A world championship doubleheader featuring the IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight Championship rematch between Abner Mares and Joseph King Kong Agbeko and the WBA Bantamweight Super World Championship bout between Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno and Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan is just the icing on the cake of what promises to be a night of boxing to remember on Saturday, December 3 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Featured on this weekend’s undercard will be former World Champion Eric Morel, top contender Sakio Bika and rising stars Frankie Gomez, Carlos Molina, Omar Henry and Richard Contreras.
One of the best boxers of this generation, former Flyweight and Interim Bantamweight World Champion Eric “Little Hands of Steel” Morel (45-2, 23 KO’s) is in the midst of another title run and at age 36, he’s showing he hasn’t lost a step. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who now resides in Madison, Wisconsin, Morel reigned over the flyweight division for over three years before chasing after bigger game and, with 10 wins in a row, he is looking better than ever. On Saturday, he will meet up with Merida, Mexico’s Jose Silveira (12-5, 4 KO’s) in a 10 round junior featherweight fight.
Hailing from East Los Angeles, 19-year-old junior welterweight Frankie Gomez (11-0, 8 KO’s) has been taking steady steps up in competition since his pro debut, earning him rave reviews from boxing insiders. In his last bout in August, Gomez won a hard-fought, eight round decision over then 8-1-1 fellow prospect Adrian Granados. The next fighter trying to put a “1” in his loss column will be Rock Hill, South Carolina’s James Hope (6-8-1, 4 KO’s) in a six round fight.
Norwalk’s Carlos Molina (14-0-1, 7 KO’s) was riding high and blasting through all comers in 2010, but in 2011, injuries have held him to just one fight which ended in an eight round draw with Juan Montiel in August. Finally back to one hundred percent, the 26-year-old junior welterweight will compete in his first 10 round fight on December 3 against Downey’s Manuel Leyva (18-3, 10 KO’s).
A long time super middleweight contender, Australia’s Sakio Bika (28-5-2, 19 KO’s) is one of the most punishing punchers in the sport today, and after a November 2010 decision loss to WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward, Bika is making his long-awaited return to the ring in an eight round light heavyweight bout against Los Mochis, Mexico’s Alfredo Contreras (11-12-2, 5 KOs).
Also in action this weekend will be hard-hitting Riverside featherweight Richard Contreras (8-0, 7 KO’s) who faces San Bernardino’s Juan Sandoval (5-7-1, 3 KO’s) in a six round battle, Houston’s undefeated top prospect Omar Henry (11-0, 9 KO’s) in an eight round junior middleweight fight against an opponent to be determined and, in a four round featherweight bout, Glendale’s Azat Hovhannisyan (1-1, 1 KO) takes on Mexico City’s Abel Gomez (3-5, 1 KO).
“Mares vs. Agbeko II” is a 12-round bout for Mares’ IBF and WBC Silver Bantamweight Championships which will take place Saturday, Dec. 3 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. In the co-featured world championship bout, Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno will defend his WBA Bantamweight Super World Championship against former two-division World Champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. The doubleheader will be televised live on SHOWTIME® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Tickets for Mares vs. Agbeko II, priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, are available for purchase at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, via charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 and at the Honda Center Box Office.
