Two of Mexico’s top super lightweights will collide at the Tabasco Park Nave 1 in Villahermosa, Mexico on Saturday, June 15 when undefeated WBC Super Lightweight Silver Champion Roberto “Massa” Ortiz of Torreon faces Culiacan’s Jorge “Koki” Romero in a 12-round WBC Silver Championship bout that will be televised live on FOX Deportes in the United States and on Televisa in Mexico on a delayed basis.
A 10-round welterweight co-featured bout will see Tijuana’s Jorge “Pantera” Silva in action against Colombia’s Francisco “Volcan” Cordero.
Also featured in separate, non-televised fights will be former world title challenger Librado Andrade and highly touted prospect Fidel Maldonado Jr.
Undefeated in 29 professional bouts, Roberto “Massa” Ortiz (28-0-1, 22 KO’s) has been collecting titles at 140 pounds since 2010, earning the WBA Fedecaribe, WBA Fedecentro and WBC Silver belts. Now the number three rated WBC super lightweight contender, it’s clear that the 27-year-old’s shot at the biggest belt of them all is just around the corner. The only thing he has to do is keep winning, but he’ll be in tough on June 15 against countryman Romero.
Looking to bounce back from a February loss to Fidel Maldonado Jr., Jorge “Koki” Romero (24-5, 21 KO’s) has shown the ability to come back from adversity before and if his response to his 2011 defeat to Pablo Cesar Cano after which he stopped seven consecutive opponents is any indication, the 23-year-old from Culiacan is about to start knocking opponents out again in a fast and furious fashion.
Impressive thus far in a career that has seen him compile a record of 20-3-2 (16 KO’s) despite only being 21 years old, Tijuana’s Jorge “Pantera” Silva is a fearless competitor who has met world-class competition in his last three bouts against Yoshihiro Kamegai, Alfredo Angulo and Cesar Chavez. On June 15, Silva has the opportunity to crash the world rankings should he defeat Cordero.
Barranquilla, Colombia’s Francisco Cordero (28-2, 20 KO’s) is a knockout artist whose power makes fans stand up and opponents fall down. A professional since 2007, the 26-year-old has fought at weights ranging from featherweight to junior middleweight, but this week he’ll settle in at 147 pounds to take on Silva and hopefully add to a hot spell that has seen him win five of his last six fights with all of those victories coming by way of knockout.
Also in action will be former world title challenger Librado Andrade (30-5, 23 KO’s) of Guanajuato who will take on countryman Eduardo Ayala (17-35-4, 8 KO’s) of Sonora in an eight-round light heavyweight bout and Albuquerque, New Mexico prospect Fidel Maldonado Jr. (15-2, 12 KO’s) who faces Culiacan’s Abraham Alvarez (16-3-1, 7 KO’s) in an eight-round junior welterweight fight.
Ortiz vs. Romero is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Cancun Boxing and sponsored by Corona, Periodico QueQui and Villahermosa Centro Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT and the first fight begins at 6:00 p.m. CT. The FOX Deportes broadcast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. and the Televisa broadcast will air on Canal 5 beginning at 10:30 p.m. CT.
