All four fighters participating in Friday’s ShoBox: The New Generation doubleheader (11:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) weighed in at the Lit Lounge at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif. on Thursday, just steps away from where two prospects will step into the ring to face the toughest tests of their young careers.

Undefeated lightweight prospect Omar Figueroa Jr. (14-0-1, 11 KO’s), of Weslaco, Texas, was over the division-limit 135 pounds – he weighed 136.2 pounds and forfeited his WBO Intercontinental Youth title on the scale. His 10-round main event fight will go on as scheduled against Morelos, Mexico’s Ramon “Nino De Oro” Ayala (23-2-1, 11 KO’s), who tipped the scale at 135 pounds.

Figueroa, who has ended eight of his fights in knockout wins in two rounds or less, is fresh off of handing previously unbeaten prospect Michael Perez his first loss on Jan. 6 on ShoBox, while Ayala has won five in a row, including three by knockout.

The fighters in Friday’s co-feature, local favorite Randy Caballero (13-0, 7 KO’s), of Coachella, Calif., and Tecate, Mexico’s Jose Luis “Tapitas” Araiza (29-5-1, 20 KO’s), both weighed in at 117.8 pounds. Caballero will make his ShoBox debut against the more experienced Araiza in a 10-round bantamweight bout.

Caballero has won his last seven consecutive bouts – and eight overall – at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, while the hard-hitting Araiza has registered 11 of his 20 knockouts in three rounds or less.

The ShoBox doubleheader is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T. Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com. Doors at Fantasy Springs will open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 6:30 p.m. PT.

What the fighters had to say on Thursday:

FIGUEROA:

“Honestly, I feel bad for my opponent. I’m going to put every negative together from my camp and take it out on him, and there were a lot of negatives. I had to sacrifice. I sacrificed food, water, seeing my family – all because of my opponent. People don’t realize that 50 percent of boxing is just getting to the ring. I’m hungry. I really hope to knock him out.

“In my last fight, I proved that I can do it. I am not going to lose. Whether people believe in me or not, I have my team – it’s all I need.

“I knew I wasn’t going to make weight. I hurt my hand in camp and got sick twice and that took time away from working out and losing the weight.”

AYALA:

“I’m not a talker. I do my talking inside the ring. All I can say is that I prepared hard. I hope Omar brings his best because I know I will.”

 

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/03/omar-figueroa-ramon-ayala-randy-caballero-jose-luis-araiza-final-weights-quotes/

LOS ANGELES – After an explosive night of boxing on January 6, Golden Boy Promotions is excited to return to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California on Friday, March 16 with Weslaco, Texas’ Omar Figueroa Jr., who handed rising star Michael Perez his first loss that night, taking on Mexico’s Ramon Ayala in a 10 round battle for Figueroa’s WBO Intercontinental Youth lightweight title.

In the co-main event, Randy Caballero’s first ShoBox bout promises to be the toughest of his career as he faces Mexico’s Jose Luis “Tapitas” Araiza in defense of his WBC Youth Intercontinental title in a 10 round bout..

This ShoBox doubleheader, which is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, DeWalt Tools and AT&T, will be televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME®.

Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com . Doors at Fantasy Springs will open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 6:30 p.m. PT.

When you’ve ended eight of your wins in two rounds or less, it’s clear that you have the kind of power to draw attention from boxing experts and fans alike. Yet while Omar Figueroa Jr. (14-0-1, 11 KO’s) has been on the boxing world’s radar for a couple of years, it wasn’t until January 6 that everyone got a true dose of the potential that the 22-year-old “Panterita” possesses. It was on that night earlier this year that Figueroa stopped unbeaten and highly regarded fellow prospect Michael “The Artist” Perez in six rounds in the same building in which he will fight on March 16 and the Texan expects the same result against Ramon Ayala.

A respected amateur who is now soaring towards the top of the lightweight division, Ramon “Nino De Oro” Ayala (23-2-1, 11 KO’s) has done a lot of fighting for someone just 23-years-old, but it’s that experience which he expects to lead him to victory when he battles Omar Figueroa in March. Winner of five in a row, including three by knockout, the former WBC Youth junior welterweight champion has the style, desire and skill to give anyone problems in the ring and that’s just what he’s planning on doing to Figueroa on March 16.

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50304

 

LOS ÁNGELES CA, 5 de marzo. – Después de una explosiva noche de boxeo realizada el pasado 6 de enero, Golden Boy Promotions está emocionado de regresar al Fantasy Springs Resort Casino en Indio, California el viernes 16 de marzo con Omar Figueroa, de Weslaco, Texas, quien esa noche de enero le propinó su primera derrota al también estrella en ascenso Michael Pérez. El llamado “Panterita” Figueroa  enfrentará a Ramón Ayala de México en una batalla de 10 asaltos defendiendo su titulo Intercontinental Juvenil de peso ligero versión Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB).

