FRESNO, CALIF. (April 12, 2024) – In an already jam-packed doubleheader featuring Jose Ramirez vs. Rances Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Thomas Dulorme scheduled for Saturday, April 27, Golden Boy announced today the collision course of the mighty Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) and U.S. Olympian and former world champion Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight match. The decisive fight will feature two hungry title contenders who are looking to prove that they still have much to give to the sport. Parral, Mexico’s Duarte is coming back into the ring after a valiant dance with super lightweight world title contender Ryan Garcia last December; JoJo is coming off an upset split decision loss against Jesus Perez last February. The event will take place live from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, and broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Also on the DAZN broadcast, Unified WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine Flyweight World Champion Marlen Esparza (14-1, 1 KOs) will put her titles on the line yet again in a bad-blood rematch against the former WBC Champ of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (14-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round championship bout. Esparza has her eyes set to become undisputed champion, however she has “La Chucky” in her way looking for revenge and will plan to give Esparza a nightmarish evening.

Opening the DAZN broadcast, NABF Welterweight Title Holder Raul “El Cugar” Curiel (14-0, 12 KOs) will defend his regional title against Jorge Marron Jr. (20-4-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round affair. Curiel has been on a consecutive knockout streak, his last outing in January he was seen dismantling Elias Diaz last January.

On the preliminary card and making her highly anticipated professional debut, Jennah “The Gem” Creason of Visalia, California will make a splash in a four-round welterweight fight against a soon to be announced opponent. Creason is USA Boxing’s No.1-ranked, two-time USA Boxing National Champion, and has excelled in a diverse array of combat sports including wrestling, jiu jitsu, grappling and karate. Jennah’s accolades also include becoming a two-time Desert Showdown champion, a Junior Golden Gloves Champion, a Gold/Silver States Champion and a National Silver Gloves Champion. Her corner includes HOF and trainer of the year Robert Garcia and UFC HOF legend Bob Cook.

Also on the preliminary card, Madera, Calif.’s Brian Lua (8-0, 3 KOs) will participate in a six-round lightweight fight, and Figo Gonzalez (5-0, 2 KOs) of Dallas, Texas will square up in a four-round super flyweight fight. Opponents for both will be announced soon.

Media interested in a fight night credential can apply at: https://forms.gle/dXHszVLXctEMJhRW7.
Credential applications are due by Wednesday, April 24.

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Ramirez vs. Barthelemy is a 12-round super lightweight fight. Ortiz Jr. vs. Dulorme is a 10-round super welterweight fight. The event will take place on Saturday, April 27 on DAZN live from Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #RamirezBarthelemy

HOUSTON, TEXAS (NOVEMBER 30, 2023): International Superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and dangerous knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) hosted a press conference ahead of their super lightweight fight that will now be for the WBA Gold Title. Golden Boy Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya and fighters who are participating in the Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte fight night were also on hand to give comments. The fight night, presented in association with Cancun Boxing, will take place at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2 in Houston, Texas and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription beginning at 7:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. PT. Doors to the Toyota Center open at 5:00 p.m. CT, and the first preliminary fight will begin at 5:00 p.m. CT.

Newly announced co-main event, WBA Lightweight International Champion and rising star Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) of Austin, Texas, will defend his title against Tijuana, Mexico’s Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-7-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight presented in association with Davies Entertainment. Also making his return is Shane Mosley Jr. (20-4, 11 KOs) who will measure up against San Bernardino’s Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight for the WBA Continental Americas Middleweight Title. Opening the DAZN card, knockout prospect Darius Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) will perform in front of his hometown Houston crowd in an eight-round super middleweight fight against Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Davenport, Iowa. This fight will be for the WBA Super Middleweight Continental Title.

On the preliminary card in a four-round super bantamweight fight, Waianae, Hawaii’s Asa “Ace” Stevens (5-0, 2 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with Dominque Griffin (5-5-2, 2 KOs) of Irving, Texas. Former Mexican Olympian and bantamweight prospect Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico, will make his return in a four-round fight against Las Vegas, Nevada’s Alejandro Dominguez (2-0, 1 KO). The undefeated Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, California will participate in a four-round fight against Joseph Johnson (3-1-1, 0 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas. Opening fight night with a four-round super lightweight fight, Cape Coral, Florida’s Danilo Diez will make his pro-debut against Jose Valenzuela of Puebla, Mexico (2-10, 1 KO).

Here is what some of today’s participants had to say. You can rewatch the press conference here.
RYAN GARCIA, INTERNATIONAL BOXING STAR AND SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CONTENDER:

“I put everything into this fight. You know, for the first time, I’m extremely committed in a long time. You know 2021 was one of the years that kind of broke me. 2022, you know a big change in me, and 2023 opened my eyes. I’m about to come back for everything, I’m just laser-focused and that’s where my confidence comes from.”
OSCAR DUARTE, SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CONTENDER:

“First of all, good afternoon, everyone. I’m very happy, very content, to be here. I’m enjoying every moment. This was a dream and it is now a reality. And this Saturday, you’ll see my best version. I have a great team, and this Saturday, I’ll be winning.”
FLOYD SCHOFIELD, WBA LIGHTWEIGHT INTERNATIONAL TITLEHOLDER:

“Hello everybody, I’m just super excited that I get this opportunity. I would like to give a big thank you to Golden Boy, Cameron Davies, and my dad. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I feel like Saturday is just a stepping stone to getting my name out there and put the whole 135 division on notice that I’m here to stay. On Saturday, you can expect some fireworks and I will give you all a great show. Thank you!”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

“This fight card is overflowing with top talent that we have personally scouted and have been carefully building to be the next generation of world championship stars. You won’t want to miss this!”
BERNARD HOPKINS, PARTNER OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS:

“This is the moment, as we close 2023 and move to 2024, for our fighters to prove themselves to become the top dog. This is their chance to prove they can one day be the main event.”

