An IBF Elimination bout that was scheduled to take place between John Molina Jr. and Marvin Quintero was recently called off and replaced by a junior welterweight attraction between Mike “The Silent Assassin” Dallas Jr. and Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez, that will take place February 17, and air on ESPN “Friday Night Fights.”
Having gone unbeaten in his first 18 bouts, the 25-year-old Dallas Jr. (17-2-1, 7 KOs) of Bakersfield, Calif. will look to try to get back on course and in the win column after coming off a controversial decision loss against Mauricio Herrera last June. The Herrera bout also marked the first time recent Boxing Writers Association of America 2011 Trainer of the Year Virgil Hunter had worked with Dallas, albeit for only a thirty day period. After the June bout, Hunter and Dallas agreed to put time in the gym prior to his next coming out bout and this opportunity was “to good to pass up,” said Hunter. As for “The Silent Assassin” he is more determined and excited to put together a dominant performance and walk away with a convincing victory after his extended period in the gym with Hunter.
“Overall I just feel more complete inside the ring,” said Dallas. “Inside fighting has been non-existent in my game-plan in the past, but on Feb. 17 you’ll see a more complete and balanced fighter.”
In the opposite corner, Miguel Gonzalez (20-2, 15 KOs) will try to capture his 15th straight victory against Dallas. Gonzalez earned an impressive 2-round KO over rugged veteran Humberto Toledo, when the two fought in Detroit last October.
“ESPN gives me the opportunity to go to that next level,” said the crafty southpaw Gonzalez.
“We’re extremely excited to be promoting the Dallas Jr.-Gonzalez bout at the College Park Center in Texas,” says promoter Dan Goossen. “I guarantee the fans, it will be an exciting, knockout filled event.”
“We at ESPN’s Friday Night Fights are proud to be part of the first live nationally televised sporting event from UTA’s College Park Center. We anticipate a large and enthusiastic crowd from the campus community along with equally entertaining boxing contests,” said ESPN Programming Director Doug Loughrey.
In one of the other featured bouts, East L.A.’s Shawn Estrada (13-0, 12 KOs) gets back into action after recovering from knee surgery. The 26 year-old 2008 US Olympian super middleweight possesses an impressive knockout rate of 92.31%, and he looks to get right back to expanding that percentage against Terrance Woods (9-3, 6 KOs) from Bay City, Texas. In his most recent bout, Estrada returned to the country from where his parents were born, and fought for the first time in Mexico with another impressive offensive onslaught.
The ESPN telecast will represent the first ever boxing event held at University of Texas at Arlington’s brand new College Park Center, which opened its doors this past December. The state of the art 6,200 seat stadium is home to UTA’s Mavericks men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. The event at the University of Texas – Arlington’s College Park Center will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT with the ESPN “Friday Night Fights” broadcast starting at 8:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $20, $30, $50 and $100 VIP tickets (which include a pre-fight reception). Tickets will be available at the UTA College Park Center box office starting Friday, January 20, at 10 a.m. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.UTAtickets.com, or by phone at (817) 272-9595.
