On Friday, August 2, at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing and Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing (in association with Tony Holden Productions and the Buffalo Run Casino) will proudly present an ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised night of boxing featuring a high-octane featherweight explosion between two of the best fighters in the 126-lb. division.
In a 10-round main event with Fight of the Year potential, former interim WBA Champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (22-0, 16 KOs) of the Dominican Republic will face Miami via Havana’s Luis “La Estrella” Franco (11-1, 7 KOs).
And in the televised 10-round welterweight co-main event, former world champion Kermit “El Asesino” Cintron (33-5-2, 28 KOs) will take on tough Dominican Jonathan Batista (14-1, 7 KOs).
One of boxing’s brightest young stars, 23-year-old Fortuna’s sledgehammer fists have helped him become known for producing highlight-reel knockouts. In his last appearance, the WBC #6, WBA #11 and IBF #5-rated slugger demolished world-rated Mexican Miguel Zamudio in 1:08 of the first round. Zamudio was unconscious for several frightening minutes after absorbing Fortuna’s whirlwind fury.
Amazingly fast and agile in the ring, 31-year-old Luis Franco has long been considered a blue-chip prospect in boxing. The 2004 Olympian and former amateur junior world champion has now reached a point where he must realize that potential. Franco came up short in his last fight, losing a close split decision in an IBF World Championship Eliminator against Argentina’s Mauricio Javier Munoz in Argentina. A victory over Fortuna, however, would propel the skillful Cuban back into the thick of the featherweight title picture.
33-year-old Kermit Cintron has returned to his natural weight of 147 lbs. and will look to continue his comeback. Cintron holds victories over the formidable Alfredo Angulo and Lovemore Ndou and once fought to a draw with pound-for-pound entrant and current middleweight king Sergio Martinez. Cintron’s only losses have come to the world’s best fighters and he remains a solid top contender with anvils in his fists and the will to return to boxing’s elite status.
Dominican boxer/puncher Jonathan Batista is part of the group of talented fighters coming out of his homeland and led by Fortuna. Batista’s only loss was a highly disputable decision to rugged African Emmanuel Lartei Lartey on the undercard of Fortuna vs. Zamudio. It was his first trip outside the Dominican Republic. In that fight, Batista showed solid defense and good hand speed, as he out-boxed Lartei Lartey for most of the fight.
“Fortuna vs. Franco looks like it could be an unforgettable fight,” said Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. “Fortuna is so strong it’s scary and Franco is unbelievably fast with a great chin. It’s the irresistible force against the immovable object. Something’s got to give and it’ll be a cliffhanger to see what happens. What we all already know is it’s going to be a fantastic fight.”
“Kermit Cintron is looking to become a champion again, but he will not get past my guy Batista,” said Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “I have carefully put together a wave of boxers from the Dominican and they are all now coming of age. This victory over Cintron will be the first of many big name wins for Batista. They are both fearless fighters and it will almost surely be a war while it lasts.”
