Weigh-ins complete for Robles vs Ugas, Ventura vs Dorticos
In tonight’s Main Event, you have San Diego’s Emmanuel Robles (9-0-1) facing his toughest opponent to date, Yordenis Ugas (r) from Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (15-1). All photos: Jim Wyatt
Tonight, in the main event on the Bobby D Presents boxing card at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley, you have the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Yordenis “The Black Prince” Ugas (15-1, 7 KOs) defending his WBC interim Latino jr. welterweight title against San Diego’s own Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles (9-0-1, 3 KOs) in a 10 rounder.
Ugas, from Miami, Florida, by way Santiago, Cuba, has been dedicated to the sport from a very early age. On twitter he wrote: “Boxing is a metaphor of who we are, of our life, we’re fighting every moment against everything.” This slick boxer comes to fight every night and will wow the crowd with his technical but still high-pressure boxing style.
Yordenis “The Black Prince” Ugas from Miami, Florida
Like his opponent, the southpaw Robles rarely if ever takes a step back. He is coming off a successful 2013 campaign in which he knocked the tough Joshua Marks out in four, plus added two lopsided unanimous decision victories over Adolfo Landeros. A win tonight would most certainly put Robles on the fast track to get the bigger fights, exposure on TV and from there his ultimate goal of getting a title shot.
- Emmanuel “Renegade” Robles who trains under the watchful eye of former boxer Ernie “Silky” Johnson of Old School Boxing, San Diego. All photos: Jim Wyatt
In the semi-main event, they have 20 year-old Tijuana sensation Kenia Enriquez (9-0, 5 KOs) making her U.S. debut in a flyweight (112 lbs.) six rounder against fellow unbeaten, 30 year-old Noemi Bosques (4-0-2, 1 KO).
Enriquez, an inch taller and 10 years younger, is currently ranked #9 by the WBC while Bosques of Puerto Rican descent is a fan-favorite in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. St. Petersburg, the fourth most populous city in the state, is the home of such landmarks as the Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg’s pier and Tropicana Field.
This bout will mark the second of the year for each with Enriquez stopping Los Mochis’ 2013 fighter of the year Selene Lopez in the first round last month while Bosques went four tough rounds on February 14th against Marisol Miranda. That my friends is less than two weeks ago. The women fought to a controversial draw which originally was announced as a split decision victory for Bosques. As a comparison of strength of schedules, this will be Bosques’ second fight against an opponent with a winning record. For Enriques, this will be her fifth bout against a boxer with a winning record.
(top) The pride and joy of Tijuana Kenia Enriquez (9-0 with 5 knockouts).
(top) Enriquez’s opponent, Noemi Bosques, the pride and joy of St. Petersburg, Florida (4-0-2, 1 KO) poses for a photo with two of her hosts while in town, the San Diego management team of Saul Rios (l) and Lou Messina (r).
In a special attraction 10-rounder, Cuban KO artist Yuniel Dorticos (15-0, 15 KOs) will face fellow KO artist Hamilton Ventura (13-0-1, 11 KOs) of San Paolo, Brazil for the WBA cruiserweight Fedelatin title over a scheduled ten rounds. Nobody believes this bout will go the distance as no opponent has gone more than six rounds with Dorticos and Ventura, who now lives in Los Angeles, has stopped all of his opponents by the fourth round except for two.
(top) Hamilton Ventura of Sao Paulo, Brazil. (below, left) Yuniel Dorticos of Havana, Cuba. Tonight, these gentlemen will be battling it out for the WBA Interim Fedelatin Cruiserweight Title and as they so often say, “Somebody’s O is going to have to go.”
Also on the fight card you have light heavyweight Ulises Sierra of the Undisputed Fitness & Training Center in Downtown San Diego (4-0-1, 3 KOs) going up against the veteran Loren Myers (9-17) from Fresno, CA. Both Myers and Percy Peterson were last minute replacements.
(top) Ulises Sierra (r) and Loren Myers (l) face off after their weigh-ins Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley.
In the final bout, you have featherweight Prince “Tiger” Smalls from the San Diego Combat Academy in Mission Valley (2-0-1) going up against Percy Peterson from Stockton, CA (0-1).
After their weigh-ins, Prince “Tiger” Smalls (l) and Percy Peterson (r) face off.
I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention an ugly incident that took place after the Smalls and Peterson face-off. It all started when one hooligan from the Smalls’ faction spouted off some disparaging remarks about Peterson and things escalated from there. Within minutes it was like a pack of growling, wild dogs had descended on Peterson and his coach Don Jose from the Stockton Cal Street Boxing Club in Stockton, CA.
As representatives of the San Diego Boxing Community, the parties involved should have been embarrassed by their conduct. And what must Peterson and his coach be thinking, after seeing the worst that San Diego has to offer. How does that saying go, “We do our talking in the ring.”
