Golden Boy Promotions will be celebrating its one year partnership with Estrellla TV’s Boxeo Estelar on the September 2 installment of LA Fight Club from the historic Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles featuring a classic Mexico vs. Puerto Rico fight between middleweight contenders Antonio “La Joya” Gutierrez (20-2-1, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and Manati, Puerto Rico’s Jorge Melendez (28-6-1, 26 KOs).
As LA’s boxing aficionados come together for the upcoming boxing event to kickoff Labor Day weekend, Golden Boy Promotions has taken a look back to at some top fight moments held on Boxeo Estelar, a pl ace where fans can expect the best action-packed battles and where the next generation of boxing stars are born. To celebrate the milestone, Golden Boy Promotions put together a video highlighting the best moments of the partnership with Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar.
The 2016 Fight of the Year contender, Soto Karass vs. Kamegai left boxing fans thirsty for more on April 15th, as both fighters put on an impeccable show in front of a sold-out crowd at the Belasco Theater, live nationally on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar.
Wasting no time, Jesus Soto “Reunente” Karass and Yoshihiro “El Maestrito” Kamegai began thrashing each other five seconds after the opening bell and continued the non-stop action until after 10 exhilarating rounds. Kamegai received a cut under the eye during round two by an accidental head butt, however was able to pull through with the fight resulting in a split decision draw, 97-93 for Kamegai, 96-94 for Soto Karass and 95-95 even. The event broke attendance records for the venue and generated major interest for a re-match immediately after the fight concluded. The event launched Soto Karass and Kamegai back into stardom and served as a launching pad for the fighters reinvigorated careers. Luckily for fight fans, the rematch will take place on September 10 as at the co-main event to of Roman Gonzalez vs. Carlos Cuadras on HBO World Championship Boxing from the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
One of the most memorable fights hosted at the Belasco Theater, Gilberto Gonzalez vs. Luis Arceo of the April 1st, 2015 fight card was a complete blood bath. Gonzalez was able to get the technical knock-out inthesixth round against Arceo in an eight-round junior welterweight bout. By the fifth round, Gonzalez began to break down Arceo with his impactful punches. In the sixth round, Gonzalez landed subsequent body bunches, sending Arceo to the mat leaving Gonzalez as the victor.
Rene Alvarado vs. Andrew Cancio was the highly anticipated comeback of Andrew “El Chango” Cancio, after not being in the ring for 20 months. The fight was exciting from the moment the first bell rang to an eight-round technical knock-out of the Nicaraguan Alvarado. The impressive Cancio, was able to stop the Nicaraguan warrior– something that had not been accomplished in the past. This victory secured Cancio a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions and now Cancio will be featured on the pay-per-view undercard of Canelo-Smith this September 10 as he takes on Joseph “JoJo” Diaz for the NABF Featherweight title.
Serving as the first fight on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar on September 4, 2015, Diego De La Hoya vs. Jesus Ruiz headlined an event that created a star in Diego De La Hoya as he went on to win his first title fight, the WBC Youth Super Bantamweight Championship. Going up against one of the toughest opponents of his career in former world title challenger Jesus “Estrella” Ruiz, who was previously in the ring in January 2015 against then WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz; Diego showed he had what it took to take on the elite of the division as he systematically took apart Ruiz in 10 rounds. Since then, De La Hoya has headlined numerous events and will not be fighting on the pay-per-view undercard of Canelo vs. Smith on September 17 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Frankie Gomez vs. Jorge Silva was a part of October 23, 2015 will go down as one of Fantasy Springs’ bloodiest fights. The heavy hitters launched their powerful punches, wrecking each other throughout the battle. By mid-fight, Silva had a gaping cut at the top of his head with a bloody nose, while the “Pitbull” had two cuts under his eyes due to head butts. The fighters lasted all of the schedule ten rounds despite the blood, and displayed the night’s top exchange of punches. The judges all awarded Gomez the unanimous decision, with the judges scoring it 100-90.
Eddie Gomez vs. John Karl Sosa_ Photo Credit_ Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Eddie Gomez vs. John Karl Sosa featured on the May 20, 2016 spectacle held at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Gomez was able to secure an impressive victory which lead him to his first title, the IBF North American Welterweight Title. Sosa did well initiating exchanges by landing repeatedly with lead right hands to the head. Sosa was able to score in the last rounds, however was not able to set his dominance in the last two rounds as he had done during the middle rounds. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Gomez with scores of 98-92, 96-94, and 96-94 respectively.
