By Mario Ortega Jr.-
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Undefeated middleweight prospect Amari Jones likely has his seventh straight knockout on his mind as he heads into battle against veteran Michael Lemelle tonight at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sacramento. The six-round middleweight bout headlines a five-fight card at what has become the lone launching pad for Northern California fighters in recent years. Fighters weighed-in Thursday afternoon at Our Place Event Space & Kitchen in historic Old Sacramento.
Jones (6-0, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Oakland, California was last seen two months ago as he scored a second-round stoppage on the undercard of Devin Haney-George Kambosos in Melbourne, Australia. Lemelle (3-10-1) of Fort Worth, Texas has seen nothing but undefeated fighters over his last seven contests, each of which ended in a less than satisfactory result for the Lone Star State resident. Jones, who fights under the Devin Haney Promotions promotional banner, weighed in at 161-pounds. Lemelle scaled 159-pounds on Thursday afternoon.
In the six-round co-feature, popular former amateur star Cain Sandoval (5-0, 5 KOs) of Sacramento takes on significantly more experienced veteran Daniel Evangelista Jr. (20-14-2, 16 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico in a light welterweight bout. Sandoval, much like Jones, has begun his professional career with a knockout streak he will aim to keep intact tonight against Evangelista. The veteran from Mexico appears to be a step-up from Sandoval’s early competition, but time will tell if his odometer has too many miles on it to push the young fighter. Sandoval weighed-in at 138-pounds, while Evangelista scaled 139.
Another young knockout artist in Angel Chavez (6-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California will take on the unknown debuting Elj Portee of Oceanside, California by way of Baltimore, Maryland in a six-round light heavyweight bout. Chavez, a product of the MXN Boxing Center in Salinas, has scored four first-round stoppages in his first six bouts as a professional. Portee has the unenviable assignment of attempting to make it through six-rounds against a power puncher as his first assignment as a professional. Chavez came in at 178-pounds, as did the shorter Portee.
Former international amateur standout Shamar Canal, a Devin Haney Promotions stablemate of Amari Jones, takes on Dan Hernandez (0-1) of Riverside, California by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in a four-round lightweight bout. Canal (1-0, 1 KO) of Albany, New York turned professional just over a year ago with a first-round knockout. Hernandez lost a narrow majority decision in his lone pro effort last November. Canal scaled 133-pounds, while Hernandez made 132-pounds.
In the curtain raiser, former local sparring mates Sergio Vega of Woodland, California and Cmaje Ramseur of neighboring Elk Grove, California appear ready to wage war tonight. Vega (2-1-1, 2 KOs) and Ramseur (1-1, 1 KO) immediately got in each other’s face during the post-scale staredown during Thursday’s weigh-in and had to be separated by promoter Nasser Niavaroni and a member of the California State Athletic Commission before the jawing got out of hand. Vega weighed-in at 140-pounds, while Ramseur, who took the fight on short notice, scaled 144 for the four-round light welterweight bout that Niavaroni predicted will be the fight of the night.
The intriguing co-main event scheduled to take place between Joeshon James (6-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento and Chris Thompson (7-0, 5 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri was scrapped two weeks ago when the Midwesterner pulled out with a reported wrist injury. Somewhat curiously, Thompson has already taken to social media with video hitting a heavy bag while touting a late August return to the ring.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
Middleweights, 6 Rounds
Jones 161
Lemelle 159
Light welterweights, 6 Rounds
Sandoval 138
Evangelista Jr. 139
Light heavyweights, 6 Rounds
Chavez 178
Portee 178
Lightweights, 4 Rounds
Canal 133
Hernandez 132
Light welterweights, 4 Rounds
Vega 140
Ramseur 144
Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are still available online at uppercutpro.com
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com
