“Get there early, you don’t want to miss the next generation of stars in sensational match ups,” said Dan Goossen, of Goossen Tutor Promotions.
In a battle between undefeated junior welterweights, Mike Dallas, Jr. (9-0-1, 2 KOs), of Bakersfield, Calif., will take on New York’s Vincent Arroyo in a tough matchup of two talented prospects. The hard-hitting Arroyo (9-0, 6 KOs) is a two-time National Silver Gloves Champion and will be taking his first big step up in competition against the crafty Dallas.
The 22-year-old Bakersfield native, who has been boxing since he was five years old and won more than 100 amateur fights, will have to look out for the quick KO against the 22-year-old Arroyo, who has four knockouts inside of two rounds.
Once-beaten junior middleweight Francisco Santana (10-1, 5 KOs), of Santa Barbara, Calif., faces a stiff test against Tony Hirsch (9-2-1, 5 KOs), of Oakland, in a six-round tussle. The 23-year-old Santana, whose only blemish came in a controversial split-decision loss to unbeaten prospect Karim Mayfield on March 20, 2008, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Antonio Johnson on March 27, 2009.
Santana will have his hands full against Hirsch, who is the sparring partner for Ward, a Golden Gloves winner and a former cornerback for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Hirsch, 25, is coming off a first-round TKO victory over Francisco Garcia on July 16.
Unbeaten junior featherweight prospect Rico Ramos (11-0, 7 KOs), of Pico Rivera, Calif., will take on the dangerous, hard-hitting Victor Martinez (15-5, 11 KOs), of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in an eight-round bout.
The 22-year-old Ramos, who has knocked out more than 60 percent of his opponents, will need to work hard to keep his prefect record in tact against the more experienced Martinez, who has 99 rounds of ring work compared to Ramos’ 36.
While Ramos has never gone past the sixth round, Martinez has fought 12 rounds three times, coming away with two victories. The 33-year-old was stopped in the 12th round on Nov. 21, 2008, by undefeated prospect Wifredo Vazquez Jr. in a bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Latino super bantamweight championship. The Vazquez bout was Martinez's third scheduled 12-round championship fight. Martinez had won his two previous scraps for lesser titles in Mexico.
The undefeated No. 1 world-ranked super middleweight Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), of Oakland, Calif., meets upset-minded Shelby Pudwill (22-3-1, 9 KOs), of McGlaughlin, S.D., in the main event. In a special-attraction 10-round bout, the multi-division champion Toney (71-6-3, 43 KOs) takes on tough Matthew Green (12-5, 11 KOs) of St. Louis, MO.
Tickets are available for the fight card at the resort, or by calling 888-732-4264 or visiting www.pechanga.com. Tickets are $75, $110 and $150. The first bout begins at 5:30 p.m.
Fight fans in attendance will receive an added bonus in the arena as a closed circuit showing of Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler’s (41-1, 31 KOs) WBA Super Middleweight mandatory title defense against No. 1 ranked Gusmyr Perdomo (16-2, 10 KOs) will be shown live on SHOWTIME.