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte are on sale and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

LOS ANGELES (November 22, 2023) – Undefeated Darius “DFG” Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) faces light heavyweight Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round bout at home in Houston on a Golden Boy Promotions card, headlined by Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte, on December 2 at Toyota Center.

The 27-year-old Fulgham is on a hot run, knocking out each of the eight opponents to date as a professional. However, it isn’t imperative for Fulghum to extend his perfect  KO streak to nine. This will be his third straight scheduled eight-round fight, but the first two only went a total of three rounds.

“It’s (9-for-9) not really important to me because I care most about winning and giving the fans an exciting fight,” Fulghum explained. “I want to give a dominant showing and if the knockout comes, it comes. My opponent is very tough. He’s coming to fight, not rollover.

“Anybody who has seen me train knows I train for 12 rounds. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can go a strong eight. I know I’m in top condition and will be putting on the pressure.”

3 PM has him fighting for the sixth time in 2023, the second under contract to the event promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.

“2023 has been the best year of my career,” Fulghum commented. “The start of my career has been everything I want to do to get me where I’m going, one step at a time. I’m taking my time. My boxing IQ is higher in the pro ranks with the experience I’m gaining. I’m more familiar with the process and I’m learning how to keep care of my body. Overall, I’m more comfortable with the process and I’m used to the PR stuff. Everybody wants recognition, but it has to be earned not given.”

A licensed nurse in Texas with a degree from Prairie View A & M University, Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer, ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, despite fighting as a super middleweight as a pro. He captured top honors at the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament and 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Because the fight is after Thanksgiving, Fulghum will need to sacrifice and ship a few of the traditional foods that have too many carbohydrates.

“I’m a big ‘foodie’ but I believe Thanksgiving isn’t all about food,” Fulghum concluded. “I’m not concerned about what I won’t be able to eat this year. I believe Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the people you love, and I will be spending time with a lot of them. I do love food, though. If I wasn’t a boxer, my dream job would be Guy Fieri’s (Food Network host).”   

Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), a growing company based in Los Angeles that has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former world super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs), NABA Super Flyweight Champion John “Scrappy” Ramirez (12-0, 8 KOs), WBA Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion Kareem Hackett (12-0, 6 KOs), super middleweight Cem “Champ” Kilic (17-1, 11 KOs), and heavyweight Zach Spiller (3-0, 2 KOs).

It’s a lock, Fulghum’s time is coming; not if, rather when. Book it!

INFORMATION:

Instagram/X (Twitter)/Linkedin: @DariusFulghum

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (November 14, 2023): Golden Boy Promotions announced today the signing of the undefeated and current WBO Intercontinental Super Lightweight Champion Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-10 KOs). Barboza Jr. will participate on the DAZN broadcast of the Ryan Garcia vs. Oscar Duarte card in Houston, Texas at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2.

“I’m ready for the big fights,” said Arnold Barboza Jr. “ I’m ready for the big events, I’m ready to fight in LA where I was born and raised. I feel that Golden Boy and Oscar will deliver this for me and they stepped up and gave me what I asked for.”

“The mold of a Golden Boy fighter is talent and hunger to become a world champion, which are all the qualities that Arnold Barboza Jr. possesses,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. “We will position him to fight for a World Title Belt in the very near future. We’re the best in the business at building the next generation of stars and Arnold Barboza Jr. will put the 140 pound division on notice.”

“Value is not determined by those who set the price, value is determined by those who choose to pay it,” said Rick Mirigian, Manager to Barboza Jr. “Golden Boy has placed a high value on Barboza and wasted no time to show it.”
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A Los Angeles native, 31-year-old Arnold Barboza Jr. made his professional debut as a welterweight on June 14, 2013, scoring a six-round unanimous decision victory against Gustavo Lopez. Since then, he has quickly dispatched a number of tough rivals and has climbed the ladder to become ranked No. 1 by the WBO, No.6 by Ring Magazine and No. 4 by the WBC. In his decade-long career, Barboza held various regional titles including the WBO International Super Lightweight Title (2020-2021) and the NABF Super Lightweight Title (2018-2019). His most notable wins include an unanimous decision victory against former World Champion Jose Pedraza, a unanimous decision victory against Danielito Zorrilla, a dramatic unanimous decision win against World Title Contender Alex Saucedo, and a fight that went the distance against Antonio Moran.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 13, 2023) – Golden Boy’s must-watch talent will be the supporting cast for the anticipated return of “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) who will face the dangerous knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) in a super lightweight fight. The fight night, presented in association with Cancun Boxing, will take place at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 2 in Houston, Texas and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

The co-main event features London’s Ohara “Two Tanks” Davies (25-2, 18 KOs) who will make his highly anticipated U.S. debut as a Golden Boy fighter against El Tigre, Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (24-4-2, 22 KOs). The 12-round fight is for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship and is presented in association with TGB Promotions.

On the DAZN card, WBA Lightweight International Champion and rising star Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (15-0, 11 KOs) of Austin, Texas, will defend his title against Tijuana, Mexico’s Ricardo “Explosivo” Torres (17-7-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight presented in association with Davies Entertainment. Schofield was last seen winning the respect of boxing fans in a bloodbath fight against the tough Haskell Rhodes this past July 8.

Also making his return is NABO Middleweight Champion Shane Mosley Jr. (20-4, 11 KOs) who will measure up against San Bernardino’s Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight. Mosley Jr. is coming in hot after an explosive fifth round knockout against D’Mitrius Ballard on the Munguia vs. Derevyanchenko card in June.

