Northern California Notebook

By Mario Ortega Jr.

Donaire Gets Dream Shot on Short Notice

Glenn Donaire (17-3-1, 9 KOs) has always been a 108-pound light flyweight, but like many fighters at that weight class, he has fought the majority of his career fighting men at the 112-pound flyweight limit and above. On May 17th, in Aguascalientes, Mexico, “The Filipino Bomber” gets his chance at a world title against a man his size, IBF Light Flyweight Champion Ulises Solis (26-1-2, 20 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico. The opportunity was made available just over two weeks before the scheduled May 17th event, which will be televised on pay-per-view. Solis’ original opponent, Juanito Rubillar (45-10-7, 22 KOs) backed out after his management decided to match him in a WBC eliminator with Omar Nino instead. Promoters attempted to match Solis with yet another Filipino, Denver Cuello (13-2-5, 6 KOs). However, the IBF reportedly rejected Cuello, who has fought mostly at minimumweight and has two draws in his last three bouts, as a suitable opponent for the title defense. Donaire last fought on February 22nd, winning a tough eight-round decision over Jose Albuquerque (8-3-2, 2 KOs), in a rematch of a 2006 draw. In the bout with Albuquerque, Donaire did suffer a nasty cut over his left eye that required eight stitches to close. With his younger brother Nonito Donaire Jr. already holding the IBF Flyweight title, Glenn aims on making them the first Filipino brother combination to hold world titles simultaneously. The Penalosa Brothers, Dodie Boy and Gerry, both held multiple world titles, but never at the same time.

New Opponent for Gonzales on May 15th

Middleweight prospect Brandon Gonzales (3-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento, California has a new opponent for the May 15th card held at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento. Gonzales will take on Mike Alexander (1-1-2) of Antioch, California in a four-round middleweight bout. Despite his less than impressive record, Alexander is a solid boxer and represents a step-up from Gonzales’ recent opposition. Since winning his pro debut in Sacramento last September, Alexander fought two draws with rugged journeyman Heriberto Cruz (1-3-2) and dropped his last bout, a unanimous decision to Joel Mills (4-2). Alexander had recently been slated to meet another middleweight prospect, Joaquin Marquez (3-0-1, 3 KOs) of Madera, California, but the bout was postponed twice. Fellow Sacramento-based prospect Stan Martyniouk (2-0) faces Matt Mahler (pro debut) of Stockton, California in a four-round super featherweight fight. Ernesto Castaneda (10-7-1, 4 KOs) will take on Christian Cruz (12-9-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round super middleweight rematch. The Sacramento natives first met in February, with Castaneda taking the hard-fought eight-round unanimous decision. Sacramento’s Otis Griffin (18-3-2, 7 KOs) will take on Carl Cockerham (12-17-3, 4 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada in the six-round light heavyweight co-main event. In the six-round cruiserweight main event, Michael Simms (19-9-1, 13 KOs) of Sacramento looks to return to his winning ways against two-time world title challenger Derrick Harmon (25-6, 12 KOs) of Chicago, Illinois. Tough Sacramento light welterweight Carlos Musquez (3-2-2, 3 KOs) will not appear on the card as previously announced after his prospective opponent fell out. One or two mixed martial arts bouts will open the card. Tickets for event, promoted by Uppercut Promotions, are available online at Tickets.com or by calling the hotel at 916-922-8041.

Tank Card Shaping Up

The next edition of the popular Fight Night at the Tank series at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California is slated for June 5th. In the main event, Manuel Quezada (22-4, 15 KOs) of Wasco, California will defend his WBC CABOFE Heavyweight title against Teke Oruh (14-1-1, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Nigeria in a ten-round contest. Quezada was set to defend his title against Jerome Tabb (9-3, 5 KOs) of Catskill, New York in Porterville, California last month, but the card was scrapped just days before when Tabb failed his eye exam. Quezada is 14-1 in his last fifteen bouts, avenging the lone defeat by decision. Oruh is coming off of his first professional loss, a disappointing majority decision defeat to Joey Abell (20-2, 19 KOs) in a bout televised on Showtime from St. Lucia. Oruh was a highly touted prospect when first signed by Goossen Tutor Promotions in 2006, having a solid 50-5 (35 KOs) record as an amateur. He was also the 1999 Nigerian Heavyweight Champion and an alternate on the 2000 Nigerian Olympic team, sparring with current WBC Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter. As history indicates, heavyweights get more chances to reestablish themselves than in any other weight division, and a win over Quezada would do just that for Oruh.

In a very intriguing fight, especially for Northern California boxing fans, former WBO #1 ranked welterweight Jose Celaya (31-4, 16 KOs) of Salinas, California takes on former IBA Americas and California State Super Middleweight Champion Ricardo Cortes (22-2-1, 15 KOs) of San Jose in a high-stakes crossroads ten-round light middleweight bout. It figures to be a classic boxer versus puncher match up, with Celaya holding an edge in pure boxing skills, and the naturally much larger Cortes having the power advantage. The fight has a great deal of importance to the future prospects of both fighters, after both dropped their last bout in front of large television audiences. Cortes loss was more damaging to his career, having been stopped in the first round by super prospect Alfredo Angulo (12-0, 9 KOs) in February. Cortes showed a great deal of heart to get up from a devastating knockdown early in the first, but reached his feet just after the ten-count after second knockdown late in the round. Celaya had a much stronger showing in February, winning most of the rounds against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (36-0-1, 29 KOs) before retiring to his corner after suffering a second knockdown and a badly swollen eye. Chavez appeared to be the much stronger and larger of the two, as it is doubtful he actually made the light middleweight limit of 154 pounds for the bout in Mexico. The winner of the Cortes-Celaya bout figures to be a player again in the wide open light middleweight division, while the loser may become relegated to opponent status.