Fighting for the first time as a featherweight, Manuel “Tino” Avila took on one of the most recognized featherweights in boxing in Nicaraguan warrior Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado on the April 1 edition of Boxeo Estelar. Alvarado gave Avila a hard time in ten rounds that saw both fighters lead the action throughout the fight. By the fifth round, Avila switched the game plan, and began to box Alvarado, keeping his distance, landing effectively and counter-punching. The active bout went all ten rounds with scores of 97-93, 100-90 and 97-93 to give Avila the victory via unanimous decision and a big victory for him in a new weight division.
Headlining his first event, Christian “Chimpa” Gonzalez took on an experienced fighter known for his stamina in the ring, Alejandro Ochoa, on December 4, 2015. Gonzalez, dazzled the crowed and cemented himself as a hard puncher as he cut Ochoa across the nose during the first round and sent him to the mat in the second round. Known for his heavy hands, the talented fighter continued to overwhelm Ochoa as the referee called the fight at 2:13 within the second round. Gonzalez, proved to all fight fans watching that he had the drive to move up to the next level and as he stopped Ochoa in the second round, something that had not been possible in the last 12 fights for Ochoa.
Joseph “Jojo” Diaz Jr. vs. Ruben Tamayo a part of the October 23 2015 edition of the Fantasy Springs Boxeo Estelar showed off Diaz’s Olympic boxing skill that dominated every round in their ten round featherweight bout. All three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Diaz, Jr. “Jojo”, who has gone on to win the NABF Featherweight title, and is slated to face of Andrew Cancio in his second defense of the belt under the Canelo-Smith fight card.
One of the most exciting fighters to watch, Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez faced San Diego’s Chris Martin and in a main event that kicked off the 2016 LA FIGHT CLUB year on January 29. In front of a sold-out crowd, “El Camaron” forced Martin to go the distance in a ten round featherweight bout, dominating the ring with his speed, releasing a thrashing upon Martin with nasty uppercuts that broke him down. The judges all unanimously decided that Ramirez was the clear winner, two of the judges scoring it at 99-91 and the remaining judge scoring it at 100-90. This performance is what launched Ramirez to fight against fellow stablemate and another Boxeo Estelar regular, Abraham “Chamaco” Lopez on June 4 as the co-main event to Vargas vs. Salido on HBO Boxing After Dark, in a competitive match where the NABF Featherweight Title was on the line.
A Boxeo Estelar regular, Joet Gonzalez took on Sergio Lopez Gonzalez on August 5,2016 and displayed an impressive offense by showcasing a tough left hook throughout the fight, using it to slowly break down Lopez round by round. Gonzlez was challenged by Lopez’ experience as he received shots to the face and body and at times pinning Gonzalez on the ropes. The ninth round was a frenzy as Gonzalez landed massive jabs to the face, stunning Lopez. After ten solid rounds Gonzalez walked away with a unanimous decision victory and proved that he had what it took to move on to the next level of his career by defeating a more experienced fighter.
Antonio Orozco vs. Miguel Acosta demonstrated the “Relentless” efforts of Orozco as he headlined the March 25, 2016 edition of Boxeo Estelar at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Orozco only needed 1:54 of the first round after releasing his two left hooks that caused serious damage to Acosta, causing the referee to stop the fight. Orozco went on to headline the HBO Latino Boxing event held at the Fantasy Springs Resort, where he won the hard-fought unanimous decision over Abner “Jaeger” Lopez.
Oscar Negrete vs. Neftail Campos featured a pair of fighters who entered the ring on the August 5 bout sheet as undefeated. The competitive fight saw Negrete rise to the occasion as his precise boxing style gave him the upper hand as he entered the ring with clear shots to the head and body. It was in the sixth round of the eight round featherweight fight that Negrete hurt Campos with a potent left hook, however despite being hurt, Campos powered through the rest of the three rounds. Negrete’s dominant presence in the ring was clear to the judges, with the unanimous decision in favor of Negrete with all judges scoring 80-72, maintaining his undefeated status.