Opening the DAZN card, knockout prospect Darius Fulghum (8-0, 8 KOs) will perform in front of his hometown Houston crowd in an eight-round light heavyweight fight against Pachino “Chino” Hill (8-4-1, 6 KOs) of Davenport, Iowa. This fight will mark Fulghum’s sixth time this 2023 calendar year fighting, making him one of the busiest prospects in boxing.

Golden Boy Fight Night: Garcia vs. Duarte Prelims streamed on Golden Boy’s YouTube Channel will kick off the fight night. In a four-round super bantamweight fight, Waianae, Hawaii’s Asa “Ace” Stevens (5-0, 2 KOs) will go toe-to-toe with Dominque Griffin (5-5-2, 2 KOs) of Irving, Texas. Former Mexican Olympian and bantamweight prospect Gael “El Terror” Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) of Sonora, Mexico, will make his return in a four-round fight against Las Vegas, Nevada’s Alejandro Dominguez (2-0, 1 KO). Opening fight night for his brother and stablemate, the undefeated Sean Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) of Victorville, California will participate in a four-round fight against a soon to be announced opponent.

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing. Davies vs. Barroso is a 12-round fight for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Championship presented by Golden Boy in association with TGB Promotions.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte are on sale and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

Media interested in covering the fight must fill out a credential application by Monday, November 27. Link can be found HERE.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 25, 2023) – International superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) and knockout artist Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) of Parral, Mexico hosted a press conference today ahead of their 12-round, super lightweight collision. The fight will take place at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, December 2 and is presented in association with Cancun Boxing. The event will be broadcasted worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

Tickets for Garcia vs. Duarte went on sale today and are priced at $500, $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 plus applicable fees. A limited amount of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available for purchase with exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades included. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at ToyotaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com.

Here is what today’s participants had to say:
RYAN GARCIA, INTERNATIONAL BOXING STAR AND SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“You know, Oscar is a tough opponent, a knockout artist, so I have to be prepared, you know, refresh after my last fight. I’ve been training with Derek and have been learning a lot and building. At this new weight I feel more confident, just stronger and just more aware.”

“If I expect to become a champion, I can’t take easy fights and think that’s going get me there. So, I knew that Oscar was a challenge. He’s fast. He’s strong. He’s got good timing. So it just made sense for me, you know, this fight, to show what I could do to prepare me for the bigger fights.”

“I know the city’s gonna show out because you know, Houston! So much love out here!”

OSCAR DUARTE, SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER:
“I’m happy and very excited to be here. I am thankful for this opportunity. I’m ready. I’m living in my best moment. I’m thankful for my team, my family and come December 2, I’m going to shine. It’s going to be a great fight and I’m going to make Chihuahua and Mexico proud.”

“Come December 2, I’m going to win and I’m going to be the next idol in Mexican boxing with the preparation that I am doing. I have a big rival in front of me, I have an incredible team behind me. They are my strength, and I am ready for the big challenges ahead of me. This is my best moment for me not only physically but mentally too.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF GOLDEN BOY:
“Ryan doesn’t shy away from anything and I mean, you take a look at Oscar Duarte, and he’s a very, very tough knockout artist. And so the fact that Ryan Garcia picked him as as his comeback fight tells you everything about Ryan Garcia. He’s ready. He wants to make a huge statement. He wants to come back and be world champion.”

“Ryan has a champion’s attitude. That’s exactly what he has. And a lot of people in the boxing industry were very surprised because Oscar Duarte is coming off an 11-fight knockout streak. His trainer has been doing wonders and you know, he can’t wait to showcase and so I believe that Ryan Garcia will will will bring his best, and Oscar Duarte will bring his best, and all the fans here in Houston will bring will bring the best energy and hype around this fight.”

DERRICK JAMES, FORMER TWO-TIME TRAINER OF THE YEAR:
“I’m happy to be in Texas and back in Houston. I love Houston. I think that it’s going to be a spectacular night of boxing. Ryan and I are getting along pretty good in training camp and everything is meshing. This is a day by day process. We keep getting better and better and better. So I’m looking for a great night of fights.”
PEPE GOMEZ, CHAIRMAN OF CANCUN BOXING:
“I am very happy to be here. This is a very important fight for Cancun boxing, for Mexico, for Oscar Duarte and our team. We need the best fights for this sport. Thank you Oscar De La Hoya for making this happen.”

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand.

About Toyota Center:
Since opening in October 2003, Toyota Center has set a new standard for sports and entertainment, becoming one of the premier live entertainment venues in the nation. Laid over the span of six city blocks, Toyota Center is home to the NBA’s Houston Rockets. Toyota Center also plays host to the nation’s top concerts and touring shows. The arena’s playing surface is set nearly 32-feet below street level giving Toyota Center the largest lower level of any arena in the nation. Coupled with the exclusive Lexus Lounge and trendy Sire Spirits Social Club, Toyota Center offers something for everyone making it the hottest spot for sports and entertainment in Houston. For more information, visit ToyotaCenter.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (October 3, 2023) – International superstar “King” Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) will make his highly anticipated return to the ring in what will be a collision of knockout power against Parral, Mexico’s Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte (26-1-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday, December 2. Scheduled for 12-rounds, the super lightweight event is presented in association with Cancun Boxing and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN as part of your subscription.

“Let’s go! I am so excited to announce that I will be fighting Oscar Duarte on December 2,” said Ryan Garcia. “I’m back and feeling better and stronger than before. I wanted Duarte for me and for the fans. He’s tough and I’m ready to give people another show at my best weight again. Say whatever you want about Ryan Garcia, but I’m always going to give the fans what they want. Love you. See you December 2 on DAZN. Location and ticketing will be announced soon.”

At only 25-years-old, “King” Ryan Garcia has skyrocketed to the top of superstardom and has proven that he is a supreme pay-per-view attraction. His last fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in April 2023 garnered more than 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and generated a $22.8 million gate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, making it the top 5 best gates in Nevada boxing history. One of the most dynamic and exciting boxers fighting today, his fast-paced style, killer left hook, and long roster of knockouts have impressed boxing fans for years. He has held the WBC interim lightweight title, easily dispatching top contenders such as Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell.

