Northern California Notebook

By Mario Ortega Jr.

Dubai Card Dead in the Water

The card that was scheduled to take place April 18th at the Aviation Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and headlined by IBF/IBO Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire Jr., of San Leandro, California, against Hussein Hussein (31-4, 24 KOs), is now off. Donaire (19-1, 12 KOs), who had begun serious training back in February, returned home from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had set up camp at the Top Rank Gym. The card, which was to be promoted by Noli Eala’s Third Force Promotions, but financed by a group in Dubai, was faced with economic issues regarding sponsors and cancelled when they were not resolved. The event, which was to include three other top flight matches: IBF Light Flyweight Champion Ulises Solis, of Mexico, against Juanito Rubillar of the Philippines, the Philippines’ WBO Minimumweight Champion Donnie Nietes against Daniel Reyes of Columbia and the Philippines’ Ranee Ganoy meeting Julio Diaz of Coachella, California, had already been pushed back twice from it’s original March 27th date, to April 6th and then April 18th before the cancellation. Donaire, who last fought in December when he scored an eighth-round stoppage over mandatory challenger Luis Maldonado, hopes to finally return to the ring in May. It is unclear if IBF #14 Hussein will still be the opponent. The number one and two positions in the IBF rankings are currently vacant, although Rayonta Whitfield (20-0, 10 KOs) and Manuel Vargas (24-2, 10 KOs) are scheduled to vie for the number one ranking in April.

New Location, Opponent for Perez Tonight

Alejandro Lopez (11-0-1, 6 KOs) meets veteran Omar Adorno (16-9-1, 10 KOs) of Morovis, Puerto Rico in an eight-round bout tonight at the Industry Hills Expo Center in the City of Industry, California. Adorno represents a switch in opponents from Carlos Valcarcel (9-1-4, 4 KOs) of Miami, Florida. The venue is also a change from the originally scheduled Field Of Dreams in West Covina, California. Lopez, of Salinas, California, was originally scheduled to make his 2008 debut against Jorge Cardenas (9-4-4, 6 KOs) last month, but was forced to pull out after a bout with the flu. The bout tonight will be the televised co-feature on Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo program. In the eight-round main event, Juan Garcia (14-0, 5 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona takes on Cornelius Lock (16-3-1, 9 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan. Prospects John Molina (10-0, 8 KOs), Demetrio Soto (1-0, 1 KO) and Leo Santa Cruz (4-0-1, 2 KOs) are also scheduled to compete in separate bouts. A bout involving Oakland, California middleweight Tony Hirsch (4-1-1, 2 KOs), originally slated for the event, fell out on Thursday. Tickets for the card, promoted by Showdown Promotions and Top Rank, are available at the door.

Sacramento Favorite In Tough Again

Hard-nosed Sacramento, California-based light welterweight Carlos Musquez (3-1-2, 3 KOs) returns to the ring on April 4th against the fifth unbeaten opponent of his career, Hector Serrano (5-0, 2 KOs) of Huntington Park, California. The bout, scheduled for six rounds, will take place on Serrano’s home turf, Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California. For Musquez it will be his first bout since an August draw with Jaime Rodriguez (4-3-2, 2 KOs). Musquez has had several recent bouts fall out, including a potential match with Eloy Perez (10-0-2, 2 KOs) in July, where he has ruled out by the commission for dehydration, as well as a February rematch with Rodriguez in Sacramento. Two fights back, Serrano scored a four-round split decision over the aforementioned Jaime Rodriguez. Another better-than-his-record Northern California fighter, Allan Cespedes (6-5-2, 5 KOs) of Oakland, California will see action against Rashad Holloway (7-1, 4 KOs) of Hollywood, California. Holloway was a very accomplished amateur, winning the Golden Gloves three times and finishing with a 98-13 mark before turning professional. Tickets for the card, promoted by All-Star Boxing, are available by calling 323-781-4871.

