Francisco Vargas vs. Jerry Belmontes in Co-Feature:
The Golden Boy Live! series will wrap 2013 up with a bang on Friday, Dec. 13 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
The special edition features the return of welterweight world title contender Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez against “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, and in the co-feature bout, the NABF/WBO Intercontinental Super Featherweight Title will be on the line between Mexico’s unbeaten Francisco Vargas and Texas’ tough Jerry Belmontes.
“It’s great to be back in the ring, especially in front of my Southern California fans,” said Lopez. Arnaoutis is a tough guy and I know he’s going to give me a fight, but that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
“Josesito Lopez is a true warrior and with our styles, this is going to be a fight no one will forget,” said Arnaoutis. “I can’t wait for the first bell to ring and I’m not going to stop swinging until my hand is raised.”
“This is a big fight for me and I’m expecting a tough challenge from Belmontes,” said Vargas. “He’s a hungry prospect, but I won’t let him make his name off of me.”
“Vargas is a talented opponent and I know he’s hungry to win this fight, but I don’t think any fighter is hungrier than me now,” said Belmontes. “I want to end the year with a big win and start chasing down even bigger names in 2014.”
“We are thrilled that the Golden Boy Live! series is finishing 2013 featuring such great talent,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes have provided a platform for us to showcase some of the best fighters out there and bring names such as Josesito Lopez to boxing fans on regular cable.”
Riverside, California’s Josesito Lopez (30-6, 18 KO’s) was long considered one of the local fight scene’s best-kept secrets, but after his stunning victories over former World Champion Victor Ortiz and Mike Dallas Jr., the rest of the boxing world found out just how good he was. A former junior middleweight world title challenger, the 29-year-old returned to welterweight in June and engaged in a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate against Marcos Maidana and on Dec. 13, he’s got Mike Arnaoutis to face in the ring as he aims for world championship gold in 2014.
A former USBA and NABO junior welterweight champion, who has stepped into the ring with the likes of Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia, former World Champion Victor Ortiz, Ricardo Torres and Delvin Rodriguez, the Queens, New York native “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (24-9-1, 11 KO’s), is a seasoned veteran with a slick and exciting style that keeps him competitive against anyone in the world. Undaunted by the task ahead of him, the 34-year-old Arnaoutis is excited for the opportunity to face Lopez this December and prove he has what it takes to face the best.
2008 Mexican Olympian Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (17-0-1, 14 KO’s) has enjoyed an impressive run through the 130-pound weight class since turning pro in 2010, with 2013 wins over Ira Terry, Cristian Arrazola and Brandon Bennett putting him on the fast track to even bigger things next year. But first, the 28-year-old from Mexico City has to hold off a stiff challenge from Jerry Belmontes.
One of the most popular fighters representing Texas today, Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (18-2, 5 KO’s) has been nearly unstoppable in his home state, winning 12 of 13 bouts there. On December 13, the 24-year-old fights in California for the first time since 2009 and he plans on spoiling Vargas’ unbeaten record and taking two title belts back to the Lone Star State.
Lopez vs. Arnoutis is a 10-round welterweight bout. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight starts at 4:30 p.m. PT. The broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
