Criztec Bazaldua has signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.
The amateur sensation is set to make his professional debut on Saturday March 4 at the Polideportivo Arena in Culiacan, Mexico exclusively live on DAZN over four rounds at Lightweight against Jose Bustamante (1-0).
Bazaldua brings a glittering CV into the paid ranks, and the rangy southpaw exits the amateur code as the #1 ranked fighter at 139lbs in 2022, a six-time National champion and the 2022 WBC US Amateur champion.
The 18 year old has a stellar team behind him with Hearn and Matchroom joining world-renowned trainer Manny Robles, who is looking to make ‘El Flaco’ the first World champion he’s trained from the amateurs and manager Richard Moore, who guides the career of Somali Olympian and unbeaten Super-Bantamweight Ramla Ali.
“I am humbled and privileged to have signed a professional contract with the leading promotional company in Matchroom,” said Bazaldua. “It’s become the home for incredible Mexican talent, here and across the U.S with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Jesse Rodriguez, Juan Francisco Estrada, Julio Cesar Martinez, and Mauricio Lara on the roster. I hope I can entertain La Raza and Latin fans equally over these next few years and win over their hearts.”
“I am delighted to welcome Criztec to the stable,” said Hearn. “This young man has bags of potential and with Matchroom, Manny and Richard guiding him, every key is within reach for him to unlock it.
“We are dedicated to unearthing young talents and guiding them to the very top. Criztec joins Puerto Rican talent Yankiel Rivera and Peter McGrail in the UK as the latest starlets joining the team, and we will continue to seek the best up-and-coming fighters all over the world and give them every opportunity to achieve their dreams.”
“Coaching amateurs was a long time ago and a different part of my career, but I decide to make an exception for two kids a few years back that I thought were destined to be exceptional and have been working with them since, as part of my professional stable. Criztec was one of them, the other being his sister Perla,” said Robles. “They’ve developed and grown so much in the last three years and have had the opportunity to train alongside and spar some of the best champions in the world that walk through the gym, week in week out. Criztec is a tough Mexican but also has that US boxing ability, standing at 6ft 1in as a southpaw at 135lbs, he could cause a lot of fighter’s problems.”
“Criztec is a rare kind of athlete that in my opinion has it all,” said Moore. “The ability to grow into a superstar in the ring considering the coaching team he has in his corner, his technical ability, which is testament to his amateur credentials and the opportunity to build a special connection to the people he represents like Julio Cesar Chavez and through his inspirational story in boxing transcend the sport.
“I know how hard it can be and how much energy needs to be invested from a manager to really ensure that the fighter has every chance to succeed in boxing, it’s unlike many other sports, having worked in a lot of others and other areas of sport before boxing. Often managers get a promotional deal signed and think their job is done. For me at this stage it’s barely started, and the real work begins. Aside from Ramla I’ve not made this kind of investment into any other fighters before because of what I understand it takes. Criztec will have my full commitment to helping him achieve his dreams and change not only his life but his families.”
Bazaldua’s debut comes on Matchroom’s first foray into Mexico in 2023 following three action-packed nights in 2022, with Angel Fierro topping the bill against Eduardo Estela.
Fierro (20-1-2, 16KOs) defends his WBO NABO Lightweight title against Uruguay’s once-beaten Estela (14-1, 9KO’s) in what promises to be an explosive main event. The WBO #5 rated Fierro is closing in on a coveted World title shot in 2023, but he must first get by the very dangerous Estela, who is coming off a career best win in November over previously undefeated Ruben Torres. Estela, who is promoted by former great Marcos Maidana who will be attendance on fight night, has a lone loss as a pro against rising Mexican powerhouse Mauricio Lara back in 2019.
Eduardo Nunez will provide the co-main event action as he meets unbeaten Jesus Ceyca over ten rounds at Super-Featherweight. KO merchant ‘Sugar’ Nunez (23-1 23 KOs) has won all of his bouts inside the distance, and the 25 year old comes into the bout on the back of a tenth round stoppage win in Culiacan in September, his only fight of 2022. The Los Mochis man will be eager to keep his streak going on March 4, but will need to take the ‘0’ of local man Ceyca (17-0 8 KOs) to do so, who will be on home turf for his first action in 2023 and in his first ten round contest.
Elsewhere on the stacked card, 2016 Mexican Olympian Misael Rodriguez (12-0, 7KO’s) who will take on Aaron Guerrero (10-1-1 6 KOs) over eight rounds at Middleweight, and teenage sensation Yair Gallardo (2-0 2 KOs) is looking for a third straight first round KO and takes on KO artist Bernardo Jimenez (9-1 9 KOs) over six at Light-Heavyweight and the second pro fight for Uzbek Olympian Dilshodbek Ruzmetov (1-0) who meets Jesus Palomares (7-1-1 4 KOs) over eight at Super-Middleweight.
