Pro Boxing Series returns Friday night to the Sheraton
Live Boxing is back at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego and one of the most talked about matches has the undefeated super middleweight Ulises Sierra (r) from San Diego facing off with Darnell Walker from Los Angeles. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Weigh-ins were completed today for tomorrow night’s boxing show presented by Jorge Marron Productions in association with A&T Gym, Andy Perez with Paco Presents at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego.
In Friday night’s Main Event, it will be John Amuzu (r) of Ghana facing Juanito Rubillar (l) of the Philippines. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In their Main Event, either a six or eight rounder, they’ve scheduled a bantamweight clash between 28 year-old John Amuzu (13-0-0, 13 KOs) of Riverside, CA by way of Benin, Ghana taking on the Filipino legend, 36 year-old Juanito Rubillar (49-19-7, 24 KOs) who now resides in Mission Beach, San Diego, CA. Rubillar is originally from Mati City, Davao Oriental, Philippines.
Amuzu recently emigrated to the United States to advance his career even though his homeland, Ghana, has a long and storied history in in the sport. He’s benefitted big time by having his father train him. How so? His dad also worked with the legendary Azumah Nelson, the three-time world champion, widely considered the greatest African boxer ever.
When grilled about his boxing style and who he has faced, both he and his trainer/manager were a bit evasive, “We want our competition to do their homework. That’s why we took down all his photos and videos from the internet.”
His opponent, Rubillar, has never fought anyone heavier than 114 pounds. As mentioned, Rubillar now lives in Mission Beach, San Diego, CA after moving here from Laguna Hills, CA by way of Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Besides, the 49 wins, Rubillar’s claim to fame is the fact he’s fought some of the biggest names in the sport. Twice, he slugged it out with both Giovanni Segura (the WBA & WBO Light Flyweight Champion) and Jorge Arce (the former WBC & WBO World Champion). In Rubillar’s last fight, February 21, 2013 at this same venue, he went up against Basilio Nieves. Nieves, 15-0 at the time, thought he was coming to town to pad his record. Oh contraire, he got stopped in the fifth round and left town with his first loss.
In Bout #2, it will be Aracely Tinoco (R) of Lake Elsinore, CA going up against Blanca Reymundo (L) of Riverside, CA.
On the undercard, they have junior bantamweight Aracely “Chelly” Tinoco of Ramona, CA (1-0-0) going up against Blanca Reymundo (1-8-0) of Riverside, CA.
While the Tinoco camp claims she’s going to be busier on offense, Elie Reymundo, Blanca’s twin sister and sparring partner, claims her sister has shown remarkable improvement and stated, “We’re going to see Blanca get her second win.”
In Bout #3 it will be Ulises Sierra (R) of San Diego going up against Darnell Walker (L) of Los Angeles, CA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In a Super Middleweight clash, we have Ulises Sierra Jr. (2-0-1, 1 KO) from San Diego returning to the Sheraton to take on 40 year-old Darnell Walker from the City of Angels who is making his pro-debut.
Now, before pre-judging or making a foolhardy statement you’ll regret later, consider the following: A short time ago, Walker and his wife were overweight. He weighed 245 lbs. and she weighed 180. At today’s weigh-in, he weighed 162 and his wife now weighs 125.
How did he do it? Before making up his mind to compete, he spent each day in the gym helping others and worrying about their needs. He sparred with the likes of the three Molina brothers, Kid Chocolate Quillin and Fernando Guerrero. After getting better and better while sparring against these champions, he figured why shouldn’t I compete. From that day on, Mr. Walker’s new found slogan, “Anything is possible.”
Like Walker, Ulises Sierra Jr. teaches boxing. He has a sizable class at the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center in downtwon San Diego. And like Walker, Sierra Jr. comes from a family of high achievers. On April 6, 1988 his dad, Ulises “Candy” Sierra from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, a 6’2” hard throwing right-hander, broke into the Major Leagues with the San Diego Padres.
(top) Elias Espadas (1-1-0, 1 KO) from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico is going up against Greg “The Phoenix” Baca (0-2) from San Bernardino, CA. Photos: Jim Wyatt
Next, they have Elias Espadas (1-1-0, 1 KO) from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico going up against Greg “The Phoenix” Baca (0-2) from the Meadowbrook Boxing Club in San Bernardino.
Interesting to note: As an amateur, Espadas went 85-7 and was on the Mexican National Team. He has to be serious about his profession because if he isn’t, his girlfriend will slug him. She’s a boxer too.
Even though it might seem Espadas’ opponent is just a journeyman boxer, don’t be fooled. Baca, a U. S. Army veteran (one six year enlistment), has been training for seven years. In his first pro fight, an unanimous decision loss, they had him face the highly thought of Dushane Crooks a southpaw from Brooklyn, N. Y. on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. Before that debut on National TV, Baca had just three amateur bouts.
Prior to his next fight, Baca, who had fallen on tough times, was sleeping in his truck and plain and simple, he wasn’t training. For tomorrow night’s fight, he has no excuses. He’s got things completely turned around and he’s been working like a demon.
In the fifth bout, they have Jorge Porras (r) going up against Adrian Rodriguez (L).
The final bout of the evening has Jorge Porras of Lake Elsinore, CA (0-2) in search of his first win, going up against Adrian Rodriguez of Oakland, CA who is making his pro-debut.
Porras has returned to working exclusively with his father, Jorge Porras Sr., a boxing trainer for many years who just recently opened a new gym in Lake Elsinore.
As an amateur, Rodriguez had a record of 7-6. His coach mentioned that he works out at the same gym as Andre Ward, the Super Middleweight Champ.
Sad to report, the welterweight match between Antonio Arellano (6-1-1) and an unnamed opponent was scratched. His opponent pulled out at the last minute.
Tickets are still available by calling: 258-0698 or at the hotel gift shop (858) 277-8888.