Para Randy Caballero quien sostendrá su primera pelea por ShoBox, promete ser la más difícil de su carrera cuando enfrente al mexicano José Luis “Tapitas” Araiza en el evento co estelar.

Este doble evento de ShoBox que es presentado por Golden Boy Promotions y patrocinado por Corona, DeWalt Tools y AT&T, será televisado en vivo por ShoBox: The New Generation a las 11:00 p.m. ET/PT (diferido en la Costa Oeste) en SHOWTIME®.

Boletos a un precio de $25, $35 y $45 dólares están disponibles para su compra en la taquilla del Fantasy Springs, llamando al (800) 827-2946 o en línea www.fantasyspringsresort.com. Las puertas del Fantasy Springs se abrirán a las 6:00 p.m. PT y la primera campanada sonará a las 6:30 p.m. PT.

Cuando has terminado ocho de tus victorias en dos asaltos o menos, está muy claro que tienes el tipo de poder en los nudillos para llamar la atención de los expertos del boxeo, y aficionados por igual. Sin embargo, para Omar Figueroa Jr. (14-0-1, 11 nocáuts) quien ha estado en el radar del mundo boxístico por un par de años, no fue sino hasta el pasado 6 de enero cuando todo el mundo recibió una dosis real del potencial que posee el llamado “Panterita”, quien tiene de 22 años de edad, “Panterita”. Fue esa noche de principios de este año en la que Figueroa detuvo al entonces invicto y también prospecto Michael “The Artist” Pérez en seis asaltos en el mismo escenario en el que combatirán el 16 de marzo, y el púgil texano espera el mismo resultado contra Ramón Ayala.

Ramón “Niño de Oro” Ayala(23-2-1, 11 nocáuts) un respetado púgil aficionado que ahora está volando hacia la parte superior de la división de peso ligero, ha realizado un montón de combates para alguien que cuenta con tan sólo 23 años de edad, pero espera que esa experiencia lo conducirá a la victoria cuando enfrente a Omar Figueroa en marzo. Ganador de cinco pleitos en fila, tres de ellos por la vía del nocaut, el ex campeón Juvenil de peso superligero versión Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB), tiene el estilo, el deseo y la habilidad de dar problemas a cualquiera en el cuadrilátero y eso es justamente lo que está pensando hacer a Figueroa el próximo 16 de marzo.

 

Autor: RAMIRO GONZÁLEZ / GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

http://boxeomundial.net/boxeo.php?category=noticias&id=27875

 

Weslaco’s Omar “Panterita” Figueroa, the WBO intercontinental lightweight champion, will return to the ring on March 17, his father Omar Figueroa Sr. confirmed Wednesday.

The fight for the Golden Boy Promotions boxer will take place in the Rio Grande Valley at a site to be determined and will be televised by Telefutura, Figueroa Sr. said.

Figueroa (14-0-1, 11 KOs) won the WBO intercontinental championship last week by defeating Michael “Mikey” Lopez by TKO in Indio, Calif.

http://www.themonitor.com/sports/ring-57920-weslaco-march.html

Omar Figueroa (14-0-1), trained by Coachella’s Joel Diaz, overcame a slow start and overwhelmed Michael Perez (15-1-1) before the fight was stopped by the corner after the sixth round for a TKO victory.

Figueroa claimed the vacant WBO intercontinental youth title in the lightweight division.

Perez controlled the fight during the first two rounds, moving on the outside and sticking Figueroa at will.

Midway through the second, Perez slowed down, and Figueroa began to turn it on.

“It was my legs. I didn’t have any legs after the second round. I had no power,” Perez said. “I’m really disappointed. I thought it was even, but I had no power.”

And apparently Perez had no endurance either.

Figueroa, who was two pounds overweight at Thursday’s weigh-in, looked fresher despite having to lose two pounds at the last minute.

After the second, Figueroa controlled each round and finished each round strongly. By the fourth, Figueroa had Perez hurt and on the ropes before the bell.

“I was a little disappointed,” Figueroa said. “I hit him with my best shot, but he didn’t go down. But I was confident. I didn’t think I would lose.”

In the fifth, Perez hurt Figueroa with a body shot, but Figueroa shook it off and finished strong again. In the sixth round, it was more of the same.

After the sixth, Perez’s corner indicated he had enough and the fight was stopped.

 

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