On Friday, January 11, the 2013 boxing season gets off to an explosive start at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. with a ShoBox: The Next Generation doubleheader featuring fights between top undefeated prospect Ronny Rios and former World Champion Rico Ramos for the vacant NABF Featherweight Championship and undefeated rising stars Daquan Arnett and Brandon Quarles.
Also featured will be local favorite Randy Caballero – the 2012 ProBoxing-Fans.com Prospect of the Year – who returns to the venue where he has scored 10 of his 17 professional wins in a 10-round bantamweight fight against Mexicali’s Luis Maldonado. The ShoBox: The New Generation telecast will air live on SHOWTIME at 11:15 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
Plus, hot undefeated prospects Julian Ramirez, Gerald Washington and Santiago Guevara are joined by 2012 United States Olympian Dominic Breazeale in other undercard action.
Plus, making a special appearance to meet and greet fans in attendance will be Mexican legend and future Hall of Famer Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
One of Southern California’s most popular fighters, Randy Caballero (17-0, 9 KO’s) has been untouchable in his fights at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino where he brings out his legions of fans to cheer him on every night out. The current NABO bantamweight champion, the 22-year-old “El Matador” will kick off 2013 at home in a 10-round battle against Luis Maldonado. Hailing from Mexicali, the 34-year-old Maldonado (36-10-1, 27 KO’s) is a three-time world title challenger who has faced the likes of Nonito Donaire, Vic Darchinyan, Eric Morel and Fernando Montiel, making him the most experienced foe Caballero has ever faced.
19-year-old southpaw Julian Ramirez (5-0, 4 KO’s) had a successful opening year as a professional boxer, winning all five of his matches and ending three of them with opening round knockouts. Fresh off of impressive wins over fellow prospects Noel Mendoza and Steve Gutierrez, the Los Angeles junior featherweight who is the nephew of the late, great Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, takes on Tijuana’s Sergio Najera (4-8) in a six-round matchup.
Already 2-0 as a professional, Alhambra, California’s Dominic Breazeale (2-0, 2 KO’s) has ended both of his fights by knockout, showing off the power that allowed him to soar up the amateur ladder and into the 2012 Olympics. On Friday, the 27-year-old former University of Northern Colorado quarterback tries to go three for three when he battles Lake Odessa, Michigan’s Caleb Grummet (3-2-1, 2 KO’s) in a four-round fight.
In more heavyweight action, unbeaten Gerald Washington (5-0, 4 KO’s) meets Atlanta’s DJ Hugley (1-5, 1 KO) in a four-round battle and in a lightweight contest scheduled for four rounds, Montebello’s Santiago Guevara (4-0, 2 KO’s) faces Tijuana’s Juan Zuniga (4-8-1, 1 KO).
Rios vs. Ramos, a 10 round for the vacant NABF Featherweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night with the first bell sounding at 6:30 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
