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Former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion Julio Diaz of Coachella, Calif., has a new opponent for his 10-round main event on the nationally televised “Salute to America’s Heroes” presented by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation in association with Northeast Promotions Aug. 9 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Diaz now will meet Russell Jones of Denver.
Jones, who has a record of 15-11 with 10 knockouts, replaces Tomas Barrientes of Texas, who had to withdraw after sustaining an injury while training for Diaz.
The 25-year-old Diaz, who has a record of 31-3 with 23 knockouts, voluntarily relinquished his IBF lightweight championship in order to challenge for the World Boxing Council 135-pound title earlier this year.
The 30-year-old Jones, originally from Ghana, has not lost since 2000 and is coming off two knockout wins, over Larry Gonzalez in the second round July 17 in Denver and over Arturo Quintero in the seventh round Oct. 1 in Las Vegas.
Jones has gone the distance with two former world champions, ex-World Boxing Association super featherweight champ Joel Casamayor and former IBF junior lightweight and WBC super bantamweight king Tracy Harris Patterson.
This is the first time a professional boxing card has been held at Camp Pendleton, the United States Marine Corps base near San Diego.
The card will be nationally televised by ESPN, and Sycuan has given all of the tickets to the unique event to Camp Pendleton authorized personnel.
“On behalf of the warriors of First Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton California, I salute the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and thank them for their generosity in bringing professional boxing to our Marines, Sailors and their families,” said BGen Mike Lehnert, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The Sycuan Tribe demonstrates its strong commitment to the San Diego region through its support of civic and charitable organizations. The Tribe has long been a supporter of organizations which support the military including, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
“Camp Pendleton is home to thousands of marines fighting in the war in Iraq,” said Daniel Tucker, Sycuan Tribal Chairman. “We are remindful of the sacrifices they make to serve this country and hope that this event will provide our troops with some enjoyable entertainment.”
The semi-main event now features lightweight Ricardo Dominguez of Culiacan, Mexico, against Rafael Ortiz of Lebanon, Ore. Dominguez has a record of 14-1-2 with nine knockouts while Ortiz has a mark of 11-6-1 with 11 knockouts.
The undercard also features two special attractions--lightweight Mia “The Knockout” St. John and heavyweight Eric “Butterbean” Esch.
St. John, with a record of 41-5-2 with 17 knockouts, faces Janae Archuleta of Denver in a six-round women’s bout while “Butterbean,” with a mark of 70-4-4 with 53 knockouts, meets Rick Zufall of Spencer, Ind., in a four-round fight.
The balance of the undercard includes Gilberto Sanchez Leon of Mexicali, Mexico, (13-3-1, 3 KOs) against Jorge Martinez of Escondido, Calif., (13-2-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round featherweight fight; Felipe Rivas of Nogales, Ariz.,
(4-2-1, 1 KO) against Jose Albuquerque of Glendale, Calif., (4-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round flyweight bout; Felipe Capana of Tijuana, Mexico, (2-1) against Rafael Ortiz of Merida, Mexico, (8-9) in a four-round super lightweight fight; and Heather Donoho of San Diego (1-0, 0 KOs) against Mirasol Miranda of Hollywood, Fla., (2-3, 0 KOs) in a women’s four-round super flyweight match.
An amateur bout matching Yuni Perez of the USMC against Christopher Navarro of the US Navy also is scheduled.
Sycuan Ringside Promotions is considered the fastest-growing and most dynamic promotional entity in the sport. Sycuan Ringside made its debut during 2004, and to date has hosted numerous world title bouts on premium cable networks. Sycuan Ringside Promotions has many notable athletes in its corner including former World Boxing Organization junior featherweight champion Joan Guzman and IBF junior featherweight champion Israel Vasquez.
Northeast Promotions is headed by Walt Lambert.
Members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation have resided in and around the foothills of the Dehesa Valley for nearly 12,000 years. Today they are a modern government providing public services to their members, employees and neighbors. The Sycuan Tribal Government operates one of the region's premier Indian gaming and resort facilities, the Sycuan Resort and Casino. The Tribe through the Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation (STDC) also seeks to reinvest back into the San Diego community with a progressive business development effort. To date, STDC has purchased the Singing Hills Country Club and the historic U.S. Grant Hotel, is an investor in Hotel Solamar near Petco Park and is owner/developer of the Marina Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in National City. The Tribe also owns and operates Sycuan Ringside Promotions, the country's first tribally owned boxing promotion company, as well as Sycuan Funds, a publicly traded and professionally managed mutual fund. Combined, these enterprises now employ nearly 4,000 San Diegans.
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By Presser (Aug 6, 2005)