“I feel very happy and full of enthusiasm now that this fight against Ryan Garcia has been finalized. This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Oscar Duarte. “I want to thank Golden Boy for giving me this great opportunity. I am very grateful for the support of my entire team. Everyone can expect the very best version of Oscar Duarte. I am ready to win this fight. I will lift the name of Mexico up on high.”

Oscar “La Migraña” Duarte of Parral, Chihuahua has become a boogeyman contender in the lightweight division with his hunter-killer instincts and defensive skills to match. Unafraid to go in the pocket with any fighter, Duarte is a resilient bull who has been knocking fighter’s heads off one-by-one. His sole loss was in 2019 against Adrian Estrella, which he has avenged with a string of 11 straight knockout victories, the last three including the rugged D’Angelo Keyes, the tough Alex Martin, and veteran Javier Franco. The powerful Duarte became a professional in 2013 and also has incredible Mexican star power behind him with award-winning actor, model and television host Gabriel Soto co-managing his career along with Cancun Boxing. 

“This is one of the reasons fight fans love Ryan — instead of taking baby steps back after a hard fought fight, he is returning against a guy with lethal power who doesn’t take a step backwards,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Whoever emerges victorious is immediately in line for a shot against any of the current world champions. Fans aren’t going to want to miss this one.” 

“It is great to have Ryan fighting again on DAZN in 2023”, said Jared Kass, SVP North America, DAZN Group. “Ryan has been a key part of DAZN since our inception and this barnstormer vs Oscar Duarte will feature in a knockout run of shows in December. Watch all the action live on December 2nd, only as part of your DAZN subscription.”

More information on the venue, undercard, and tickets will be announced in the coming weeks. 

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Garcia vs. Duarte is a 12-round fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Cancun Boxing. The event will be available worldwide to all subscribers on DAZN, both live and on demand. 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #GarciaDuarte

WBO number-one ranked welterweight Alexis Rocha stopped Anthony Young in round five of a scheduled 12-round bout at The Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California.

In round five, Rocha dropped Young with a left. Young got to his feet, but was wobbly and the fight was stopped at 2:15.

Rocha, 146.6 lbs of Santa Ana, CA is 23-1 with 15 knockouts. Young, 146.4 lbs of Atlantic City, NJ is 24-3.

“I knew he was going to come in with the same energy he did when he fought Sadam Ali, and I was ready for that,” said Alexis Rocha. “I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight, and I am confident with the help of my amazing promoter, Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, we’ll make it happen.”

Oscar Duarte stopped D’Angelo Keyes after round seven of their 10-round lightweight bout.

In round three, Duarte put Keyes down with a right hand along the ropes.

In round seven, Duarte scored another knockdown with a left hand to the forehead. Keyes showed toughness, but he took a lot of punches and the doctor stopped the bout after round seven.

Duarte, 135 lbs of Parral, MEX is now 26-1-1 with 21 knockouts. Keyes, 134.3 lbs of Houston, TX is 17-3.

“This was an amazing fight, with a great rival who was incredibly tough and very prepared,” said Oscar Duarte. “From the beginning, our plan was to break him down little by little. As I said in previous interviews, I wasn’t going to go looking for the knockout, I just knew it was going to happen naturally just based on how well I had prepared and how I have matured physically and mentally. I would love a fight against William Zepeda.”

Oscar Collazo won the WBO Minimumweight world title with a stoppage of Melvin Jerusalem after round seven.

Jerusalem started well, but Collazo came on and dropped Jerusalem with body shots in round seven. The fight was stopped in the corner following the round.

Collazo, 105 lbs of Villalba, PR is now 7-0 with five knockouts. Jerusalem, 104.6 lbs of Santos City, PHL is 20-3.

“We knew we had a solid challenge ahead of us, but thanks to my corner, they helped me stay calm throughout the fight,” said Oscar Collazo. “I knew I had to establish the pace with my jab, and by the fourth or fifth round we started to hit the body and he didn’t like it. We chopped the tree and we made history for Villalba. I will see you all in Puerto Rico in August, where I will make my first title defense.”

World ranked super flyweight John Ramirez had to eek out a 10-round split decision over Fernando Diaz.

Ramirez, 114.5 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won two cards 96-94, while Diaz took a card 96-94 and sis now 12-0.

Diaz, 114.8 lbs of Riverside, CA is 12-4-1.

Eric Priest remained undefeated with a eight-round unanimous decision over Ricardo Villalba in a middleweight bout.

Priest, 159.8 lbs of Los Angeles, CA won by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73 and is now 10-0. Villalba, 160 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 20-9-1.

In round five, Villaalba started to bleed from the bridge of his nose.

Johnny Canas made a successful pro debut with four-round unanimous decision over Jose Alvarado in a super lightweight bout.

Canas, 136.4 lbs of Santa Ana, CA won by scores of 40-36 and 39-37 twice and is now 1-0. Alvarado, 138 lbs of Puebla, MEX is 1-8.

Leonardo Sanchez stopped Uhlices Reyes in round two of their four-round super featherweight fight featuring undefeated boxers.

In round one, Sanchez dropped Reyes with a left to the body. In round two, Sanchez put Reyes down with a straight left hand. Sanchez landed a big left that sent Reyes backing up across the ring. He followed up with a flurry that sent Reyes down again and the fight was stopped at 1:01.

Sanchez, 130 lbs of Cathedral City, CA is 5-0 with four knockouts. Reyes, 129 lbs of Omaha, NEB is 1-1.

