Philly’s Vasquez Returns to 2300 Arena June 30!

PHILADELPHIA (June 19) – Lightweight prospect Victor Vasquez (18-9-1, 8 KOs) highlights a trio of Philadelphia fighters competing in a special night of boxing when Golden Boy Live! returns to the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 30. The card also includes another pair of Philadelphia rising stars, super lightweight Damon Allen (6-0, 2 KOs) and lightweight Gang Yong Kim (4-1).

Boxing legend and future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins, a business partner with Oscar De La Hoya at Golden Boy Promotions, will also be in attendance cheering on his fellow hometown fighters.

The seven-bout fight card will feature undefeated and current USNBC light heavyweight champion Slava Shabranskyy (13-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round light heavyweight main event. In the co-main event, D’Mitrius Ballard (9-0, 8 KOs) of Washington, D.C., takes on Josue Obando (11-5, 9 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico, in a six-round light heavyweight contest. Golden Boy Live! will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes.

Coming off two straight victories at the 2300 Arena, Vasquez will challenge Edgardo Torres (2-4, 2 KOs) of Morovis, Puerto Rico, in a six-round contest. In his last bout on March 6, Vasquez stopped Jose Guzman of the Bronx, NY, in four rounds. In October, Vasquez earned a unanimous-decision win over Gerald Smith of Philadelphia. In his only other fight in 2014, Vasquez lost an eight-round decision to Osnel Charles of Atlantic City, NJ, at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

The 32-year-old Vasquez, who had only three amateur fights, is a popular attraction and works as a barber at “Consider It Done” in North Philadelphia. He first went to the gym at 15 when his mom got tired of his street fights at school. After his third fight, Vasquez was out of the gym for close to five years after he lost mobility in his arms and legs from a motorcycle accident. Vasquez is managed and trained by Walt Moore.

Making his 2015 debut, Allen will face Luis Rodriguez (3-4, 2 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico, in a six-round super lightweight bout. A relative newcomer to the sweet science, Allen, 22, last fought in 2014, defeating Antony Linenfelser of Rockford, IL, via technical knockout and Hector Marengo of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, via unanimous decision.

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Kim will battle Tyrone Luckey (5-4-2, 5 KOs) of Middletown, NJ, in a four-round lightweight contest. On May 8, Kim made is Philadelphia debut at the 2300 Arena, earning a four-round decision over Edgardo Torres, of Vineland, NJ. The 26-year-old junior lightweight turned pro in Korea in 2007, but quit after losing a four-round decision. He resurfaced in 2012 and won three fights in Korea, all by decision. He did not fight again for more than three years until moving to Philadelphia. He is managed by Paul Lee and trained by Zahir Justice.

Opening the telecast, Lamont Roach Jr. (7-0, 3 KOs) of Washington, D.C., will face Christian Santibanez (3-4, 2 KOs) of San Antonio, TX in a six-round lightweight event. Also, Kevin Rivers, Jr. (11-0, 8 KOs) of Cheverly, MD, faces Luis Lizarrag (5-4-1, 2 KOs) of Merida, Mexico, in a six-round super featherweight fight.

The June 30 event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Joe Hand Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico – Live It To Believe It! Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first bell rings at 7. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 and are available by calling (215) 765-0922 and (215) 568-2400 or online at peltzboxing.com and wanatix.com.