez takes on Albuquerque’s Clinton Chavez (7-2, 4 KOs) in an eight spherical battle for the UBO Continental Tremendous Welterweight championship. Though the UBO will not be seen as a very excessive profile sanctioning physique, it’s a uncommon alternative for the winner to deliver a championship belt again house on their option to what they hope will probably be greater and higher issues sooner or later. However though Gonzalez and Chavez are each coming into the struggle with stable information, each undergo from the identical weak point that has plagued many a younger New Mexico prospect: inactivity. After turning professional in 2019 Chavez has subsequently had just one struggle in 2020, two in 2021, one in 2022, and one in 2023. The Gonzalez struggle will probably be his second struggle of 2024, having misplaced to fellow prospect Emeka Nwokolo in January. For Gonzalez, the inactivity is much more pronounced, with the undefeated Lea County native having no fights since stopping Luis Luna in two rounds again in August of 2021. Though the UBO belt most likely received’t catapult the winner into the world rankings, it might be simply what is required to kick off some cobwebs and reestablish themselves as a prospect of be aware within the state.
Rounding off the undercard in Albuquerque, heavyweight Cody “Freight Practice” East (5-1, 4 KOs) additionally seems to shake off some ring rust and revitalize his profession for yet another run as a regional prospect as he takes on Manuel Eastman (3-8-2, 1 KO) in a six spherical struggle. Though the struggle on paper seems to be a secure one for the arduous punching Los Lunas native, it’s seen by many ringsiders as a basic “decide ’em” struggle. In spite of everything, Eastman is already 1-0 over East, having knocked him out again in 2015 (a loss that prompted a 4 12 months interval of inactivity for East). Nonetheless, East has not too long ago picked up the tempo and has already fought twice in 2024. He’s hopeful that his third win in 2024 will show that the upset loss in 2015 was an outlier.
Additionally featured within the Legacy Promotions card will probably be well-liked feminine middleweight Jordanne Garcia (4-4-3, 0 KOs) of Albuquerque as she takes on Kayla Williams (2-5-1, 1 KO) of Louisiana in a 4 spherical bout. Undefeated Albuquerque boxer Andres Rey (3-0, 0 KOs) takes on 21-year outdated Gerardo Vasquez (0-1) of Albuquerque in a brilliant light-weight battle. In one other tremendous light-weight scrap Codi Chavez of Albuquerque will make his skilled debut in opposition to fellow debutant Isaiah Aguilar of Albuquerque. And rounding off the cardboard, powerful luck Jose Vialpando (0-4) will search for his first win as knowledgeable as he takes on one other winless boxer in Moriarity’s Austin Lewis (0-1) in a brilliant bantamweight battle.
The Battle on the Pyramid” will happen on the Marriott Pyramid Resort in North Albuquerque with doorways opening at 5 PM and the primary struggle slated to kick off at 6 PM. Tickets could be obtained by visiting Legacy Boxing’s Fb web page or by visiting the venue at 5151 San Francisco Street NE in Albuquerque.
Battle followers from Southern New Mexico who’re unable to make it to Albuquerque for the Legacy Promotions struggle card can have an choice to observe some fights just a little nearer to house as one other occasion will happen on November ninth on the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico. Fight Promotions will host an equally thrilling struggle card that includes undefeated San Antonio, Texas prospect Javier Fernandez (16-0, 7 KOs) as he takes on the ever harmful TBA in an eight spherical light-weight struggle. Though Fernandez could also be one thing of an unknown amount to native boxing followers, the undercard will probably be stacked filled with acquainted faces, beginning with arduous hitting El Paso, Texas prospect Dominic Barry (5-0, 5 KOs). Barry takes on Gallup, New Mexico’s Ronald Baca (9-4-4, 3 KOs). Barry has emerged as a neighborhood web sensation after a profitable soccer profession that noticed him emerge as among the finest linebackers within the state of New Mexico. After a profitable collegiate profession at Western New Mexico (WNMU) Barry would find yourself getting a pre-season invite from the LA Rams and subsequently has kicked off the immensely well-liked “Practice Like Dom” web site. Coupled with practically 300,000 Instagram followers and thousands and thousands of TikTok views on his movies, Barry has emerged as a reliable influencer and has proven flashes of being a reliable cruiserweight contender besides. However though he comes into Mescalero with a formidable 5-0 file, he takes on a fighter who’s the personification of the erratic upset specialist. Very similar to the Purdue Boilermakers, the Gallup native has perplexed followers within the Southwest for years trying nice in opposition to distinctive opposition…solely to wrestle in opposition to weaker foes. He’s finest remembered for holding excessive profile prospects just like the 19-0-1 Justin Jones to a draw, solely to comply with it up with a thoughts boggling draw to an 0-4-1 Corey Barlow. Though it will likely be Baca’s first struggle in over 5 years, the veteran has no scarcity of methods and will pull off the “Spoilermaker” like upset if the identical Baca who fought Justin Jones exhibits up. With Barry combating at round 200-pounds, the struggle is predicted to happen within the bridgerweight division.
Rounding off the cardboard will probably be arduous hitting Rolyn Nez (3-0, 2 KOs) of Bloomfield, New Mexico as he takes on Aaron Martinez (5-5, 3 KOs) of Santa Fe in a scheduled six spherical welterweight struggle. Nez is considered one of many hottest younger prospects within the state, and with Martinez coming into the struggle with Nez on the heels of again to again losses, few are anticipating an upset. However Martinez has proven super grit in each of these losses, and will show to be greater than as much as the duty of derailing the undefeated Nez if Nez fails to deliver his A-game. Additionally on the cardboard will probably be a battle between one time Hobbs based mostly mild heavyweight prospect Yhorhighness Rezzaq (2-1, 1 KO) as he takes on a TBA. Rezzaq has not fought since an surprising upset loss to Herman Rendon again in 2021, however regardless of the loss he did present flashes of being a reliable regional prospect in his brief profession and desires to remain lively if he’s going to make a run as knowledgeable boxer.
