LOS ANGELES (December 7, 2016) – WBC Super Featherweight Champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (23-0-2, 17 KOs) will serve as the VIP guest for the stacked Friday, December 16 HBO Latino show at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. His appearance will come just six weeks before he defends his title against Miguel “El Alacran” Berchelt (30-1, 27 KOs) in a 12-round surefire high-action fight on January 28, from the same venue live on HBO Boxing After Dark.
Vargas, a former Olympian, is coming off back-to-back Fight of the Year performances. First, in 2015, he got off the deck to defeat Takashi Miura and capture his world championship belt in a consensus Fight of the Year war. Earlier this year, Vargas started right where he left off, brawling for 12 rounds with Orlando “Siri” Salido in a contest that ended in a majority draw. In Berchelt, Vargas will face yet another top contender, one with 27 knockouts in his 30 victories.
Christmas will come early for boxing fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on December 16 with a massive tripleheader featuring a light heavyweight match-up of top contenders between WBC USNBC Champion Vyacheslav “Lionheart Chingonskyy” Shabranskyy (17-0, 14 KOs) and Cuban standout Sullivan Barrera (17-1, 12 KOs) in the main event.
Super lightweight standout and undefeated contender Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (25-0, 16 KOs)will face one of his toughest challenges to date, taking on the always-dangerous and exciting Fidel “The Atrisco Kid” Maldonado, Jr. (22-3-1, 19 KOs) for the vacant WBC International Super lightweight Championship in the 10-round co-main event.
Additionally, Bronx-born IBF North American welterweight titlist Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez (19-1, 11 KOs) will put his title on the line in a 10-round fight against undefeated Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (16-0, 11 KOs) of Lynn, Massachusetts to open the HBO Latino broadcast.
Vyacheslav Shabranskyy vs. Sullivan Barrera is a 10-round bout for the WBC USNBC Light Heavyweight championship, presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Main Events and sponsored by “Tecate, BORN BOLD,” and Casa Mexico Tequila Doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:00 p.m. PT. The HBO Latino® Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT
Tickets are on sale and are priced at $25, $35 and $45 and available for purchase now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
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