Despite the loss
of world title challenger Jimrex Jaca due to
immigration issues, Golden Boy Promotions is ready,
willing, and able to go forward with its 'Mexican
Glory' pay-per-view show at the Don Haskins Center in
El Paso, Texas on Saturday, October 21st with not just
three, but now four world-class level bouts.
The Philippines' Jaca was scheduled to face WBO
featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in the main
event of the HBO pay-per-view card, but despite the
tireless efforts of renowned immigration attorney
Frank Ronzio, Jaca received his VISA on October 11th
but was unable to receive the government stamp
necessary for him to travel to the United States for
his first world championship fight due to an
unavoidable backup at the US embassy in Manila.
And though a replacement opponent was sought for
Marquez, there were no quality opponents willing to
take on one of boxing's best, pound for pound, on less
than a week's notice.
The show must go on though, and in addition to the
already announced bouts on the card - the WBO super
bantamweight championship bout between Daniel Ponce De
Leon and Al Seeger and the junior welterweight
showdown between Juan Lazcano and Manuel Garnica -
Golden Boy Promotions is pleased to add two
action-packed wars to the pay-per-view portion of the
show.
"Of course we're disappointed that Juan Manuel Marquez
won't be defending his title against Jimrex Jaca on
this card," said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden
Boy Promotions, "but we've decided to make sure fight
fans get the most for their money by adding two fights
to the card which may just steal the thunder from the
co-main events."
In the first added bout, super bantamweight star on
the rise Antonio Escalante (13-1, 8 KOs) will look to
impress his hometown fans in El Paso as he defends his
NABO 122-pound title against hard-nosed veteran Omar
Adorno (16-7-1, 10 KOs) in a 12 round bout.
Escalante has had a busy year thus far, decisioning
Jose Hernandez in an unforgettable war, winning the
NABO crown by out pointing Juan Ruiz, and then stopping
Alex Baba in nine rounds. Puerto Rico's Adorno is no
pushover either, as he has won two of his last three
and has been in with the likes of Martin Castillo,
Carlos Navarro, Abner Mares, and Orlando Salido.
The second bout added to the pay-per-view show will
pit the number one ranked bantamweight in the world,
Mauricio Martinez (31-6-1, 21 KOs), against former
world champion Gerry Penalosa (50-5-2, 33 KOs).
One of the most feared 118-pound fighters in the
world, Martinez has won 12 of his last 13 bouts, with
the only defeat coming via a controversial 12 round
decision to Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in the champion's
home country of Thailand. Undeterred, Martinez is
eager to get a title shot as soon as possible and
knows a win over a veteran like Penalosa will do
wonders in terms of increasing his profile. Penalosa,
a seasoned southpaw from Manila, has gone 4-0 with two
knockouts since his return to the ring after a
two-year layoff. He is a former WBC super flyweight
world champion with three defenses under his belt who
is now in search of bantamweight gold.
10-20-06
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