Elijah Candy (3-4, 0 KOs) of Las Cruces seems to snap a two struggle shedding streak as he takes on Robert Lartigue (2-3, 1 KO) of Pecos, Texas in a 4 spherical tremendous middleweight struggle. Candy confirmed some grit in taking prime prospect Jorge Tovar the gap, dropping a six spherical determination again in September of this 12 months. However a loss to Lartigue can be devastating for his profession and will derail it completely. Undefeated prospect Jose Luis Sauceda (6-0, 3 KOs) of Mercedes, Texas is slatted to tackle El Paso’s Gabriel Gutierrez (7-15, 5 KOs) in a 4 spherical welterweight struggle. With ten stoppage losses in his profession and coming into New Mexico on the heels of six straight losses, Gutierrez will not be anticipated to significantly take a look at the younger prospect. However it needs to be a great alternative for struggle followers in New Mexico to gauge the East Texas-based prospect and assess the place his profession trajectory will go as his competitors improves.
Additionally on the cardboard, debuting Eduardo Pinon takes on one other rookie in Isaac Barrientos in a 4 spherical bantamweight struggle. Lubbock Texas based mostly Ephraim Martinez (6-2, 2 KOs) seems to revitalize his profession after again to again losses to undefeated fighters in 2010 and 2012, as he takes on Rey Trujillo (1-8-3, 0 KOs) in a junior middleweight conflict. It is going to be Martinez’s second struggle of 2024, however contemplating he turned professional in 2018 through the George W. Bush administration, time will not be on Martinez’s aspect and he must win in spectacular vogue to make up for misplaced time. Tickets for the Mescalero occasion could be obtained by contacting the Inn of the Mountain Gods at 1-800-545-9011.
If that wasn’t sufficient boxing for struggle followers in New Mexico, there’s nonetheless yet another main boxing present that’s slated to happen simply throughout the border of Las Cruces. Simply two weeks after the boxing double header takes place in New Mexico, El Paso, Texas will see an thrilling evening of boxing as Kings Promotions hosts one other motion packed boxing present that includes what will be the hottest prospect within the Southwest in undefeated Jorge Tovar (10-0, 7 KOs) of El Paso. Tovar will tackle Damarian Kelly (5-5, 3 KOs) of Casper, Wyoming in a six spherical tremendous middleweight struggle on the El Paso Coliseum. Additionally featured will probably be one other proficient undefeated fighter in Devon Younger (5-0, 4 KOs) as he takes on Donna, Texas native Hugo Trujillo (5-4-1, 2 KOs) in a struggle that guarantees to be extra aggressive than it will seem on paper. Trujillo is famous for giving younger prospects the hardest struggle of their careers, having dropped a cut up determination to 16-1 Raphael Murphy in his final struggle and having given undefeated Elvis Garcia (7-0) all he may deal with earlier than dropping a majority determination again in 2019. However maybe Trujillo is finest identified for his beautiful upset over 34-1 Eugene Hill (additionally in 2019), a struggle that cemented his fame as probably the most harmful “opponents” within the heavyweight division. The truth that Younger is coming from South Carolina to Texas to tackle the damaging Trujillo is an indication that his workforce is assured that Younger is a world class prospect with a reliable aspiration at world title. However Trujillo earned his fame for a purpose, and if Younger will not be the true deal, or if he seems previous the pudgy veteran, his world title plans may find yourself derailed within the Solar Metropolis.
Additionally rounding off the cardboard will probably be a one time sizzling prospect who has stumbled out of the gate in current fights. Amy Salinas (6-6, 0 KOs) of Las Cruces, New Mexico turned professional to a lot fan fare, and lots of within the state assumed {that a} world title struggle can be within the playing cards for the proficient New Mexican. However after dropping 5 of her final seven fights, Salinas is in determined have to halt the slide and get again within the win column. Her opponent, former IBF minimal weight champion Nancy Franco (19-21-2, 5 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico, has seen all of it in a profession that has spanned 42-fights and sixteen years. however regardless of her expertise she is winless in her final seven fights. A win for Salinas may propel her right into a minor regional title struggle, which may n flip result in a world title struggle. However a loss to the veteran may show to be the ultimate nail within the profession of one in every of New Mexico’s most charismatic feminine fighters.
Welterweight prospect Muhammad Robinson (7-1, 3 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland takes on Jorge Fleites (2-1, 2 KOs) in a welterweight struggle. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Quadir Albright (10-1, 10 KOs) takes on the 39-year outdated Daulis Prescott (34-23, 26 KOs) of Barranquilla, Colombia in a battle between punchers. One other proficient El Paso prospect in Victor Aranda (4-0 4 KOs) takes on fellow El Paso native Eduardo Monrreal (1-1, 1 KO) in a 4 spherical junior middleweight struggle. Heavyweight Marcios Duran (1-0, 1 KO) of El Paso seems to win his second skilled struggle as he takes on Miami, Florida native Joshua Brice (0-1) in a 4 spherical conflict. Tickets for the Ring Wars struggle card could be obtained by contacting Warriors Edge Boxing at 3465 Lee Blvd, Suite 233 in El Paso, Texas or by contacting the El Paso Coliseum at 1-915-534-4229 or visiting the El Paso Coliseum field workplace at 4100 E. Paisano Drive, El Paso, 79905.
