Professional Boxing Series Continues at HP
Pavilion at San Jose
(SEPT 10) San Jose, CA--- Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) and
Golden Boy Promotions announced today that Miller Lite Fight Night at the
Tank will continue at HP Pavilion at San Jose on Thursday, September 25 at
7:30 p.m. Featured on the card will be Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17
KO’s) of Chino, CA. Gonzalez will face a tough opponent in Samuel Lopez
(14-1-0, 5 KO’s) in this 12 round bout for the NABO Bantamweight Title. Also
appearing on the card is undefeated super middleweight Ricardo Cortes
(10-0-1, 6 KO’s) of San Jose, CA and undefeated prospect Arturo Quintero
(7-0, 4KO’s) of Las Vegas, NV.
Roger Gonzalez (22-0-0, 17 KO’s) hails from Chino, California and is
currently the NABO bantamweight champion. He is one of boxing’s most highly
regarded young contenders. Ranked third in the world by the WBO and sixth by
the IBF, “Speedy” has impressed fans and boxing insiders with his wide array
of skills in the ring, as well as his warrior’s heart. In his last bout, the
25-year-old rumbled over Heriberto Velazquez in two short rounds adding to
his reputation as a fearsome finisher.
In Samuel Lopez (14-1-0, 5 KO’s), Gonzalez will face a tough battler who has
not lost in more than three years, having won his last seven fights. The
current California State Bantamweight champion, Lopez is coming off a six
round decision win over Francisco Arce in January.
In the “Miller Lite Fight Night at The Tank” co-main event, San Jose’s own
Ricardo Cortes will put his 10-0-1 (6 KOs) record on the line against Errol
Banner (6-8-1, 4 KOs) of Belize who fights out of Los Angeles, CA in an
eight-round super middleweight bout that will produce heavyweight fireworks.
In July of 2002, Cortes and Banner met for the first time at “The Tank” and
the fists flew from the opening bell. Banner shrugged off his underdog
status and more than held his own with the highly touted Cortes. In the
sixth round, Cortes took control of the fight and stunned his opponent with
a barrage of punches to Banner’s head, forcing the referee to halt the bout.
Also, unbeaten super featherweight prospect Arturo Quintero (7-0-0, 4 KO’s),
originally from San Jose but now residing in Las Vegas, NV, will bring his
three fight knockout streak with him when he faces Pacoima’s Arturo Flores
(6-5-0, 3 KO’s) in a six round contest.
In a featured female bout, featherweight up-and-comer Rhonda Luna (3-0-0, 1
KO), a native of Rowland Heights, will take on an opponent to be announced
shortly in a four-round featherweight bout. Luna was a highly regarded
amateur boxer before turning to the pro game earlier this year, where she is
finding continued success. When she’s not training or fighting, Luna spends
her time at Bishop Amat High School where she is an English teacher and
softball coach.
Another fighter who has made his mark both in and out of the boxing ring is
San Jose’s Gary Owens (1-0-0, 1 KO). Owens will face an opponent to be named
later in a four round junior welterweight bout. Owens is a world-renowned
kick boxer and a former IKF US International Rules Champion.
In the September 25 “Miller Lite Fight Night at The Tank” opening bout,
junior middleweight Israel Sandoval (1-7) of San Jose, CA will battle it out
with Walter Diaz in a four round bout.
In addition to the September 25 event, one more date is scheduled for later
in the year: November 6. That card is also scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Date is subject to change.
Golden Boy Promotions, owned by six-time world boxing champion Oscar de la
Hoya, has scheduled more than 30 fights throughout California in 2003 alone.
SVS&E, the company that oversees all aspects of business operations for the
San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, also oversees HP Pavilion
Management, Logitech Ice at San Jose and the Siebel Open men’s professional
tennis tournament.