The four-round bouts have yet to be solidified, but three fighters are penciled in compete on the undercard for the “AM&I Cup” in the “You Be The Judge” contest. Eric Garcia (0-0-1) of Salinas, California will return to the site of his professional debut in March, where he was held to a disputed majority draw by 30-year old veteran Marlo Cortez (2-4-2, 1 KO), against an opponent to be named in a four-round welterweight fight. Light middleweight prospect Antonio Johnson (7-0, 3 KOs) of Oakland, California will meet an opponent to be named in another four-round bout. Johnson came up in St. Paul, Minnesota with Jason and Allen Litzau, before relocating to Oakland to become apart of Andre Ward’s camp at King’s Boxing Gym. Popular San Francisco boxing figure Jason “J.P.” Peterson will make his professional debut in a four-round super middleweight contest. Peterson, a Hells Angel, tattoo artist and co-founder of the Frisco Boxing club has become a fan favorite fighting amateur contests in front of sold out crowds at the Roccapulco night club in his hometown of San Francisco, California. Peterson’s second bout has already been booked for June 25th at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California. A fourth four-round bout will be added to the card shortly. Winners of the four preliminary bouts will be eligible to win the “AM&I Cup,” to earn a cash bonus and a guaranteed slot on the next Fight Night at the Tank card. WBC Minimumweight Champion Carina Moreno won the contest, based on audience response, in March, but has a title bout scheduled for June in New Mexico. June’s edition of the “You Be The Judge” contest seems better suited to serve its purpose of giving a preliminary fighter some recognition not usually afforded to a four-round prospect. Moreno had the advantage of already actively holding a world title, and brought with her a great deal of her already strong Bay Area fan base. Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Fairfield Heavyweight Prospect in Action

Ashanti Jordan (3-0, 3 KOs) of Fairfield, California, formerly the fourth-ranked U.S. amateur super heavyweight, returns to action May 16th at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California. Jordan will be opposed by Hildo Silva (4-0, 1 KO) of Mira Loma, California in a six-round heavyweight bout. Silva returned to boxing in February about 20 pounds heavier after a six-year absence, but has taken two decisions since returning from sabbatical. Jordan last fought on April 4th, scoring a third-round knockout of Joseph Jones (4-3, 2 KOs). Jordan will compete in a swing bout that may make the Telefutura telecast if one of the co-features end early. In the main event, former WBO Bantamweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez (37-6, 31 KOs) takes on former IBF and WBA Super Flyweight Champion Mauricio Pastrana (34-8-2, 22 KOs) in a ten-round super bantamweight bout. Antonio Escalante (17-2, 10 KOs) of El Paso, Texas will take on David Martinez (18-3-1, 3 KOs) of Stockton, California in the ten-round super bantamweight co-feature. Ironically it was Pastrana that scored a career-altering eighth-round knockout of Escalante in January of last year. Tickets for the event, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Escobedo Earns Another Decision Win

Woodland, California’s Vicente Escobedo (17-1, 11 KOs) cruised to a ten-round decision over La Pampa, Argentina’s Roberto Arrieta (27-13-4, 10 KOs) last Friday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on the eve of the heavily hyped Oscar De La Hoya-Steve Forbes bout at the same venue. Escobedo downed the 32-year old Arrieta in the sixth, but did not finish his opponent, settling for a decision instead. Arrieta did hold an IBF #6 world ranking at super featherweight, but had built his record mostly fighting less than top notch opposition near his home in La Pampa. Escobedo has scored just two knockouts, against fighters with losing records, in his eight victories since suffering his first professional loss in April of 2006. The change in his knockout ratio has led some in the media to question Escobedo’s confidence, which was admittedly shaken by the loss to Daniel Jimenez, which took place in front of his hometown fans in Sacramento, California. Coming out of the 2004 Olympic Games, Escobedo was a heavily hyped prospect often compared to De La Hoya himself. He even appeared in the EA Sports video game Fight Night Round 3, despite having only a handful of pro bouts at the time. On the undercard in Carson, Hector Alatorre (15-4, 5 KOs) of Tulare, California was completely outboxed by once-bright prospect Jeffrey Resto (22-2, 13 KOs) of Bronx, New York over ten rounds. Strangely the bout was ruled a majority decision, with one judge having it even, 95-95. The other two judges had the seemingly more accurate 99-92 for Resto.

Alvarado Wins Fans with Draw

Constancio Alvarado (1-1-3) of Salinas, California fought to an exciting four-round majority draw with well regarded U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier David Gaspar (1-0-1) of Wilmington, California in a four-round super flyweight bout on April 24th at the Irvine Marriot in Irvine, California. On paper, it looked like a tough assignment for Alvarado going in after suffering his first professional loss in March. In the March bout, Alvarado took on strong bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos (3-0, 2 KOs) and was kayoed in the first. Alvarado, who walks around not much over the 118-pound bantamweight limit, was fighting a much larger opponent in that bout by the time Avalos was hydrated on fight night. In fighting Gaspar at 115 pounds, Alavardo was fighting closer to his ideal weight class, which was proven in the result. Alvarado and Gaspar traded power shots throughout the bout, much to the pleasure of the over 1,200 on hand, many of whom threw dollar bills into the ring at fight’s end. As for any fighter in the United States at 115 pounds or lower, it is extremely difficult for his management at Garcia Boxing to find him fights with fighters his size. As evidenced by his last two opponents, Alvarado has no problem taking fights with the touted prospects in those divisions.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com