One of those times when you can’t be in both places
Stating the obvious: May 24, 2013, after a one year and seven month hiatus from the sport of boxing, Aaron “Gavilan” Garcia will make his triumphant return to the ring.
With the popularity of the Sport of Boxing in both San Diego and Tijuana, I guess it was bound to happen. On Friday, May 24, 2013, local Boxing Fans will have to choose between the two local boxing shows on the same night.
Mayen Promotions along with Zanfer Promotions, who had their show, “Kings and Queens II” scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 at Salon Las Pulgas in Tijuana’s downtown were coaxed by the owner of the local casino, Casino Hipodromo Agua Caliente, to move their show date up and use the large Tecate Box Tour luxury tent at the entrance of Tijuana’s football stadium.
The decision was made. Mayen Promotions went from the Salon Las Pulgas Concert Hall on Avenida Revolucion in Downtown Tijuana to having their show presented outdoors under a very large, luxury tent on the grounds of the Casino Hippodrome Agua Caliente.
The change of venue and date then clashed with the Bobby D Presents Promotion Group. The Bobby D Presents presentation of “San Diego Fights” the first of seven 2013 shows inside the Bing Crosby Hall on the Del Mar Fairgrounds, had already been penciled in for the same night. They were moving from the 850 seat Ball Room of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel to the much larger Bing Crosby Hall within the Del Mar Fairgrounds. To assure their patrons would be happy with the switch, they offered a special bonus. Everyone who purchases a fight ticket can receive free admission, a $14 value, to this year’s San Diego County Fair.
Bobby D Presents moves from the Four Points By Sheraton San Diego to the historic Bing Crosby Hall on the grounds of the Del Mar Fairgrounds in DelMar, CA.
The Bobby D Presents Fight Card
Vista, California’s Aaron “Gavilan” Garcia (10-3-2, 2 KOs) is featured in their six round featherweight main event. Garcia is best known as one of the most decorated amateur fighters to come out of San Diego with more than 150 fights, multiple Golden Gloves titles, a silver medal at the Pan-Am Games and a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team as an alternate. At this time, Garcia is coming off a closely disputed and controversial split decision loss to the Manny Pacquiao-backed Bernabe Concepcion. Under new management (Bobby De Philippis Promotions), Garcia is hoping to make another run at the title.
Garcia’s opponent on Friday night is Cesar Garcia (8-12) from Ensenada by way of Mexicali, B. C., Mexico.
Next up, they have bantamweights, 24 year-old southpaw Michael Ruiz Jr. (9-2-1, 3 KOs) from Fresno, CA facing 32 year-old Khabir Suleymanov (14-3-0, 6 KOs) of Los Angeles by way of Chelyabinsk, Russia. Both Suleymanov and Ruiz are 1-2 in his last three starts.
Bout card change as of Wednesday, 22, 2013: Southpaw, lightweight Leon “Third Generation” Spinks (4-0-1, 3 KOs), from Huntington Beach, CA by way of St. Louis, Missouri, is now set to face Alejandro Ochoa (1-3-1) of Bell Gardens, CA, who scored that one win against a fellow by the name of Martin Solis. It came six years ago in his debut. Solis ended his career in 2007 (0-4).
The grandson of the former heavyweight champ Leon Spinks, nephew of former world champion Michael Spinks and cousin of former world champion Cory Spinks, is another recent addition to the Bobby DePhilippis’ ranks. Since being signed, he has fought twice in Tijuana scoring two victories by knockout.
Anecito “Dondon” Gesta, Jr. arrives from Cebu, Philippines, to fight out of San Diego. A nursing student back in his home country, Gesta Jr. is the younger brother of world-ranked and former title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta.
Another fighter showcasing his skills for the first time in San Diego is Anecito “Dondon” Gesta, Jr. (2-1-0) a southpaw who is originally from Cebu, Philippines, but now fights out of San Diego. A nursing student back in his home country, Gesta Jr. is the younger brother of world-ranked and former title challenger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta. Like his father and older brother, Gesta Jr. is a veteran of multiple combat sports, eg. Muay Thai and MMA. He’s now concentrating on boxing and has chosen San Diego as his home base. At this point, his opponent is super featherweight Alex Gutierrez.
The card is supported by a local flyweight favorite Jonathan Quiroz (4-1, 1 KO) who will face Jesus Sandoval (0-1-0) from San Bernardino, CA. Never in a dull fight, Quiroz stopped the game Javier Barragan in three rounds last month after being the victim of an early flash knockdown.
The final match features Pablo Capul (6-11-0, 4 KOs) of Lakeside, CA by way of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, taking on Manuel Machoro (0-8-1) from Mexico City, Mexico.
This all ages event is sponsored by the Mossy Auto Group, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, Pepsi and El Latino Newspaper. For more information or tickets visit BobbyDPresents.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the first punch thrown at 7:30 p.m.
Below the border at the Casino Hipodromo Agua Caliente in Tijuana, they’ll be featuring the ever so popular and formidable Kenia Enriquez (6-0-0, 3 KOs) going up against the more experienced Maricela Quintero (11-3-1) from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico in a six round super flyweight match.
Video of one of the Maricela Quintero vs Esmeralda Moreno fights
Featherweight Maureen Shea (19-2-0, 11 KOs) from Ventura, CA returns in search of win #20; flyweight Sandra Robles (2-0-0) and bantamweight Brenda Flores (2-1-0, 1 KO), both from Tijuana, are also on the docket.
Fast-tracking super featherweight Erick Martinez (4-0-1, 2 KOs) from Tijuana returns to face Carlos “The Solution” Morales (2-1-3) from Highland Park, CA.
Welterweight Pastor Elenes (4-1-0, 2 KOs) of Tijuana is going up against Gerardo Mendoza (1-2-0, 1 KO) of Tijuana.
Also featured: in an eight round super bantamweight match, Jose “Tigre” Cayetano (14-1-0, 6 KOs) of Tijuana, bantamweight Kevin Moreno (1-1-0) of Rosarito, B. C., plus light welterweight Alvaro Aguilar (22-2-1, 16 KOs) of Tijuana, for a total of nine matches.
The parking lot of the Caliente Casino is a quick cab ride from the San Diego/Tijuana border. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the first punch being thrown at 8 p.m.
Now, it’s up to you to decipher which of these two Boxing Shows is going to have the most memorable bouts. Good luck!
