MEXICAN-AMERICAN ALAN SANCHEZ AND CANADIAN WELTERWEIGHT TITLIST STEVE CLAGGETT BATTLE FOR THE VACANT IBA AMERICAS WELTERWEIGHT TITLE ON JUNE 26 LIVE ON FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOXERS FEATURED ON THE UNDERCARD BRING AN EXCITING NIGHT OF FIGHTS TO THE SALINAS STORM HOUSE IN SALINAS, CALIF.
SALINAS, CALIF. (May 21) – Shining a light on homegrown talent, Golden Boy Live! on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes will bring a thrilling night of boxing featuring top local prospects set to hit the Salinas Storm House on June 26. In the main event, Fairfield standout Alan Sanchez (15-3-1, 8 KOs) will battle Canadian welterweight titlist Steve Claggett (21-3-1, 14 KOs) for the vacant IBA Americas Welterweight title in a 10-round bout.
In the co-main event, Salinas-native Paul “El Gallo Negro” Mendez (18-2, 9 KOs) will take on David “The Destroyer” Lopez (41-15-1, 25 KOs) of Nogales, Mexico in a 10-round super middleweight bout. In a televised six-round lightweight bout, Andy “The Shark” Vences (11-0, 7 KOs) of San Jose, Calif. will face Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara (8-1, 3 KOs) of Los Angeles, Calif. Fighting for airtime, Oscar “El Tigre” Godoy (13-4, 6 KOs) of Watsonville, Calif. will fight in a six-round welterweight bout against an opponent to be announced.
Featured in non-televised match-ups, Oscar Rojas (0-2) of Salinas, Calif. will take on a soon-to-be-announced opponent in a four-round lightweight bout, and Salinas-native Josue Lugo will make his professional debut against Andrew Tinae (0-3) of San Ardo, CA in a four-round heavyweight bout.
Also on the non-televised undercard two sets of brothers and Salinas-natives will fight in special amateur bouts. First Pete Tavarez (55-5) will take on Alda Alfaro (15-2) in a super flyweight bout and Andy Tavarez (40-10) will face Angel Alfaro (30-10) in a strawweight fight.
Tickets for the event go on sale today and are priced at $40, $50, $65 and $125 for VIP and are available online at www.pacopresentsboxing.com or by calling (831) 261-3214.
“This fight will allow the winner to take their career to the next step.” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “Claggett, is coming off of a tough win in Calgary, and Sanchez is determined to get back in the ring and prove himself as a top contender. This fight will be an edge-of-your-seat, can’t miss fight in Salinas.”
“After a successful, undefeated year in 2014, I am ready to continue my current winning streak and start this year off strong,” said Alan Sanchez. “Claggett will be a tough opponent. He is a smart and experienced fighter, but I have faced seasoned fighters before and will be ready for him. Having my fans in from Fairfield will give me the extra motivation I need to secure victory against Claggett and show the world that I have what it takes to become a champion.”
“Sanchez has proven himself in the ring and will be a tough opponent,” said Steve Claggett. “I have had two good fights this year and have what it takes to defeat Sanchez. This fight will be a good one but ultimately will show my fans why I am the reigning Canadian title holder and will be the next American title holder.”
Hailing from Fairfield, Calif., Alan Sanchez is a Mexican-American professional boxer, who has come a long way in just 19 fights, defeating the likes of top-level foes like Ed Paredes, Jose Luis Ramirez Jr., Jorge Silva, Miguel Angel Munguia, Manuel Leyva and Artemio Reyes. Making his professional debut in June of 2009, Sanchez has quickly garnered attention for himself as a fast-rising boxing prospect. He will now contend for his first title against Steve Claggett on June 26.
Current Canadian welterweight champion Steve Claggett made his professional debut in September 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He quickly rose through the ranks amassing an impressive number of wins throughout his career, culminating with the Canada welterweight title victory over Tebor Brosch at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Claggett will now look to add the American IBA welterweight title to his list of achievements as he hopes to overcome Alan Sanchez at the Salinas Storm House next month.
Paul “El Gallo Negro” Mendez is a 26-year old fighter from Delano, Calif., is the current IBA middleweight titleholder, defeating Ernesto Berrospe at the Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, Calif. in January 2015 and successfully defended his title against Berrospe again in April. Mendez will look to continue his current four-win streak as he goes up against Alonso Lopez in Salinas.
Hailing from Nogales, Mexico, Alonso “The Destroyer” Lopez, is an experienced fighter with over 50 fights under his belt. Starting his professional career in 1995, the 37-year-old fighter is no afraid of a challenge and has recently faced Don George, Jose Uzcategui and Marcos Reyes. Now the Nogales native is looking to add another win to his record when he faces Mendez on June 26.
Undefeated since his professional debut in 2012, Andy “The Shark” Vences is looking to continue his winning streak when he faces Santiago Guevara on June 26. A native of San Jose, Calif., the relative new comer has already taken out seasoned fighters Adolfo Landeros and has won his two last fights via knockout against Sergio Najera and Cesar Valenzuela.
Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara is a rising undefeated lightweight prospect that has been moving up the boxing ranks since his professional debut in 2011 and has consistently stayed busy, most recently defeating Erick Aguirre and Rocco Espinoza in 2014 and fought Carlos Morales this past March in a close six-round battle. Now, Guevara is looking to get back on the winning streak in his second fight of the year when he faces Vences on June 26.
