Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, Nevada will be the site for the Friday, April 8 edition of TeleFutura’s “Sólo Boxeo Tecate,” as one of boxing’s rising stars, Jessie Vargas, returns to his home state to face former World Champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris in the headlining bout of an action-packed card that also features New York prospects Eddie Gomez and Roberto Lopez in a Big Apple showdown, plus middleweight knockout artist Bastie Samir and top prospect Michael Finney.
Las Vegas’ Jessie Vargas (14-0, 7 KO’s) is one of the best young boxers to emerge from the “fight capital of the world” in recent years and at the rate he’s going, he one day may own the town. Since his professional debut in 2008, the 21-year-old’s growth and improvements have been visible in each fight, and with wins over Arturo Morua, Ernesto Zavala and Ramon Montano already, it’s clear to see that he will be tough to beat for anyone at 140 pounds.
One of the hardest punchers of this era, Brooklyn, New York’s “Vicious” Vivian Harris (29-5-1, 19 KO’s) is fearless in the ring and a look at his record proves that reputation. A former Junior Welterweight World Champion who has faced the likes of “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, Diosbelys Hurtado, Oktay Urkal, Stevie Johnston and Juan Lazcano, the 32-year-old Harris is looking to make one more run at championship gold. A win over the unbeaten Vargas, would kick-start his journey in a big way.
A former Junior Olympic and New York Golden Gloves champion, the Bronx’s Eddie Gomez (3-0, 3 KO’s) has made short work of his first three professional opponents, winning two bouts in the first round and n his most recent bout against Jose Ramon Sanchez in February, he ended it in the second round. The 18-year-old prodigy will face a stiff test in Brooklyn’s Roberto Lopez (4-1-2, 1 KO), a late bloomer who has shown great promise since turning professional at the age of 26 in 2008.
Vargas’ Las Vegas neighbors, undefeated Ghana native Bastie Samir (10-0, 10 KO’s) and Michael Finney (7-0, 7 KO’s) have been breaking down opponents with ferocious intensity and will be featured in separate bouts on April 8. Samir who turned professional in 2008 is already 3-0 with three knockouts in 2011 and will face an opponent to be named in a six round middleweight bout. Finney, originally from Smith’s Station, Alabama, has only been in the professional game for a year, but with seven knockouts in seven fights, he has made quite an impression already. He will look to impress Nevada fans again as he fights for the third time in his adopted home state against an opponent to be determined in a six round welterweight battle.
This night of world class professional boxing is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roy Englebrecht Promotions’ special edition of “Fight Club Primm,” and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and AT&T. Doors open at 6:00pm PT, the first bell rings at 7:00pm PT and the TeleFutura broadcast begins at 11:30pm ET / PT (10:30pm CT). Tickets, priced at $50 (Floor) and $20 (General Admission), may be purchased at the Star of the Desert Arena Box Office or online at www.primmvalleyresorts.com.
