Escalante and Garcia Squeak One Out!
By: Phil Kane
February 26th, the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas: Mexican super bantamweight Antonio Escalante, 23-2 14Ko’s used superior movement to squeak out a close ten round unanimous decision over tough fellow Mexican Mickey Roman, 28-7, 20Ko’s. The two started fast with Roman applying the pressure and Escalante using slick angles while the traded shots. In the fourth round Escalante turned up his work rate continuing it through the middle rounds when the see saw battle took a turn in the eighth round when Escalante caught Roman with a volley of shots dropping him to the canvas for a referee Rocky Burke eight count. Like the fight itself the momentum swung back with Roman charging hard in the ninth but Escalante held on to earn a to win a 97-92, 96-93, 96-93 unanimous decision.
In the semi main event Philadelphia’s undefeated junior welterweight Danny “Swift” Garcia won a close tightly contested ten round split decision over London’s Ashley “Treasure” Theophane. Garcia was penalized a point in the ninth round for a low blow leaving the scores at 95-94, 96-94 Garcia, 95-94 Theophane. Garcia advances to 16-0, 10Ko’s while “The Treasure” drops to 25-4-1, 7Ko’s.
On the undercard: Ugandan lightweight Sharif Bogere fighting out of Henderson, Las Vegas stopped Fort Worth, Texas, Jose “Loco” Hernandez at 0:44 of the third round of their scheduled six rounder advancing Bogere to 14-0, 8Ko’s while giving Hernandez just his second loss falling to 10-2, 4Ko’s.
Chihuahua, Mexico’s welterweight Luis Enriquez Grajeda remained undefeated winning a four-round unanimous decision over LA’s Osvaldo Rojas moving Grajeda to 9-0, 7Ko’s while Rojas slips to 6-2-1, 2Ko’s.
Durango Mexico welterweight Saul Morales advanced to 8-1, 4Ko’s with a second round TKO of Julian Rodriguez dropping him to 17-18-4, 11Ko’s. El Paso cruiserweight Augustine Bautista won a close split decision over Oklahoma City’s Chad Johnson now 0-2 to win his pro debut.
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Rodriguez Ready to Explode Nationally
March 19th on ESPN Friday Night Fights!
(Feb. 26th) –Worchester, Massachusetts: Highly-touted, undefeated super middleweight prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez is preparing for his nationally televised debut March 19 in an 8-round co-feature against veteran George “The Rooster” Armenta on ESPN Friday Night Fights, live from Choctaw Gaming Center in Durant, Oklahoma.
The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez (13-0, 9 KOs), fighting out of Worcester (MA), was on most 2010 Prospect Watch lists, based on his perfect 5-0 (4 KOs) record last year, as well as his amateur pedigree that includes gold-medal performances in the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament.
“I’m excited to be in my first nationally televised fight,” Rodriguez said. “It’s certainly more of a challenge and pressure, but I’ve always performed better under pressure. It’s time. I want to be impressive in my first nationally televised fight so fans all over can see what type of fighter I am. It’s a very important fight because it’ll also back-up all of the good things written and said about me as a top prospect. I’m ready for the challenge and plan to show everybody that I’m worth the hype.”
“Edwin has received a lot of accolades for being a top prospect and he was a great amateur,” Rodriguez’ manager Larry Army noted. “But after this fight he won’t be flying under the radar anymore. This is a great opportunity to get him where we want him to be, showcasing his talent, nationally. One of the key reasons we signed with DiBella Entertainment are the great television contacts Lou has and it’s already paying off for us.”
Armenta (13-5, 11 KOs) is battle-tested having knocked out 2000 U.S. Olympian Dante Craig and gone the distance against current WBA light middleweight champion Yuri Foreman and top contender Sechew Powell, who, ironically headlines against Deandre Latimore in a rematch on the Mar. 19th Lou DiBella promoted card.
“Armenta is a tough fighter who keeps coming forward,” Rodriguez added. “He’ll be in tremendous shape and he throws a lot of punches. His ability will help me look good because he’ll bring the best out of me. I’ll b able to really showcase my talent against a solid opponent. Armenta has never been kayoed, so that’s another challenge for me.”
Go online to www.edwinrodriguezboxing.com for more information
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Arce Gets Mijares in April!
(Francisco Arce)
(February 26th) Super flyweight Francisco “Panchito” Arce the younger brother of former WBO and WBC Flyweight Champion Jorge Arce will meet Cristian Mijares on April 10th in Durango, Mexico in a WBC bantamweight eliminator bout. Jorge suffered a brutal loss at the hands of Mijares April 2004.
Arce, 30-5-2, 21Ko’s winning five of his last six all by Ko the only loss also an eliminator bout a twelve round 116-111 decision loss to Simphiwe Nongqayi February last year.
Former WBC/WBA Flyweight Champion Mijares, 38-6-2, 17Ko’s is working his way back into contention recording stoppages over lesser competition Jesus Vidal and BJ Dolorosa his last two times out rebounding from three straight defeats the first a devastating loss to Vic Darchinyan November 2008.
The undercard is scheduled to also feature former WBO welterweight champion Jose Luis “Maestrito” Lopez, 48-4-2, 37Ko’s.
