News

LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDERS COMING TO INDIO

BOXING: Lightweight contenders coming to Indio

BY DAVID A. AVILA, CORRESPONDENT

Ramos (20-0, 9 KOs) will put his perfect record on the line against battle-tested Beltran (25-5, 17 KOs) on Friday at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio. The Golden Boy Promotions fight card will be televised on Showtime.

“We try to match them very tough,” said Robert Diaz, matchmaker for Golden Boy.

Beltran works out of the Wild Card Boxing gym under trainer Freddie Roach’s supervision. The boxer who hails from Los Mochis, Mexico, knows through experience that a closely fought contest will not go in his favor.

“If this fights goes to a decision I know I’m not going to win,” said Beltran. “The only way that I can win is by knockout.”

Beltran says his losses to Sharif Bogere, Agnaldo Nunes and two others were hometown decisions.

“Not my loss to Ameth Diaz,” said Beltran, 30, who has an effective counter-punching style. “I lost that fight. I wasn’t in shape, but that was my fault.”

A decision loss to Bogere was widely disputed. It’s the primary reason the Mexican lightweight aims to win convincingly.

“I’ve got to win by knockout, there is no other way,” Beltran said.

Frank Espinoza, Ramos’ manager, knows that his fighter will enter the ring against the toughest opposition possible.

“This is a fight he has to win to move on to the next level,” said Espinoza who, also manages bantamweight champion Abner Mares. “It’s not going to be easy.”

Ramos, an aggressive southpaw, last fought at Fantasy Springs Casino against Francisco Lorenzo in a seesaw battle he won by decision seven months ago.

“I’ve been preparing myself a long time for this opportunity,” said Ramos. “This fight means a lot to me and to achieve my dream of being a world champion.”

Beltran feels his various wars against top-tier lightweights and various ring wars at the Wild Card gym give him an edge.

“If you’re not ready to go to war they’ll run you right out of there,” said Beltran of sparring at the Wild Card.

Ramos, 23, trains at Santa Ana, which produced prized prospects Ronny Rios.

“Raymundo Beltran is no ordinary opponent, he’s fought the best,” said Ramos. “I know Beltran will be prepared, but I will too.”

Also on the fight card will be two other undefeated lightweight prospects, Michael “The Artist” Perez (15-0-1, 9 KOs) and Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (13-0-1, 10 KOs), in a scheduled 10-round match.

East LA’s Frankie Gomez (12-0, 9 KOs) is also scheduled to fight. For more information, call 800-827-2946.

Boxing Great

Hall of Famer Larry Holmes will attend the Fantasy Springs Casino bouts Friday.

Holmes is considered one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time and participated in a number of bruising battles against Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks.

Free Showtime

Showtime will be free for non-subscribers from Jan. 6 through Jan. 8, including the boxing card at Fantasy Springs.

“We’re excited to be back on Shobox and it’s a free preview weekend,” said Steve Bash, who promotes Beltran.

The semi-main event will also be televised by Showtime.

Fights on television

Fri. ESPN2, 6 p.m., Dyah Davis (20-2-1) vs. Alfonso Lopez (22-1).

Fri. Showtime, 8 p.m., Luis Ramos (20-0) vs. Raymundo Beltran (25-5).

Sat. Showtime, 7 p.m., Lorenz Larkin (12-0) vs. Mo Lawal (8-1).

Sat. Telefutura, 11:30 p.m., Ed Paredes (28-3-1) vs. Michael Lozada (39-9-1).

David Avila

On Boxing

Source: www.pe.com/sports/boxing/boxing-headlines/20120102-boxing-lightweight-contenders-coming-to-indio.ece