EastsideBoxing.com
Dec 28 2004
Vazquez vs Simonyan for IBF Jr Featherweight Title on Dec 28th
27.12.04 – International Boxing Federation Association junior
featherweight champion Israel Vazquez defends his title under the
Sycuan Ringside Promotions banner for the first time when he meets
undefeated and No. 1-ranked contender Art Simonyan Tuesday, Dec. 28,
at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, Calif. The world
championship card, promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions in
association with Banner Promotions, will be held in the Sycuan
Showcase Theatre at the Sycuan Resort & Casino. The card starts at 6
p.m. (Pacific) with doors to the Sycuan Showcase Theatre opening at
5:30..
Also on the card will be five other fights, featuring a women’s bouts
and three boxers from the San Diego area.
The IBF 122-pound championship will be a belated birthday gift for
either Vasquez or Simonyan.
Vazquez turns 27 on Christmas Day while Simonyan becomes 29 on Dec.
27.
This is the fifth boxing card presented by Sycuan Ringside Promotions
since it burst onto the international boxing scene earlier this year.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered by many to be the
fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions made its promotional debut during
February, but already has presented world championship bouts on
premium cable networks.
Tickets for this championship card, priced at $100, $200 and $250,
are on sale 24 hours daily in the gift shop at the Sycuan Resort &
Casino. Tickets also can be ordered by calling 619-445-6002 or
619-659-3380 24 hours daily.
Vazquez, originally from Mexico City but now living in Los Angeles,
won the IBF junior featherweight championship in his most recent
bout, March 25 in Los Angeles, when he stopped Jose Luis Valbuena in
the 12th round.
Vazquez has a record of 36-3 with 27 knockouts. He has a mark of 16-1
dating back to 1999, that lone loss coming in a bout for the World
Boxing Council super bantamweight championship during 2002.
Simonyan, who was born in Armenia but now lives in Glendale, Calif.,
has a record of 14-0-1 with seven knockouts. He earned the right to
challenge Vazquez with a 12-round decision over Fahsan Por Thawatchai
in a title elimination bout May 21 in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
`Simonyan is a tough fighter and he’s strong,’ says Vazquez, `but I’m
motivated and anxious to fight.’
The undercard bouts include heavyweight Shawn Ross of San Diego
against undefeated Bernard Gray of San Francisco; heavyweight Jay
Horton of Pomona, Calif., against James Harling of Long Beach, Calif;
cruiserweight prospect Shane Johnston of San Diego against Moses
Matovu of Los Angeles; and veteran welterweight Francisco Maldonado
of El Cajon, Calif., against Mauricio Borquez of Culiacan, Sinaloa.
In the women’s bouts undefeated featherweight Crystal Hoy of Las
Vegas faces Sarah Huntman of Los Angeles.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable boxers in its stable in
addition to Vazquez, including WBO junior featherweight champion Joan
`Little Tyson’ Guzman, IBF lightweight champion Julio `The Kidd’
Diaz, former World Boxing Association cruiserweight king Orlin `Night
Train’ Norris and highly regarded welterweight Antonio Diaz.