World Rated Females Meet in Lemoore

According to fight manager Repo Ric, WBC #4/IFBA #3 ranked lightweight Jessica Rakoczy (28-3, 10 KOs) will meet WBC #5/IFBA #4 ranked super featherweight Cindy Serrano (15-2-1, 7 KOs) on the April 17th card held at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. Rakoczy, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is coming off a ten-round unanimous decision over Belinda Laracuente (23-21-2, 9 KOs) in defense of her NABF Lightweight title at the Tachi Palace in February. Serrano is coming off a six-round unanimous decision loss to highly regarded Layla McCarter (29-13-5, 7 KOs) in January. The bout adds a second top notch female fight to the card, with WBC Minimumweight Champion Carina Moreno (17-1, 5 KOs) defending her title against IFBA #2 ranked minimumweight South Korean Dan-Bi Kim (4-0, 1 KO). Don Juan Futrell (21-3-1, 10 KOs) of St. Louis, Missouri will also appear on the card against an opponent to be named. Futrell is coming off his two most impressive wins, a ten-round unanimous decision over Hector Alatorre (15-3, 5 KOs) at the Tachi Palace in December for the WBC USNBC Welterweight title and a eight-round split decision victory over Hector Camacho Jr. (44-3-1, 25 KOs) last July. Tachi Palace favorites Saul Lomas (7-0, 4 KOs) of Fresno, California and James Ventry (4-4, 3 KOs) of Niagara Falls, New York are also slated for the event against opponents to be named. Tickets for the card, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available online at Tickets.com.

Martinez Native Headlines in the Ballroom

Paul Vasquez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) of Martinez, California will meet Alejandro Virgen (4-5-2, 3 KOs) in the featured six-round light heavyweight bout at the Battle in the Ballroom card held at the Irvine Marriot Hotel in Irvine, California on April 24th. Vasquez last fought in August, scoring a four-round unanimous decision over Salah Zabian (6-10, 4 KOs) in Colusa, California. The undercard consists of four competitively matched four-round bouts. Takalesi Fifta (0-1) of Huntington Beach, California faces Jim Collins (0-1) of Mission Viejo, California in a heavyweight bout. Accomplished amateur flyweight David Gaspar of Los Angeles, California will make his professional debut against Jose Pacheco (0-1-3) of Huntington Park, California. Luis Ramos (3-0, 2 KOs) of Santa Ana, California and light middleweight S’ Kati Katz (2-0) of Hollywood, California will meet opponents to be named. Tickets for the always entertaining Battle in the Ballroom, promoted by Roy Englebrecht Promotions, are available online at BattleInTheBallroom.com.

Unbeatens In Action April 26th

Joaquin Marquez (3-0-1, 3 KOs) of Madera, California will meet Mike Alexander (1-1-2) of Antioch, California at the Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, California on April 26th. The two were originally slated to meet on March 20th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, but Marquez was ruled out by the commission due to a cut over his eye that had not completely healed. Marquez suffered the cut in his last bout, a fourth-round knockout over Ray Craig (5-4, 2 KOs) of Oakland, California at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California in February. The February bout ended a layoff of eighteen months for Marquez, who suffered a busted eardrum in a four-round majority draw with Roderick Grajeda (6-5-2, 4 KOs) in August of 2006. The bout was named the ESPN Friday Night Fights Swing Fight of the Year by Joe Tessitore of ESPN.com Also slated for the card in separate bouts are Mike Dallas Jr. (1-0) of Bakersfield, California and Eric Garcia (0-0-1) of Salinas, California, both of whom made their pro debuts on the March 20th card in San Jose. Dallas, a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, won a four-round decision over Alejandro Balladares (0-1) of Fontana, California. Garcia, who turned pro after just 25 amateur fights, was held to a majority draw by experienced 30-year old veteran Marlo Cortez (2-4-2, 1 KO) of Van Nuys, California. Garcia’s stablemate, Eloy Perez (10-0-2, 2 KOs) is slated to headline the card against an opponent to be named. Tickets for the card, promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, are available by calling the casino at 800-903-3353.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com