Figueroa stops Chacon in 4; Retains 122 lb Interim Title

Brandon Figueroa retained the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight title with a 4th round stoppage over Javier Chacon at The Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas.

Figueroa dominated the bout, and in round four landed a crushing left that sent Chacon to the canvas. Chacon tried to get up, but could not beat the count.

Figueroa, 122 lbs of Weslaco TX is 20-0 with 15 knockouts. Chacon, 120 1/4 lbs of Las Heras, ARG 29-5-1.

In a battle of undefeated super bantamweights, Stephen Fulton stopped Isaac Avelar in round six of their scheduled 10-round bout.

In round three, Avelar began to bleed over his right eye.

In round six, Fulton landed a crushing left to the body shot that sent Avelar down for the count at 1:26

Fulton, 124 lbs of Philadelphia is 17-0 with eight knockouts. Avelar, 123 3/4 lbs of Mexico is 16-1.

Omar Juarez remained undefeated by stopping Gino De La Paz in the 1st round of their scheduled four-round junior lightweight bout.

Juarez blasted De La Paz with some hard shots before landing a booming right that sent De La Paz crashing to the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:40.

Juarez. 140 3/4 lbs of Brownsville, TX is 5-0 with three knockouts. De La Paz, 139 3/4 lbs of McAllen, TX is 2-3-1.

Jaime Arboleda stopped Victor Betencourt in round one of their scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout.

In round one, Arboledo dropped Betancourt with hard body shots. Arboleda finished the fight with an uppercut to the chin that sent Betencourt to a knee, and the fight was stopped at 2:32.

Arboleda, 130 lbs of Curuncu, PAN is 15-1 with 13 knockouts. Betancourt, 130 lbs of Mexico is 26-3.




Damien Vazquez looks to rebound on August 24th, wants Arroyo afterwards

LAS VEGAS – Bantamweight prospect Damien “Sugar” Vazquez will return to the ring on August 24th in Edinburg, Texas on a Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 card.  The bill will be topped by Brandon Figueroa facing Javier Chacon.

The 21-year-old Vazquez was last in action in March when he suffered his first career loss, dropping a decision to Juan Carlos Payano in California. He is promoted by Sugar’s Promotion and managed by Greg Hannley.

His father Oscar Vazquez has also made some changes to Damien’s team, bringing in Hall of Farmer Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson to serve as his head trainer and Ben Bautista as his assistant trainer. 

“My last fight I lost it but it was against a good guy Juan Carlos Payano who was ranked #7 at the time and a two-time world champion who was in the Olympic games. It was a great learning lesson. Like I tell a lot of people, I don’t even take it as a loss. I take it as a learning lesson. I am ready to come back and show everybody what I learned in that fight,” Vazquez explained.

The opponent for Vazquez is expected to be announced in the next few days. He said that his biggest goal in this fight is just to remind everyone that he is still a top prospect and just had a bad night..

“For this next fight I am going to show everybody what I learned and that I am not just a typical kid. I am going to be a world champion and a superstar in this sport,” Vazquez stated.

If everything goes as planned Vazquez wants to go right back to fighting world ranked opponents.  He is willing to face any top 20 opponent and has his sights set firmly on former champion McJoe Arroyo.

“I want to step it back up and start facing these top guys again.  I want to fight someone like Arroyo. He and his brother are great fighters. I give them respect outside the ring but inside the ring I got no respect for nobody. I think it would be a great fight. A Puerto Rican fighter versus a Mexican-American.  I think it would be an action packed fight,” said Vazquez.




BRANDON FIGUEROA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

EDINBURG, TX. (June 28, 2019) – Unbeaten interim WBA super bantamweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa met with media on Thursday to preview his homecoming title defense against Argentina’s Javier Chacon Saturday, August 24 in the main event of FS1 PBC Fight Night on FS1 and FOX Deportes live from Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas.

Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will see Weslaco’s Figueroa make the first defense of his title in front of a hometown crowd after he won the belt by knocking out Yonfrez Parejo on FOX in April.

