ANTONIO OROZCO TO FACE ABNER LOPEZ AND JOSEPH DIAZ JR. TO TAKE ON VICTOR PROA ON SATURDAY, JULY 30
LIVE FROM FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO IN INDIO, CALIF. TELEVISED LIVE ON HBO LATINO® BOXING
Tickets on Sale Now!
LOS ANGELES (July 8, 2016) – “Relentless” Antonio Orozco (24-0, 16 KOs), one of the most promising contenders in the division will be tested in the welterweight division as he takes on Abner “Jaeger” Lopez (25-5, 19 KOs), a tough fighter from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico known for his heavy punch and endurance in the ring.
The 10-round main event will headline an exciting night of boxing from Golden Boy Promotions‘ home in the Coachella Valley at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, in Indio, Calif. on Saturday, July 30 and televised on HBO Latino® Boxing beginning at 11:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).
Also, featured as the televised co-main event of the night, undefeated contender, Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jr. (20-0, 11 KOs) will put his NABF Featherweight Title on the line in a 10-round featherweight fight against Victor “Pitufo” Proa (28-1-2, 21 KOs) of Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Rounding out the undercard on the non-televised portion of the evening, Roy “Pitbull” Tapia (11-1-2, 6 KOs) of East Los Angeles will take on Jairo “Roca” Hernandez (17-9, 9 KOs) of Torreon, Coahullia, Mexico in a scheduled eight-round super bantamweight fight. Los Angeles’ fan favorite Nick “La Calavera” Arce (8-0, 6 KOs) will fight in a six-round super featherweight event against Jesus Aguinaga (4-4-1) of Phoenix. Additionally, newly signed Golden Boy Promotions fighter Virgil Ortiz of Dallas will make his professional debut in a four-round super lightweight fight against Julio Rodas (0-2) of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tickets are on sale now and are priced at $25, $35 and $45 and available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Antonio Orozco vs. Abner Lopez is a 10-round welterweight bout, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, BORN BOLD and Casa Mexico Tequila. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Unbeaten as a professional, San Diego’s Antonio “Relentless” Orozco has paid his dues on the way to the top, and now his only intention is to get the shot at a world championship that he’s craved. Winner of the NABF junior super lightweight title in 2014, the 28-year-old has since defeated former world champions Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto and Steve “2Pound” Forbes, and hot prospect Emmanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor. In his most recent bout on March 25, Orozco made another statement with a first round knockout of Miguel “Aguacerito” Acosta that thrilled the fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
A professional since 2011, Abner “Jaeger” Lopez has been steadily climbing the welterweight ranks. Known for his punching power and resilience in the ring, Lopez has taken on tough opposition defeating Humberto Mauro ” Cachorrito” Gutierrez, Ricardo “Pelon” Dominguez, Jose David Mosquera and Aik “The Humanoid” Shakhanazaryan. Lopez was last seen in the ring in 2015 when he fought four-times winning against Daniel Calzada via decision in July and receiving his first loss after a four win streak in November against Daniel Echeverria. Now, Lopez is looking to come back into the winners column when he faces Orozco on July 30.
A member of the 2012 United States Olympic team, Joseph “Jojo” Diaz, Jr. has been seen as a future world champion for years, and now the NABF Featherweight Champion is closing in on that dream. Currently ranked third in the world by the WBC and ninth by the IBF and WBO, the 23-year-old southpaw from South El Monte, California has steadily moved through all opposition at 126 pounds, including Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado, Ruben “Canelito” Tamayo and Hugo “Guerrero” Partida. But it was in his March 26 win in his HBO debut over highly-regarded Jayson “La Maravilla” Velez that Diaz announced his arrival to the world stage.
A tested fighter out of Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Victor “Pitufo” Proa will be looking for his second victory of 2016 when he takes on the promising Joseph Diaz, Jr. on July 30. The 31-year-old last faced Oswaldo Oziel Delgado in February via first round technical knockout after a six-year fight hiatus. Before that, Proa was a six-year professional fighter that boasted a great record with only one loss, taking on some of the most experienced fighters in the game. Now with a victory under his belt, Proa will be making his first appearance in the U.S. looking to crash the featherweight division.
East LA super bantamweight Roy “Pitbull” Tapia is a popular fighter on the California fight scene. A promising fighter, Tapia maintained busy in 2014 and 2015 taking on tough fighters: Erik Ruiz, Juan Luis “Perla Negra” Hernandez, Ali Gonzalez, Luis “Titi” Maldonado and Omar “Chacalito” Aguilar. Now fighting for the first time in 2016, Tapia will be looking for redemption after his first career loss to face Jairo Hernandez in his return to Fantasy Spring Resort Casino on July 30.
A professional fighter for over 15 years, Jairo “Roca” Hernandez of Torreon, Coahuilla, Mexico has enough experience under his belt to be a dangerous fighter against any opponent. Currently maintaining a five-fight winning streak via knockout, the heavy-handed, Hernandez will be looking to impress in his U.S. debut when he takes on Roy Tapia on July 30.
A former amateur star, Nick “La Calavera” Arce became a professional with a victory over Adalbert Valenzuela and most believe that the sky is the limit for the hard-hitting featherweight of Honduran and Salvadoran descent. In his first fight of 2016, Arce took on seasoned fighter Luiz “Lichito” Lizarraga Jr., in February and went the distance for the first time in his career winning the fight via unanimous decision. In his second fight, Arce was part of the non-televised action on the undercard of Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido on June 4, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., defeating Francisco Dominguez via unanimous decision with scores of 60-54 from all three judges.
A new fighter on the scene, Jesus Aguinaga of Phoenix, is coming off a decision loss against Justin Pauldo on June 2016. Earlier in the year, Aguinaga had a victory over Luis Bello in January and a draw against Adan Mares in April. Now, Aguinaga will be looking to be back on the winner’s column when he takes on Nick Arce on July 30.
Currently trained by the famed Joel Diaz, Virgil Ortiz of Grand Prairie, Texas is a seven-time national champion, winner of the 2013 Junior Olympics with a record of 140-20. Ortiz began his career at five years old when he was introduced to the sport by his father and began competing at eight-years old. The decorated amateur signed with Golden Boy Promotions in 2016 and is ready to begin his professional career on July 30.
In his fight of 2016 and after a four-year hiatus, Julio Rodas of Flagstaff, Ariz. will be looking to make another attempt at the fight game on July 30. With two fights already under his belt, pro-debuter, Vigril Ortiz will have a tough time going up against a more experienced fighter.