Zachary Ochoa vs. Luis Joel Gonzalez was the televised co-main event featured on the June 3, 2016 series of LA Fight Club, in an eight-round super lightweight fight. Regardless of Ochoa utilizing his impressive reach, Gonzalez was able to knock Ochoa down in the third round for a brief second, first in his career. However, that wasn’t enough to stop Ochoa striking his rival with a right chin jab in the seventh round in the most devastating knockout of the night-concrete proof that his swiftness and strength were too much for Gonzalez to handle.
LA FIGHT CLUB on Estrella TV’s Boxeo Estelar has been the birthplace of Southern California’s hottest talent pool, with fighters that include but are not limited to Genaro “El Conde” Gamez, Hector “El Finito” Tanajara, Jr., Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro, Joshua “El Professor” Franco, Niko “Baby Face” Valdes, and Oscar Duarte. In true fight club fashion, these rising contenders have caught the eye of boxing fanatics and critics Southern California.
Genaro “El Conde” Gamez, Super Featherweight Prospect:
After leaving behind a highly decorated amateur career, including being ranked as the number one lightweight in the United States, Genaro “El Conde” Gamez has quickly become of boxing’s top prospects. A 2014 USA Boxing National Champion, San Diego’s Gamez is currently coached by renowned former world champion Robert Garcia. Since breaking into his professional career with a catastrophic first round knockout over Archie Weah, Gamez is sure and was most recently seen in the ring defeating Juan Bryand on June 4.
Hector “El Finito” Tanajara, Jr., Lightweight Prospect:
San Antonio’s “El Finito,” Hector Tanajara, Jr. is another Texas star on the rise, and at 19 years old, he hasn’t even started to scratch the surface of his enormous potential. Unbeaten in six bouts, Tanajara has ended four of those bouts in a single round, most recently stopping Francisco “El Mono” Medel on May 25. Tanajara will jumped back in the action
on May 25, 2016 stopping Francisco Medel in the first round.
Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro, Welterweight Prospect:
Jonathan “Thunder” Navarro representing East Los Angeles has lived up to his nickname thus far, as the 19-year-old has ended three of his four wins by knockout. Loyal to LA FIGHT CLUB and having fought all professional bouts at The Belasco Theater, this fan favorite is hungry to make a name for himself in the East L.A. boxing scene by fighting on the Vargas vs. Salido undercard at The StubHub Center. As the nephew of former boxing Olympian Jose Navarro, “Thunder” has boxing his in his blood and hopes to keep up the family tradition of big victories and sensational knockouts on June 4 Navarrio defeated Marc Torres via second round knockout.
Joshua “El Professor” Franco, Bantamweight Prospect:
San Antonio, Texas’s Joshua “The Professor” Franco, who made his debut less than a year ago as a new Golden Boy fighter on the August 6 edition of the popular LA FIGHT CLUB series in Los Angeles, defeating Temoatzin Landeros via split decision, and quickly followed up with a victory over Saul “Bebe” Hernandez at the October installment. He ended 2015 on a high note, with a first round knockout victory over Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico’s Leonard Reyes in December. Franco has stayed active in 2016, having fought three times previously this year and obtained victories once by knockout and twice via unanimous decision.
Niko “Baby Face” Valdes, Light Heavyweight Prospect:
Miami’s Niko “Baby Face” Valdes will fight his second professional bout at LA FIGHT CLUB against a soon to-be-announced opponent. Once ranked the third best light heavyweight amateur fighter in the U.S, this southpaw superstar leaves behind a highly decorated amateur career that saw him take home bronze at the 2014 USA Amateur Boxing National Championships, four Florida Golden Gloves state championship, and the bronze from the National Golden Gloves. In his professional debut, Valdes scored a first round knockout of Roberto Ramirez in April. The light heavyweight prospect was last seen at the Belasco Theater on July 1, 2016 stopping Michael Andrews in the third round.
Oscar Duarte, Lightwight Prospect:
Oscar Duarte of Parral, Mexico is eager to become a big name in the sport of boxing. In his U.S. debut, Duarte defeated Alejandro Salinas in August 2015, landing himself a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Currently co-managed by Latin star Gabriel Soto and Guillermo Roacha, Duarte fought earlier this year at LA FIGHT CLUB in February defeating Archie Weah via unanimous decision. He was last seen in the ring on the ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate Vargas vs. Salido undercard at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. where he defeated Luis Lizarraga, Jr. by unanimous decision. On August 19, Duarte made his third appearance at LA FIGHT CLUB when he defeated Omar Garcia via first round knockout.
