LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA — Overlooked heavyweight contender Manuel Quezada will again be featured in the main event at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino tonight, as he looks to further his cause against venerable journeyman Jason Gavern. Their ten-round fight, with Quezada’s WBC CABOFE Heavyweight title on the line, caps a six-bout card. Fighters weighed in Wednesday afternoon at the casino’s Den Sports Bar.
Quezada (29-4, 18 KOs) of Wasco, California has not been beaten in four-and-a-half years, while looming around in WBC world rankings. Quezada last fought in October, scoring a ten-round decision over Nicolai Firtha, and is one fight removed from a surprising first-round kayo of Travis Walker. Quezada, the WBC #9 ranked heavyweight, weighed in at 228-pounds Wednesday.
Gavern (18-7-3, 8 KOs) of Kissimmee, Florida is one heavyweight used to being placed in the role of spoiler. Gavern, a pro since 2003, has been in with several top prospects, scoring the occasional upset. Gavern is on a two-fight skid, one of which resulted in his first career knockout defeat suffered at the hands of unbeaten Denis Boystov. Gavern, vying for his first pro title of any kind, weighed in at 226.2-pounds.
Moving up to eight rounds for the first time, light welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. (12-0-1, 3 KOs) of Bakersfield, California will take on the well-traveled Genaro Trazancos (22-10-1, 13 KOs) of Fort Myers, Florida, United States by way of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Dallas has been on an impressive run since getting a draw on his ledger after a close fight in November of 2008. In his most recent outing, Dallas scored a devastating first-round stoppage over Fabian Luque in a bout televised by ESPN2. Dallas, a 2006 National PAL Champion, weighed in at 142.8-pounds.
Trazancos, who was competitive with high level fighters at 130-pounds, weighed in at 140.8. Trazancos has been stopped in four of his last six fights, but against a high caliber of opposition. A big fight looms as a possibility for Dallas should he get past Trazancos without injury, as there have been discussions about a fight against Josesito Lopez on the Chris Arreola-Tomasz Adamek undercard on April 24th.
One of the top amateurs in the nation over the last couple of years, Michael Ruiz Jr. of nearby Fresno, California will make his professional debut against Jose Luis Mares (0-2) of Lompoc, California in a four-round bantamweight bout. The 20-year-old Ruiz is currently listed as the USA Boxing #3 ranked flyweight (112-pounds). Ruiz weighed in at 117.6-pounds, while Mares came in at a near identical 117.4.
Scrappy Juan Tepoz (3-2-1) of Santa Rosa, California will take on late replacement Jose Pacheco (2-11-6) of Cudahy, California in a four-round super bantamweight fight. Pacheco, weighed in at 125-pounds. Tepoz, originally slated to battle Ephraim Martinez (4-0, 1 KO) of Buttonwillow, California in what would have been an action fight, scaled 122.2 pounds. Martinez was reportedly in a car accident recently, which forced him to withdraw from tonight’s card.
Super middleweight prospect Tyrell Hendrix (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of Los Angeles, California will take on perhaps his toughest test to date in Paul Mendez (3-1, 2 KOs) of Bakersfield, California in a four-rounder. Hendrix weighed in at 170.8-pounds, while Mendez came in at 167.8.
In the scheduled opener, Rufino Serrano (4-3) of Santa Maria, California will take on Eder Peralta (1-1, 1 KO) of Pasadena, California in a four-round featherweight fight. Serrano, who came up just short against the aforementioned Ephraim Martinez last month, weighed in at 126.4-pounds, while Peralta came in at 127 even.
2008 U.S. Olympic teammates Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina were originally slated to compete tonight. Estrada, a former resident of nearby Hanford, California, reinjured his hand in preparing for the fight. Molina is also suffering from a nagging hand injury that may be more serious than was originally thought. Estrada will be ringside at the event.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available online at Tickets.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
WBC CABOFE Heavyweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Quezada 228
Gavern 226.2
Light welterweights, 8 Rounds
Dallas Jr. 142.8
Trazancos 140.8
Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Ruiz Jr. 117.6
Mares 117.4
Super bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Pacheco 125
Tepoz 122.2
Super middleweights, 4 Rounds
Hendrix 170.8
Mendez 167.8
Super bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Serrano 126.4
Peralta 127
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
