SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA — Just four days shy of his 51st birthday, local favorite Paul Nave hopes to keep the comeback he began two and a half years ago rolling against the undefeated Brandon Hoskins, a fighter 26 years his junior, tonight at Albert Park Field. Fighters weighed in Thursday at the Embassy Suites San Rafael – Marin County.
Nave (19-8-2, 8 KOs) of San Anselmo, California has gone 4-0 since ending a nine-and-one-half year retirement against modest opposition, but appears to be taking a leap up in class against an undefeated, accomplished former amateur tonight. Nave, who doubles as the promoter for the event, last fought in June of last year, scoring a third-round stoppage of Daniel Schlienz. Nave weighed in at 146 ½-pounds.
Nave returned to the ring in 2009 after back injures looked to have ended his fighting career prematurely. Nave came back with designs on landing one more big fight, but he understands he cannot look ahead past Hoskins. “Everything hinges on this fight,” said Nave in a recent press release. “If I am to win this fight, it would open up a huge opportunity. But everything is contingent on this fight.”
Hoskins (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Hannibal, Missouri was 50-7 as an amateur and won several regional titles before turning pro. Hoskins, who will be fighting outside of Missouri or Kansas for the first time, last fought in March, scoring a unanimous six-round decision over 2-9 Keith Collins. Hoskins’ draw came in 2008 against Gustavo Mejia, who he defeated by majority decision a year later. Hoskins weighed in at 143-pounds Thursday.
The supporting card is comprised of four fights tonight. In an interesting match-up, Lamont Williams (4-1-1, 1 KO) of Fairfield, California will take on Brent Urban (7-4-1, 5 KOs) of Burlingame, California in a six-round cruiserweight bout. Williams, who went back up to heavyweight in his last fight in May, is back down well below the cruiserweight limit at 183-pounds. Urban, who scaled 185, is looking to rebound from a stoppage defeat in May.
In a four-round women’s attraction, Marquita Lee of Novato, California will make her professional debut against Laura Deanovic (0-2) of San Francisco, California in a super featherweight bout. Lee, who trains out of the Novato Boxing Club under former pro Suzanne Howard, weighed in at 132-pounds Thursday. Deanovic, who turned pro in March and comes in off of a majority decision defeat, scaled 128 ½-pounds.
Jesus Partida of Redwood City, California will take on Denis Madriz of San Francisco as both men make their professional debut in a four-round featherweight bout. Partida, who trains out of Gladiators Boxing Gym in Redwood City, scaled 127-pounds. Madriz, who trains under Ben Bautista at the Straight Forward Club in San Francisco, weighed in at 125-pounds.
Luis Alfredo Lugo (11-16-1, 5 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico will take on fellow longtime gatekeeper Hector Alatorre (16-16, 5 KOs) of Tulare, California in a four-round welterweight bout. Lugo, who has incredibly fought undefeated fighters in thirteen of his last fifteen fights, weighed in at 145-poounds Thursday. Alatorre, who has been in with more than his share of prospects, weighed in at 146-pounds.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Liberty Boxing Enterprises, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Nave 146 ½
Hoskins 143
Cruiserweights, 6 Rounds
Williams 183
Urban 185
Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Lugo 145
Alatorre 146
Super Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Lee 132
Deanovic 128 ½
Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Partida 127
Madriz 125
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
