Quezada Takes on
World Heavyweight Contender Travis
June 19, 2009
(JUNE 19) LOS ANGELES-Tachi Palace's own
Manuel Quezada said he was ready to make his move in the Heavyweight
division after winning his 16th straight fight in April of this year. On
Thursday, July 16 at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore,
California, Quezada will get his wish when he will be testing his World
Championship aspirations against hard-hitting Heavyweight World
contender, Travis "The Freight Train" Walker.
Quezada vs Walker headlines a stellar six-bout card of boxing presented
by Goossen Tutor Promotions.
The 29-year old Walker (30-2-1, 24 KOs) came ever so close to upsetting
the current #1 Heavyweight in the World, Cristobal Arreola, in a
November 29, 2008 bout televised on HBO. Walker insists on fighting his
way back into the top echelon in the sport's glamour division and he
believes Quezada is the next step.
A former National Golden Gloves Champion, the Tallahassee, Florida
native has entertained fight fans with his "live by the sword, die by
the sword" ring mentality. "I like to give the fans entertaining bouts,
and knockouts from a big heavyweight puncher like me is always fun to
watch," said the 6-4, 250 pound Walker.
Walker's only two setbacks were to TJ Wilson and Arreola. Walker avenged
the Wilson loss in emphatic fashion with a 2nd round KO victory in the
rematch of his controversial stoppage in their first fight. In the
Arreola bout, Walker had Arreola down on one knee in the second round,
before being stopped by Arreola in the third round in one of the most
exciting heavyweight bouts in recent years.
Since the Arreola bout, Walker has scored two first round knockout
victories.
Quezada (27-4, 17 KOs) has taken the hard bumpy road to being the WBC
#11 World ranked contender. The Wasco, California Quezada overcame a
slow start in his professional career to become one of the sports top
rising stars. Quezada won the WBC CABOFE title in September of 2007 and
has since defended it twice. Fresh from a first round win over Jeffrey
Brownfield on April 23, Quezada returns to his home-away-from-home when
he makes his 14th appearance at the Tachi Palace on July 16.
No slouch himself when it comes to putting opponents to sleep, a win
over the respected Walker puts Quezada in the middle of the heavyweight
picture. "By far he's the biggest challenge I've had," Quezada said.
"It's this type of high-profile fight I need to get me to the World
Championship level. I will not let my fans down at Tachi."
In the other featured bouts, 2008 United States Olympian Shawn Estrada
(6-0, 6 KOs) hasn't missed a beat in his transition from the amateurs to
the pro ranks, scoring six straight wins without a loss. Estrada
attended high school in nearby Hanford and feels right at home fighting
in Lemoore.
"It's not too often a fighter has a chance to entertain his friends and
fans in a place I used to call home," said Estrada. "Believe me, there
is no better feeling than to have that home-cooking support. I wish they
could have been there with me in Beijing, China during the Olympics."
The charismatic 24-year old now living in East Los Angeles has one-punch
knockout power and all the excitement that goes with it. Five of his six
KO's have come in the first round, a streak he hopes to keep going on
July 16th.
Estrada's Olympic teammate in Beijing, Javier Molina (2-0, 2 KOs), comes
from a fighting family. The 19-year old Molina has had over 110 amateur
wins preparing him for his Olympic run. An honor student at John Glenn
High School in Norwalk, California, Molina is quickly establishing
himself as a consummate professional and future star.
Also in action is the exciting junior welterweight from Bakersfield,
Calif., Michael Dallas Jr. (8-0-1, 1 KO), as well women's former
lightweight champion, Jessica Rakoczy (30-3, 10 KOs) from Las Vegas,
Nevada. Rounding out the card is Ruben Cuellar (3-1, 1 KO) from Tulare,
CA who will fight James Ventry (7-8-1, 4 KOs) of Niagara Falls, NY in a
6-round junior welterweight rematch. In their first bout in February,
Cuellar won by split-decision.
Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by
phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino gift shop.
Doors open on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and fights start at 6 p.m. On
Wednesday, fans are encouraged to come out to the Palace and attend the
official weigh-in, which takes place on the third floor at The Den
Sports Bar, are slated to begin at 4 p.m. No one under the age of 21
will be permitted to attend the weigh-in. Source: Press Release
