Reporters and TV cameras packed el Zipperle restaurant in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, for yesterday’s press conference to promote Team Puerto Rico’s blockbuster June 10 and 11 back-to-back “Boricua Invasion I & II” boxing events at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
And today, all three major newspapers, El Nuevo Día, El Vocero and Primera Hora, are filled with Team Puerto Rico stories and features. In fact, one of the major television stations, WAPA TV, devoted seven full minutes of newscast to the event.
On June 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday before the 2011 National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday), Gary Shaw Productions and DiBella Entertainment will present Boricua Invasion I and II, featuring members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing, the eight-man team of Puerto Rico’s future ring stars.
Friday’s Boricua Invasion I will feature welterweight Thomas Dulorme (11-0, 10 KOs); welterweight Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza (14-1, 14 KOs) and lightweight Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza (2-0, 2 KOs) and will be televised live on ESPN Friday Night Fights
Saturday’s Boricua Invasion II will feature four more members of Team Puerto Rico: featherweight Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs); junior middleweight Jonathan “Mantequilla Gonzalez (12-0, 12 KOs); light welterweight Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs); and light welterweight Jorge “Machito” Maysonet Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs); plus a special off-TV appearance by Puerto Rico-born light welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (15-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn. The main bouts of Boricua Invasion II will be broadcast live on Showtime: The New Generation.
“The media and the people here get that these kids are the future of Puerto Rican boxing,” said Gary Shaw. “Each of them already enjoyed tremendous popularity, but now that they’re united in a team it’s like they’re the Beatles of boxing.”
Shaw and Javier Bustillo of Universal Promotions (Team Puerto Rico co-founder along with DiBella and Warriors Boxing) spoke to the large crowd and then each fighter took a turn at the podium talking about their opponents.
On June 10, Galarza will fight in the main event against Irving Garcia (17-6-3, 8 KOs), while Dulorme will battle former world champion DeMarcus Corley.
In the June 11 main event, Del Valle will face Dat Nguyen (17-1, 6 KOs). Hector Sanchez will take on ShoBox alum Vincent Arroyo (11-1, 7 KOs). Other opponents will be announced shortly.
“I am extremely happy to see the level of support Team Puerto Rico is receiving from Puerto Ricans at home and in the States. Everywhere you go people are talking about these kids and how exciting it is to have a generation of Puerto Rican fighters with so much promise on one team. These back-to-back shows are going to be like nothing else in today’s boxing,” added Shaw.
Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment says demand for the two shows is already extremely high. “Boricua Invasion I & II are going to be the boxing events of the year for Puerto Rican fans and for New York City and tickets are going extremely quickly. I urge everyone hoping to see these amazing shows live get their tickets now.”