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 23, 2022) – One of the lightweight division’s up-and-coming contenders and certified brawler, Oscar Duarte (23-1-1, 18 KOs) of Parral, Mexico has re-signed a multi-year, multi-fight deal with Golden Boy.

“I am very happy and feel super enthusiastic about staying with Golden Boy,” said Oscar Duarte. “We faced very difficult times during the pandemic where I didn’t get to have a lot of activity inside of the ring. But I am feeling very hungry to show the world who Oscar Duarte is. I am coming into this with firm steps and everything I have inside of me. I have momentous gratitude for Oscar De La Hoya and all of the Golden Boy team for trusting me and for the opportunity to be a part of their great company.”

Duarte’s last appearance as the co-main event of Munguia vs. Kelly solidified what many had seen in him: a physically tough fighter with natural power that will continue to make waves in the division.

“We signed Oscar Duarte as a young prospect with only five fights under his belt, and have developed him to become a world title contender,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. “We are proud to have him continue to be a part of the Golden Boy family and one day become a World Champion representing Mexico.”

“We feel very excited about this new deal and are filled with utmost gratitude for Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya and his entire staff for the confidence in Oscar Duarte,” said manager Gabriel Soto. “Without a doubt we have a future star in our hands, a future world champion, and a future idol who 100 percent represents Mexico. As his manager, alongside Memo Rocha, we are fully confident that after a brief pause due to the pandemic, Duarte will come back into the ring with everything.”

Managed by one of the biggest Latino celebrities, actor Gabriel Soto, Mexican fighter Oscar Duarte made his professional debut on the undercard of Victor Terrazas vs. Cristian Mijares in 2013, defeating Manuel Isaias via first round technical knockout. In September of 2015, Duarte made his introduction to U.S. fans with an impressive four-round win over previously unbeaten Alejandro “Po Po” Salinas. He formally signed with Golden Boy in 2016 and has since built out his fighter profile becoming a two-time WBC Latino Light interim title holder in 2019 and then captured the vacant NABF Lightweight title in 2020. Duarte will be looking to fight for a future world championship in the stacked division.

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For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy.

Jaime Munguia remained undefeated by stopping Jimmy Kelly in round five of a scheduled 12-round super middleweight bout at The Toyota Arena in Anaheim, California.

In round five, Mungua dropped Kelly with a left hook. A second knockdown occurred when Munguai sent Kelly down with an uppercut. Munguia was able to finish off Kelly with a hard right that was followed by a left that sent Kelly down for a third and final time and the bout was stopped at 2:57.

Munguia, 165 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 40-0 with 32 knockouts. Kelly, 164 lbs of Manchester, ENG is 26-3.

Duarte Stops Bernaldez in

Oscar Duarte stopped Mark Bernaldez in round eight of their scheduled 10-round super lightweight bout.

In round eight, Duarte landed a hard right that buckled Bernaldez. Duarte followed up with a big flurry and the fight was stopped at 2:05.

Duarte, 136.4 lbs of Perral, MEX is 23-1-1 with 18 knockouts. Bernaldez, 135.6 lbs of Vatabeto, PHL is 23-6.

Valle Decisions Villalobos; Retains Minimumweight Title

Yokasta Valle retained the IBF Minimumweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Lorraine Villalobios.

Valle, 104.6 lbs of San Juan, Costa Rica won by scores of 100-90 on all cards and is now 25-2. Villalobos, 104.8 lbs of Los Angeles is 5-4.

Carlos Ortiz scored a stunning fifth round stoppage over previously undefeated prospect Evan Sanchez in a scheduled eight-round super welterweight fight.

The fight was a war for most of time, and in round five, Ortiz hurt Sanchez with a chopping left. Ortiz landed six unanswered punches which included another flush chopping left that sent Sanchez down and out at 2:59.

Ortiz, 151 lbs of Torreon, MEX is now 13-5 with 13 knockouts. Sanchez, 152,4 lbs of Parlier, CA is 11-1.

Former world title challenger Carlos Ocampo stopped Vincent Rodriguez in round one of their eight-round middleweight bout.

In round one, Ocampo dropped Rodriguez with a left hook to the body, and he could not beat the count at 2:06.

Ocampo, 156 lbs of Ensenada, MEX is 34-1 with 22 knockouts. Rodriguez, 154.2 lbs of Buenos Aries, ARG is 40-11-1.

Pin-Pon Reyes stopped Moises Flores in round two of their scheduled six-round welterweight bout.

In round two, Argel dropped Flores with an overhand right. Reyes then landed several hard shots, and the fight was stopped at 55 seconds

Reyes, 139.8 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is now 8-0 with four knockouts. Flores, 147 lbs of Guadalajara, MEX is 25-7-1.

Japhethlee Llamido won a six-round unanimous decision over Saul Hernandez in a lightweight bout.

In round two, Llamido was cut over his right eye due to an accidental headbutt.

In round six, Llamido dropped Hernandez with a right hand.

Llamdio, 128.4 lbs of Long Beach, CA won by scores of 60-54 on all cards and is now 8-0. Hernandez, 132 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 17-16-1.

Jorge Estrada remained undefeated with an opening round stoppage over Hassan Coleman in a junior middleweight contest.

The fighters came out throwing wild punches, and in an exchange, Estrada landed a body punch that sent Coleman down in a lot of pain and the fight was stopped at 1:51.

Estrada, 153.6 lbs of Mexicali, MEX is now 3-0 with with three knockouts. Coleman, 153 lbs of Los Angeles was making his pro debut.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 8, 2022) – The pride of Chihuahua, Oscar Duarte (21-1-1, 17 KOs), will return to fight in the U.S. for the first time since 2019 against Mark “Machete” Bernaldez (23-5, 17 KOs) of Cotabato, the Philippines as the co-main event for Munguia vs. Kelly on Saturday, June 11 at Anaheim’s Honda Center. Also, on the undercard Yokasta Valle (24-2, 9 KOs) of San Jose, Costa Rica, will defend her IBF Minimumweight World Championship against Los Angeles’ Lorraine Villalobos (5-3, 2 KOs). Additionally, undefeated fighter Evan Sanchez (11-0, 6 KOs) of Parlier, CA, is scheduled for an 8-round super welterweight fight against the battle-tested Carlos Ortiz (12-5, 12 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico. The action-packed main card will stream live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico) this Saturday beginning at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET. 