“Bringing nationally televised fights to Bert Ogden Arena for the first time means a lot to me,” said Figueroa. “It’s going to be a great night for me and everyone here. I hope everyone comes out and supports me because it’s going to be an atmosphere that you don’t want to miss. I’m so ready to step in the ring and show everyone all the hard work I put into training camp.

“I know that I’m facing a tough opponent from Argentina, which means he’s going to leave it all in the ring. He has kind of an awkward style but we’re working to prepare for it. I think there will be openings for me to attack the body, which is what I love to do.”

Figueroa was joined at the press conference by his father and trainer, Omar Figueroa Sr., plus fighters who Figueroa trains with and who will be appearing in undercard action.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Panterita Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased through AXS.com.

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ABOUT FIGUEROA VS. CHACON
Figueroa vs. Chacon pits undefeated interim WBA Super Bantamweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa against Argentina’s Javier “Chispita” Chacon as he makes a hometown title defense Saturday, August 24 in the main event of FS1 PBC Fight Night on FS1 and FOX Deportes live from Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas.

Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features rising unbeaten Stephen “CoolBoySteph” Fulton Jr. in a 12-round super bantamweight attraction against fellow undefeated contender Isaac Avelar, plus another showdown of unbeaten fighters will see Houston’s Darwin Price taking on Donovan Estrella in a 10-round super lightweight fight.

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.




Undefeated Brandon Figueroa Makes Homecoming Defense of Interim Super Bantamweight Title Against Argentina’s Javier Chacon in FS1 PBC Fight Night on FS1 & FOX Deportes Main Event Saturday, August 24 from Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas

WESLACO, TX. (June 26, 2019) – Undefeated interim WBA Super Bantamweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa will make a 12-round homecoming title defense when he takes on Argentina’s Javier “Chispita” Chacon Saturday, August 24 in the main event of FS1 PBC Fight Night on FS1 and FOX Deportes live from Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas.

Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features rising unbeaten Stephen “CoolBoySteph” Fulton Jr. in a 12-round super bantamweight attraction against fellow undefeated contender Isaac Avelar, plus another showdown of unbeaten fighters will see Houston’s Darwin Price taking on Donovan Estrella in a 10-round super lightweight fight.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions in association with Panterita Boxing, are on sale Thursday, June 27 at 10 a.m. CT and can be purchased through AXS.com.

“Brandon Figueroa is a fast-rising talent riding a six-fight knockout streak into this main event opportunity on August 24 in front of his hometown fans,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “He will look to continue to solidify himself as a force to be reckoned with in the 122-pound division against a very tough veteran in Argentina’s Javier Chacon. Argentina has a long line of battle-ready warriors who have come to the states and had big success, as Chacon will look to accomplish by spoiling Figueroa’s homecoming. With the televised undercard featuring two battles of unbeaten fighters, this has all the ingredients for a can’t miss night on FS1 and FOX Deportes.”

The 22-year-old Figueroa (18-0, 13 KOs) will be defending his title for the first time after capturing it live on FOX in April by stopping Yonfrez Parejo in eight rounds. He set up his title-winning performance by knocking out Moises Flores in the third-round of their January fight on FS1. Representing Weslaco, Texas, the younger brother of former world champion Omar has a six-fight knockout streak that he brings into the ring on August 24. He returns to fight in his home state for the first time since March of 2018, when he stopped Giovanni Delgado in seven rounds in San Antonio.

“It feels amazing to be bringing nationally televised fights to Bert Ogden Arena for the first time for my hometown fans,” said Figueroa. “I’m looking forward to this fight and I’m going to continue to knock people out and move up the 122-pound rankings. I’m facing an awkward fighter, but I believe there will be opening for me to attack his body, which is one of my strengths. It’s going to be a great atmosphere and I’m working hard like the fight is in two weeks. I’ll be more than ready on August 24.”

Representing Mendoza, Argentina Chacon (29-4-1, 9 KOs) has won four fights a row leading up to August 24, most recently winning a decision in May over Diego Sananco. Chacon has challenged top fighters including Anselmo Moreno and Jamie McDonnell in world title fights. He will make his U.S. debut on August 24 after having previously competed in his home country, the UK, Panama and Ghana.

