“America’s Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans”
Goossen Tutor Promotions will present in conjunction with ESPN, a Veteran’s Day boxing doubleheader to honor the countless men and women who have served and continue to serve our country on November 8, 2010 in a special Monday edition of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights.” ESPN billed as “AMERICA’S HEROES: A SALUTE TO OUR VETERANS,” the “RUMBLE on the River II” card will emanate from the USMC Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.
“It is great to bring another live ESPN2 boxing telecast to our warriors in uniform. We will have a tremendous atmosphere as the event will take place on an active U.S. Marine Corps airfield, exclusively for the troops.” said Doug Loughrey, ESPN Director of Programming.
The show will be headlined by NABO Youth Super Bantamweight champion Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (17-0, 9 KOs), of Los Angeles, California taking on rugged Los Mochis, Mexico veteran Heriberto Ruiz (44-9-2, 26 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round super bantamweight contest.
Ramos, 23, will be making his second ESPN2 main event appearance this year, as he knocked out Cecilio Santos in the fourth round back on March 5th in Temecula, CA while making the first defense of his title. In the 33-year old Ruiz, Ramos will be facing an opponent who has gone the distance with two former world champions in Erik Morel and Steve Molitor, and was stopped by Rafael Marquez in a world bantamweight title challenge.
“I am really looking forward to this fight,” Ramos said. “I get the chance to show my fighting skills on ESPN2 again but this time in front of the troops who put their lives on the line to protect our country. It’s a real honor. I know Ruiz will come to fight and I always do, so I’m prepared to put on a good show for soldiers and I expect to walk away with another victory.”
In the opening bout, 2008 US Olympian and undefeated super middleweight Shawn “Mano De Oro” Estrada (9-0, 9 KOs), of East Los Angeles, California will face his sternest test to date when he battles Oakland, California’s Tony Hirsch (12-3-1, 6 KOs) in a scheduled six-round clash.
Since turning pro two years ago, the heavy-handed Estrada, 25, has stopped all but one of his opponents in the first round. Hirsch, 26, has won his last three bouts and has only been stopped once in his career – back in his fourth fight.
“It’s a big honor to fight on Veteran’s Day and on ESPN2 and I can’t wait,” Estrada exclaimed. “My grandfather was a veteran of World War II, so it’s good to be able to honor him personally. I know I have a tough opponent in Tony Hirsch. He went the distance with my Olympic teammate Demetrius Andrade. But I am well prepared, confident and ready to get in there and duke it out.”
“It’s a great honor to be part of ESPN’s special salute to our soldiers leading into Veteran’s Day,” promoter Dan Goossen said. “Words can’t describe the tremendous privilege presenting this historic event in front of our real American Heroes from the USMC Air Station New River in North Carolina and all soldiers worldwide.”
The USMC Air Station New River is located 4 miles south of downtown Jacksonville on Hwy 17 South. The hanger is building: AS -508. “RUMBLE on the River II” is a private event open exclusively to military personnel and their families. The general public will not be allowed admittance. For more information on upcoming events for Goossen Tutor Promotions please visit: www.goossentutor.com and hit us on You Tube, our Facebook fan page GOOSSEN TUTOR BOXING and on twitter.com/GoossenTutor.