Ahead of that, The Golden Boy Fight Night: Munguia vs. Kelly Prelims will begin live streaming at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET on DAZN, as well as the Golden Boy Boxing YouTube page; featuring the night’s undercard, hosted by Beto Duran and welterweight rising contender Alexis “Lex” Rocha. The undercard will be headlined by Los Angeles’ fan favorite Alejandro “Pin-Pon” Reyes (7-0, 4 KOs) taking on Moises Flores (25-6-1, 17 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mexico, in a 6-round super lightweight fight. Opening up the fight night, undefeated super welterweight Jorge Estrada (2-0, 2 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, will face Los Angeles’ Hassan Coleman. He will be making his professional debut in the 4-round super welterweight fight. 

Tickets for Munguia vs. Kelly are on sale now and are priced at $150, $100, $50, and $25 not including applicable service charges. Tickets will be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com, HondaCenter.com or GoldenBoyPromotions.com. The remaining tickets will go on sale Monday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m. at the Honda Center Box Office.

Munguia vs. Kelly is a 12-round super middleweight fight presented by Golden Boy in association with Zanfer Promotions and ProBox Promotions. Valle vs. Villalobos is a 10-round fight for the IBF Minimumweight World Championship, presented by Golden Boy in association with Marv Nation. The event is sponsored by Hennessy “Never Stop. Never Settle,” and “BetOnline – Your Online Sportsbook Experts.” The fight will take place on Saturday, June 11 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. 

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing. Follow the conversation using #MunguiaKelly

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. (Mar. 5, 2020): Oscar Duarte (18-1, 13 KOs) and Andres Garcia (13-2-1, 8 KOs) hosted their final press conference today at the J. Quissime Restaurant Bar in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico ahead of their 10-round fight for the vacant NABF Lightweight Title. The event will take place Saturday, Mar. 7 at The Gimnasio Municipal in Chihuahua, Mexico and will be streamed live on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the press conference:

OSCAR DUARTE, Lightweight Contender:
“The truth is, I’m super happy. I see all of this, and I don’t believe it. For me, it’s an honor to fight for the best promoter in the world, which is Golden Boy. And to fight here at my home, it’s also an honor. For this fight, I prepared myself very well, and I feel ready to win. We are going to win a new title this Saturday, and then we’re going for more.”

ANDRES GARCIA, Lightweight Contender:
“I want to thank God for the great opportunity to be part of this card. I’m here to tell you that I didn’t come to Mexico for nothing. I’ve been preparing. I’m coming to this fight, and I’m willing to take that title to my homeland, to my people in Fonseca, Colombia, who have never had a title like the one I am going to give them.”

LUIS HERNANDEZ, Super Lightweight Contender:
“I am very prepared, and I hope that my opponent is too. For me it’s a beautiful thing to return to Parral, Mexico. A lot of fighters have started their careers here, including some of my teammates. I also made my debut in Parral. I think it will be complicated for my opponent to take this title to Colombia.”

PLACIDO RAMIREZ, Super Lightweight Contender:
“I want to thank God, my agent, and my coaches for allowing me to fight as part of this undercard. I’m ready to show myself off and give a good fight. I’m prepared to take the title to my home city of Soplaviento, Colombia.”

WILLIAM ZEPEDA, Lightweight Contender:
“It’s an honor for me to be part of an undercard like this. I want to thank all the people who have supported me. I’ve trained well for this fight and I feel very motivated and prepared. I know I have a good rival here, but I have the desire to win and start 2020 on the right foot and keep moving forward.”

Duarte vs. Garcia is a 10-round fight for the vacant NABF Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with the Municipality of Hidalgo del Parral and 2M Promotions. The event will take place Saturday, March 7 at the Gimnasio Municipal in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy Follow the conversation using #DuarteGarcia. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/DuarteGarcia into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy for photos and videos used.

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (Feb. 27, 2020): Lightweight contender Oscar Duarte (18-1-1, 13 KOs) will look to deliver an exciting hometown performance when he takes on Andres Garcia (13-2-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant NABF Lightweight Title in a 10-round main event. The night of action will take place on Saturday, March 7 at The Gimnasio Municipal in Duarte’s hometown of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico and will be free to the public. Los combates serán transmitidos en vivo globalmente en Facebook Watch a través de la Pagina Fight Night de Golden Boy.

Duarte is a 24-year-old puncher who is coming off three knockout wins after suffering his only loss, which was against experienced contender Adrian Estrella. The charismatic puncher has also fought on many important cards under the Golden Boy banner, where he has scored big wins against the likes of Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez and Rey “Flash” Perez. Duarte delighted to return in front of a hometown crowd and for the second time in a row on the Facebook Watch platform.

“I’m very delighted to have the opportunity to fight in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico for a second time,” said Oscar Duarte. “I want to thank Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy, and my entire team. I know that Andres Garcia will come to give a war and to score an upset, but I’ve been training really hard with Joel Diaz to walk away with my hand raised in victory. Big things will be lined up for me if I win this fight, so I’m going to work very hard as always.”

Garcia is a 32-year-old boxer who will fight for the first time outside his native country of Colombia. Garcia is coming off a technical knockout victory in October 2019, and he plans to upset Duarte in his own territory.