“I’m looking forward to this great opportunity to fulfill my dreams of being world champion like my brother Julio Pablo,” said Chacon. “To get here, I had to win a tournament to find the best super bantamweight in Argentina. I was the underdog in every fight and still won each time. That’s what I’m going to do again on August 24. I will win when nobody thinks I can.”

The 24-year-old Fulton (16-0, 7 KOs) is a Philadelphia-native and defeated previously unbeaten fighters in five of his last nine contests while rising up the rankings and most recently defeated former world champion Paulus Ambunda in his first 12-round outing in May. He takes on the 21-year-old Avelar (16-0, 10 KOs) from Aguascalientes, Mexico who made his U.S. debut in March by defeating Juan Antonio Lopez.

“I’m excited about this fight because it’s two undefeated fighters clashing which will be a big statement for me,” said Fulton. “I’m planning to make him the sixth undefeated fighter that I beat. I’m in shape now and I know I’m facing a fighter who’s going to bring it and give everything he’s got. But I’m bringing the speed, power, pressure and intelligence that will show you why I’m a force in this division.”

“I feel great about this opportunity and I’m ready to take full advantage of it,” said Avelar. “I’ve studied Fulton and I know he’s a good boxer, but he won’t be able to handle the pressure I put on him. I’m a fighter who’s constantly on the go and ready to throw over a hundred punches a round. This is going to be a great fight for the fans, and may the best man win.”

Born in St. Louis and fighting out of Houston, Price (14-0, 7 KOs) made his 2019 debut with a stoppage victory over Luis Eduardo Florez in April. The 29-year-old is unbeaten since turning pro in 2013 and will face off against Denver’s Estrella (13-0, 4 KOs), who turned pro the same year and is also yet to taste defeat. The 24-year-old most recently defeating Robert Rodriguez last November.

# # #

Viewers can live stream the PBC shows on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. In addition, all programs are available on FOX Sports on SiriusXM channel 83 on satellite radios and on the SiriusXM app.

For more information: visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/foxdeportes.




Chacon Defeats Cusolito in Argentina, Now Looking for One Last Bantam/Super Bantamweight Shot

In front of a packed crowd last night at the Comercio Club in Villa Dolores, Argentina, super bantamweight veteran Javier “Chispita” Chacon scored a mild upset by defeating fellow Argentinean Luis Emanuel Cusolito via 10-round unanimous decision.

Fighting in the main event of an event presented by Sampson Boxing and Tello Box (and in the finals of tournament to determine a world-ranking for the winner), Chacon (28-4-1, 9 KOs) turned up the heat on Cusolito (now 27-3-0-1 NC, 21 KOs) to win by scores of 96-93, 97-93 and 98-92. The close and entertaining fight saw Cusolito deducted two points by referee Gerardo Poggi, one in the seventh round for holding and again in the eighth for low blows.

By winning, Chacon, a former two-time world-title challenger, also picked up the Argentina (FAB) and South American Super Bantamweight Championships. After the fight, 37-year-old Chacon dedicated the victory to his wife and children, his brother and coach: former featherweight world champion Pablo Chacon, and to the boys who also train at the Las Heras gym.

“I want to be a world champion before my retirement, so I ask my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, to get me another chance,” said a jubilant Chacon.

To win the tournament, in addition to Cusolito, Chacon had to knock out respected veterans Claudio Echegaray and Roman Reinoso. In March 2014, Chacon lost a unanimous decision to then WBA Champion Anselmo Moreno. And then in November of the same year, he was in a close fight with new champion Jamie McDonnell when he tragically dislocated his shoulder in round nine and was forced to stop.

“I am very proud of Javier Chacon for this upset victory,” said promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. “He has shown he is still a world contender in the bantamweight or super bantamweight divisions, worthy to be rated by any organization. I will give everything I have to secure one last title shot for this proud warrior and may he finally wear the world championship belt when I do.”

OTHER RESULTS

Ckari Cani Mansilla TKO 7 Walter Serda
Mayco Estadella DRAW 4 Leandro Medina
Ricardo Aquino UD 4 Brian Núñez
Martín Bulacio KO 1 Julio Rojas
Joel Mafauad TKO 1 Emilio Aibar

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About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zelaland, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS., FOX and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.