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NABO Bantamweight Title Showdown
Highlights Boxeo De Oro
August 11, 2005 |
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LOS ANGELES, August 11 – One man is a boxing
legend and a future hall of famer; the other is a knockout artist with
his sights set on creating his own memorable legacy. On Thursday,
September 1, in a bout to be televised live on HBO Latino’s “Oscar De La
Hoya Presents Boxeo De Oro” from the beautiful Desert Diamond Casino in
Tucson, Arizona, former world champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson and top
bantamweight contender Jhonny Gonzalez will meet at boxing’s crossroads.
And only one will emerge victorious.
This 12 round NABO bantamweight championship bout, which headlines an
evening of world class professional boxing presented by Golden Boy
Promotions, will air on HBO Latino beginning at 10pm ET / PT.
In the televised co-feature, unbeaten junior featherweight prospect
Jonathan Oquendo makes his United States television debut when he
battles Elvis Martinez in a six round contest.
Doors open at 5:00pm and the first bell rings at 6:00pm.
One of boxing’s hottest fighters, Mexico City’s Jhonny Gonzalez (29-4,
25 KOs) has been on a three-year tear through the 118-pound division
that has seen him rack up 15 consecutive wins without a loss, including
13 KOs. The current NABO bantamweight champion, the 23-year-old Gonzalez
is ranked in the top ten by three major world sanctioning bodies, and he
expects that a career-best victory over Johnson will catapult him
straight into a world title fight.
Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson (44-4, 28 KOs) really needs no introduction to
fight fans. A former flyweight (seven title defenses) and super
flyweight (three title defenses over two reigns) world champion, Johnson
is a virtuoso between the ropes, and even though he is coming off the
loss of his super flyweight title to Ivan Hernandez last September, his
2003 victory over current world titlist Fernando Montiel and subsequent
knockout win over Luis Bolano seven months later proves that the pride
of Washington, DC still has plenty of gas left in his tank.
A native of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, junior featherweight Jonathan
Oquendo (5-0, 3 KOs) has followed a stellar amateur career with an
impressive run in the pro game thus far. Fresh off a second round
stoppage of Tim Carrizales on July 16, the 22-year-old – who is the
first Puerto Rican boxer to be signed by Golden Boy Promotions – will be
facing a stern test on October 1st in Dominican veteran Elvis Martinez
(10-11-2, 4 KOs).
Also featured on the October 1st show will be a pair of highly regarded
prospects who are impressively making their way up the boxing ladder.
Featherweight Aaron Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) has impressed boxing observers
with his wide array of skills and a veteran’s ring savvy. In his last
bout, the 23-year-old from Vista, California made short work of Carlos
Mota, stopping him in two rounds on July 14.
Garcia will face an opponent to be announced in a six round contest.
Light heavyweight Otis Griffin (7-1-2, 4 KOs) has already amassed quite
a following due to his stint on the reality television show “The Next
Great Champ”. Griffin, a former professional Arena football player who
won the competition and subsequently earned the WBO eight round light
heavyweight crown by stopping James Sundin in February, is now chasing
after the WBO world title held by Zsolt Erdei. On October 1st, Griffin
will try to get one stop closer to his dream when he squares off against
tough Philadelphian Tyrone Glover (11-8-3, 2 KOs) in a six rounder.
For tickets, priced at $25 - $100 please call (520) 393 - 2799 or 1(866)
DDC WINS. |
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