“I’m coming to win by any means necessary,” said Andres Garcia. “I understand very well that Oscar Duarte will be the favorite because we will be in his hometown, and aside from one loss, he is virtually undefeated. But I’m ready and focused to win this fight any way I can, whether that’s by knockout or by decision. A victory is key to my career.”

The undercard of this event will feature two additional Mexico vs. Colombia fights featuring two of our most exciting prospects, along with many prospects from all over Mexico.

In the co-main event, Luis “El Matador” Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will defend his WBC Youth Super Lightweight Title in a 10-round fight against Placido Ramirez (17-1, 10 KOs) of Soplaviento, Colombia.

William “Camaron” Zepeda (20-0, 18 KOs) of San Mateo Atenco, Mexico will face Brayam Rico (12-2, 10 KOs) of Bogota, Colombia in a 10-round lightweight clash.

Jaime Saavedra (4-0, 1 KO), a native of Chihuahua, Mexico who is co-promoted by Miguel Cotto Promotions and Golden Boy, will return in a four-round super lightweight bout.

Jacobo Guerra (1-0) of Parral, Mexico will participate in a four-round super welterweight battle against the debuting Sean Hamilton of El Paso, Texas.

David Alvarado (1-0) of Parral, Mexico will fight in a four-round 112-pound clash against Carlos Zaleta (1-0) of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Yamil Luna (1-0) of Parral, Mexico and Eduardo Simmons of El Paso, Texas will meet in a four-round lightweight fight.

Luis Fernando Robles (11-1-1, 3 KOs) of Oaxaca, Mexico will fight against Jesus Iribe (21-13-5, 10 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico in a 10-round 118-pound clash.

Israel Rodriguez Picazo (17-5, 9 KOs) of Tlaxcala, Mexico and Juan Jimenez (27-18-3, 19 KOs) will go toe-to-toe in an eight-round battle in the super bantamweight division.

Ulises Moguel (6-0, 4 KOs) of Chiapas, Mexico will participate in an eight-round lightweight fight against Ever Ceballos (11-24-1, 3 KOs) of Casas Grandes, Mexico.

Carlos Ortiz (11-5, 11 KOs) of Torreon, Mexico will make his return in an eight-round super lightweight battle against Octavio Ochoa (2-9, 1 KO) of Casas Grandes, Mexico.

Manuel Rascon (7-2, 7 KOs) of Delicias, Mexico will open the night in a six-round light flyweight clash.

Opponents for Rascon and Saavedra will be announced shortly.

Duarte vs. Garcia is a 10-round fight for the vacant NABF Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with the Municipality of Hidalgo del Parral and 2M Promotions. The event will take place Saturday, March 7 at the Gimnasio Municipal in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy Follow the conversation using #DuarteGarcia. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting the link http://bit.ly/DuarteGarcia into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy for photos and videos used.

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (Oct. 17, 2019): Lightweight contender Oscar Duarte
(17-1-1, 12 KOs) of Parral, Chihuahua and new opponent Humberto De Santiago (18-6-1, 13 KOs) of Santa Catarina, Mexico hosted their final press conference today at Buffalo Wild Wings in Chihuahua, Mexico ahead of their 10-round fight for Duarte’s WBC Latino Lightweight Title. This battle will be the main event of the October 19 edition of Golden Boy Fight Night on Facebook Watch and will take place at The Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo in Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

Below is what today’s participants had to say at the press conference:

OSCAR DUARTE, WBC Latino Lightweight Champion:
“I want to thank Golden Boy for the opportunity to fight here in my hometown. I want to thank my family for always supporting me. I feel happy and enthusiastic about this fight. I’ve prepared very well. I’m ready. And I hope to give a great fight this Saturday. We’ll see you at the Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo.”

FRANCISCO VARGAS, Former World Champion:
“I’m happy to be coming back to my country to fight, especially right here in Chihuahua. It’s a great state where there are a lot of fans, and I have a lot of friends and people I know here as well. I am very happy. I had a great training camp with my coach Joel Diaz, and we are ready to give a great battle. You know my style. You have all grown accustomed to my style of fighting. So don’t miss out on this night of action on Saturday.”

HUMBERTO DE SANTIAGO, Lightweight Contender:
“Thank you for the opportunity. We’ve come a long way and plan to give a great show for the fans.”

EZEKIEL AVILES, Lightweight Contender:
“As soon as I found out I was going to fight Francisco Vargas, I made sure to be very well prepared. I trained very hard because I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I have nothing more to say, and I will see you all this Saturday.”

Duarte vs. De Santiago is a 10-round fight for the WBC Latino Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and the City of Chihuahua. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 at The Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo in Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and are available at www.DonBoleton.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy Follow the conversation using #DuarteSolano. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here. Credit must be given to Golden Boy for photos and videos used.

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (Oct. 7, 2019): Lightweight contender Oscar Duarte (17-1-1, 12 KOs) will defend his WBC Latino Lightweight Title in a 10-round main event against Richard Solano (20-2-2, 13 KOs) on the October 19 edition of Golden Boy Fight Night on Facebook Watch at The Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo in Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

“We’re excited for the second installment of our four-part series in Mexico with Facebook Watch,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “This time, we’re headed to Chihuahua, Mexico as we continue to build our brand’s presence in different parts of the country. Oscar Duarte is a rising Golden Boy star with deep roots in Chihuahua and Francisco Vargas is a former world champion, so we guarantee an impressive event for fans in attendance and from home on Facebook Watch.”

Duarte is a 23-year-old native of Parral, Chihuahua who is coming off two technical knockout wins after suffering his only loss, which was against experienced contender Adrian Estrella. The charismatic puncher has also fought on many important cards under the Golden Boy banner, where he has scored big wins against the likes of Roger “The Kid” Gutierrez and Rey “Flash” Perez. Duarte is inches away from a world title shot, but he’ll have to remove any doubts about being worthy for a title shot in a tough fight before a hometown crowd.

