INDIO, CALIF. (May 2, 2018): Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, the explosive former lightweight world champion of Youngstown, Ohio, will be the special VIP guest for the May 17 edition of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPNat Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. The main event will feature Romero “Ruthless” Duno (16-1, 14 KOs) of General Santos City, and Mexico City, Mexico’s Gilberto “Flaco” Gonzalez (27-4, 22 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight fight that promises to end in a knockout. This bout will headline a night of two back-to-back battles between Mexican and Filipino fighters, along with an undercard full of rising prospects.
Doors to the Special Events Center will open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:30 pm PT.ESPN2 will air the fights beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights on Friday, May 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
After a stellar amateur career, Mancini debut as a professional just before turning 18 years old. This charismatic fighter then developed a long streak of victories as he rose up the 135-pound rankings, most of ending them by stunning knockout. In his first opportunity at a world title, he faced the legendary Alexis “El Flaco Explosivo”Arguello in a fight for the WBC Lightweight World Title. Though he was unsuccessful in his first defense, Mancini then defeated Arturo “Art” Frias a year later to win the WBA Lightweight World Title, which began a series of defenses against fighters such as Orlando “Romerito” Romero and Bobby “Schoolboy” Chacon. Mancini will be in attendance for this event to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center before the ESPN transmission begins. The meet-and-greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the event.
The co-main event will feature the second battle of the fight between Mexican and Filipino fighters as Oscar Duarte (13-0-1, 9 KOs) of Parral, Chihuahua Mexico will fight Rey Perez (22-9, 6 KOs) in a lightweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds of action. Duarte’s last five fights have ended before the final bell, and he’ll be tested against war-ready and dangerous Perez.
Francisco “El Alacran” Esparza (7-0-1, 3 KOs) will return after his most impressive victory yet when he takes on Edgar Cantu (7-3-2, 1 KO) of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in an eight-round featherweight clash. Esparza is coming off an impressive technical knockout victory against then-undefeated prospect Tenochtitlan “T-Dog” Nava.
In the night’s TV swing bout, Dallas TX’s Alex Rincon (3-0, 3 KOs) will fight on the California fight scene for the first time when he faces a soon-to-be-announced opponent in a four-round super welterweight affair.
Maikol Lopez (12-1, 6 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico will participate in a six-round super bantamweight fight, while Jaba Khositashvili (2-0, 1 KO), a native of Akhalkalaki, Georgia and resident of Philadelphia, Pa. will fight in a six-round battle in the 168-pound division.
Raymond Muratalla will make his professional debut in his home turf of Indio, Calif. in a four-round lightweight battle.
Opponents for these four fighters will be announced shortly.
Duno vs. Gonzalez is a 10-round lightweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Doors to the Special Events Center will open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight begins at 4:30 pm PT.ESPN2 will air the fights beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, and stream live on ESPN3 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT. ESPN Deportes will air the fights on Friday, May 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the event are on sale and start at $25. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Media interested in attending Golden Boy Boxing: Duno vs. Gonzalez must request credentials by emailing clavoie@fantasysprings.net by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, May 11.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN.
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