Star Boxing president Joe DeGuardia has announced that former world title challenger Angel “Toro” Hernandez (30-10, 17 KOs) has replaced an ill Derek Ennis for Friday’s night’s main event against 2008 US Olympian Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs) on ESPN Friday Night Fights at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The headliner is a 10-round battle for the vacant North American Boxing Organization (“NABO”) junior middleweight title. Ennis was forced to withdraw due to the flu.
“We’re very fortunate to find a solid veteran like Angel Hernandez as a late replacement,” DeGuardia said. “He’s been in with some of the best and beaten the likes of Juan Carlos Candelo, Frankie Randall, James McGirt, Larry Marks, and Antwun Echols. We expect him to be a solid test for Demetrius.”
Hernandez, fighting out of Chicago, is a typically tough Mexican fighter who has been stopped only twice in 40 professional fights. In 2004, he lost a 12-round decision to Winky Wright in their IBF light middleweight title fight. A former NABF, IBA Americas and NABA champion, Angel lost a disputed 12-round split decision to former world champion Kassim Ouma for the vacant USBA championship.
Former World amateur champion Andrade – WBO #9, WBC & IBF #13 and WBA #15 – fights out of nearby Providence.
Star Boxing’s undefeated junior welterweight prospect, WBA #15 Raymond “Tito” Serrano (17-0, 8 KOs), meets former New York State champion Kenny Abril (11-4-1, 6 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature.
A strong undercard features past and future champions and contenders, as well as some of the most promising prospects on the East Coast.
Former USBA & NABO light welterweight champion “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (22-7-2, 10 KOs) returns against popular veteran Shaka Moore (11-16-3, 2 KOs), in a six-round bout.
Star Boxing’s undefeated super featherweight prospect Emanuel Gonzalez (9-0, 7 KOs) plans to keep his perfect intact in a six-round bout dangerous Jesus Bayron (5-3-1, 4 KOs). East Hartford favorite Joseph “Chip” Perez (6-1, 2 KOs) faces Jamell Tyson (2-4-1, 1 KO) in another six rounder.
Also fighting on the undercard in separate four-round bouts is a pair of promising Connecticut boxers. Waterbury’s gifted junior welterweight Jair Ramos (1-0) fights Miguel Rodriguez (0-1), while New Haven super middleweight Charles Foster (1-0) tangles with Queens veteran Borngood Washington.
News of Ennis withdrawing from the Andrade fight broke yesterday, and it was one of three such fight cancellations or withdrawals in the span of a few hours for major or midlevel type boxing cards over the next two weeks. Keep checking back with us at ProBoxing-Fans.com for more breaking boxing news stories and developments.