“I’m very happy and motivated to be fighting on my native land, my state and with my people,” said Oscar Duarte. “I am preparing to give the very best of myself. Not only do I want to win the fight, but I also want to show people that I am learning and show that I can serve as an example for all of those who have dreams and goals. Every day I work hard to achieve my dream of becoming a world champion and to be an inspiration for my people. On this occasion, I will face a good boxer from Puerto Rico who himself wants to take advantage of this opportunity. Because of that I respect him, but I’m going to do my job in the ring.”

Solano is a 31-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic who has fought his entire profesional career in his home country. Solano will fight for the first time in Mexico, and he plans to defeat the hometown hero in his own backyard.

“I want to thank Golden Boy for the opportunity to fight on one of its events in Mexico against Oscar Duarte,” said Richard Solano. “I always dreamed about fighting a Mexican in his own house. I’m ready to hand him a beating. The fans will see that I’m going to win in his own hometown. Everyone will remember my name, Richard Solano. You don’t want to miss this fight!”

In the co-main event, former world champion Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas (25-2-2, 18 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico will make his highly anticipated return against Ezequiel “Sheke”Aviles (16-4-3, 6 KOs) of Ensenada, Mexico in a 10-round lightweight fight.

“It’s an honor to be coming back to Mexico to begin another run at a world title,” said Francisco Vargas. “It’s been almost five years since I last fought in my home country, so I’m excited to put on a great show for everyone there and for all those who will watch on Facebook.”

“This is the biggest fight of my career,” said Ezequiel Aviles. “But if I want to become a contender, these are the challenges I need to face. I have what it takes to beat Vargas, and I promise a great win on Oct. 19.”

The undercard of this event will feature some of the best talent from the area.

Luis Hernandez (19-0, 17 KOs), who is the most sought-after prospect from Chihuahua, Mexico, will face Victor Zuniga (20-3, 9 KOs) of Ciudad Acuna, Mexico for the WBC Youth Super Lightweight Title in a 10-round battle. Hernandez, who has the same name as the legendary soccer player Luis “El Matador” Hernandez, will look to follow in the footsteps of fighters such as Quirino Garcia, Juan Carlos “El Ranchero” Ramirez, David “Tacubayo” Murillo and Miguel “Mickey” Roman, all of whom originated in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Angel Pillada (12-1, 7 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will fight in an eight-round bantamweight fight.

Karina Fernandez (12-4-1, 3 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will battle Cecilia Santoscoy (2-5, 1 KO) of Satillo, Mexico in an eight-round super flyweight fight.

Jaime Saavedra (2-0), a prospect from Chihuahua, Mexico who recently signed a co-promotional agreement with Golden Boy and Miguel Cotto Promotions, will return in a four-round welterweight fight.

Ruben Tellez (9-2, 5 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in an eight-round lightweight clash against Joaquin Aguilar (5-2, 3 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Eduardo Martinez (2-2, 2 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico and Alan Salazar (1-0) of Chihuahua, Mexico will meet in a six-round super bantamweight bout.

Karla Gonzalez (2-0) of Chihuahua, Mexico will battle against Brenda Ruacho (0-1) of Chihuahua, Mexico in a super bantamweight fight scheduled for six rounds.

Bryan Soto (1-0, 1 KO) of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in four-round battle in the 147-pound division.

Rafael Proano (12-2-3, 8 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico will take on Esteban Villalba (11-21-3, 8 KOs) of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in a welterweight clash scheduled for eight rounds.

Carlos Zaleta of Chihuahua, Mexico will make his professional debut in a four-round flyweight fight against Jose Salmeron (0-0-1) of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Carlos Hernandez of Chihuahua, Mexico will participate in a four-round super featherweight clash against Jesus Cuellar (0-3) of Chihuahua, Mexico.

Duarte vs. Solano is a 10-round fight for the WBC Latino Lightweight Title presented by Golden Boy in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and the City of Chihuahua. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 19 at The Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo in Chihuahua, Mexico. The fights will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page.

Tickets for the event are available at www.DonBoleton.com

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. Become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy Follow the conversation using #DuarteSolano. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing.

Photos and videos are available to download by clicking here or copying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/DuarteSolano into a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy for photos and videos used.

Joseph Diaz, Jr. won a 10-round unanimous decision over Charles Huerta in a super featherweight bout.

Diaz, 129.8 lbs of South El Monte, CA won by scores of 99-91 on all cards, and is now 28-1.  Huerta, 130 lbs of Paramount, CA is 20-6.

Adrian Estrella won a 10-round split decision over previously undefeated Oscar Duarte in a lightweight bout.

Estrella was cut over the right eye in round six.

Estrella won two cards by scores of 98-92 and 96-94. Duarte won a card 97-93.

Estrella, 135 lbs of Nuevo Leon, MEX is now 29-3. Duarte, 135 lbs of Parral, MEX is 15-1-1.

Taureano Johnson and Fernando Castaneda battled to an eight-round draw in a middleweight contest.

Each fighter won a card 77-75 and a 3rd card read even at 76-76.

Jihnson, 163,2 lbs of Nassau, BAH is now 20-2-1.  Catstaneda, 164 lbs of Aguascalientes, MEX is 26-13-1.

Former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan stopped Lolito Sonson in round five of a scheduled ten-round super bantamweight bout.

In round one, Hovhannisyan was deducted a point for a low blow. In round five, Hovhannisyan dropped Sonsona with a right to the body. Hovhannisyan sent Sonsona down again with a follow up flurry, and the bout was stopped at 2:23.

Hovhannisyan, 121.8 lbs of Los Angeles, is 16-3 with 13 knockouts. Sonsona, 122 lbs of General Santos City, PHL is 22-3-4.