Ruben Villa Set to Headline a Stacked Showtime Shobox Series Card From Corona, California

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña

This Friday night from Omega Products International in Corona, California, Thompson Boxing Promotions will celebrate their 19th year anniversary and showcase some of their top talent on the Showtime ShoBox “The Next Generation” boxing series. In the main event of an absolutely stacked card undefeated prospect RubenVilla (15-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California returns to the ring in a 10-round fight to take on the tough Mexican, Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez (17-1, 8 KOs) for Lopez’ WBO International Featherweight Title. Lopez on paper will be Villa’s toughest fight to date and is coming off an upset victory over top prospect Ray Ximenez in February. In a recent interview with Supreme Boxing, Villa’s manager Danny Zamora stated “Lopez is a very tough fighter that’s going to make Villa think. Lopez moves forward, likes to apply pressure and use his angles.” Villa who moved camp to Riverside for this fight recently caught up with Supreme Boxing and stated “I’ve had a great camp and I’m 100% focused on Lopez. I came out to Riverside last month and have gotten in some good work with Isidro Ochoa, Aaron Morales and a few other of Robert Garcia’s prospects. I know Lopez comes forward and that should make for an exciting fight. I am looking to put on a great performance and come away with a victory because I know a win will open doors for bigger fights, bigger names and bigger opportunities for me.” Lopez however has other plans come this Friday, “I have a belt for a reason and I’m going to defend it proudly on May 10th. I know Ruben Villa is regarded as a top prospect, but I know I’m better than him and I’m planning to show the world.” Said the native of Mexicali, Mexico, Lopez who is coming off the biggest win of his career. The 21-year-old Lopez who is ranked #11 in the world by the WBO, has won his last five bouts since suffering his only defeat as a pro to Abraham Montoya in 2018.

In the co-main event of the night “The West Texas Warrior” and undefeated 21-year old prospect Michael Dutchover (12-0, 9 KOs) will take on fellow undefeated prospect and former Chilean National Champion Ramon Mascarena Jr. (10-0, 5 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Dutchover who trains under the tutelage of Danny Zamora is a former amateur standout that has won several national titles and will be making his television debut this Friday on Showtime. “I know this will be another very tough fight,” stated Dutchover who recently spoke to Supreme Boxing. “I know my opponent is undefeated, but at the end of the day my experience in the ring will be the key. I’ve had great training, great sparring and my overall ring generalship is better than his.” Dutchover who continues to climb the ranks in lightweight division will fight Mascarena at a catch weight of 139lbs went on to say. “I’m very excited, I’ve been working for this opportunity all my life.I have a lot of support behind me, including Banner Promotions, Ikonik Apparel, Blackhawk Construction, Roadrunner Trucking, Caviler Energy, Martinez Painting and all my friends, family. Being on ShoBox is a great opportunity and it’s another step to me reaching my ultimate goal, of becoming world champion.” The Chilean-born Mascarena, who currently resides in Tijuana, Mexico and trains in San Diego, California however is looking to come away with the upset. “I’ve been in top shape for a while now, I was set to fight in February but my fight got cancelled,” said the 25-year-old Mascarena. “I come from a family of boxers and we take the sweet science very seriously. On May 10th, I will not only be fighting to make a good impression in my U.S. debut, I will be fighting for my family and my entire country. I will make them proud.”

To kick off the televised portion of the triple-header undefeated bantamweight prospect Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (11-0, 6 KOs) is set to go toe to toe with Mexican prospect Brandon Leon Benitez (14-1, 6 KOs). Supreme boxing recently spoke to Sanchez about his upcoming bout and he stated “I’ve had a great camp, coach Diaz and my team have switched things up, I now have a nutritionist and feel better than ever. I’ve got in great sparring with Diego De La Hoya and Murodjon Akhmadaliev and I know that my game plan will allow me to walk away with a big win. I’ve trained all my life and I’ve always dreamed about this moment. I’m going give the fans an exciting fight and after Friday night they’re going to know who Saul Sanchez is. This is my opportunity to showcase my skills as a fighter and to move on to bigger names in my division and tougher opponents. I know it’s not going to be easy but I’m ready for whatever he has.” Benitez, the 21-year from Queretaro, Mexico, has stayed busy in late 2018 and early 2019, fighting four times in a span of six months and fought 186 times as an amateur feels he will have no problem with Sanchez “I’m young and hungry and I know Saul Sanchez is a great opponent for me, but I’m not concerned about him,” said Benitez. “I don’t think he does anything special in the ring, but I do, I’m confident I will win and knock Sanchez out”

Also on the card and in a fight that just may steal the show undefeated prospect Ruben “Ace” Torres (8-0, 7 KOs) from South Central, Los Angeles will put his unblemished record on the line against a former stablemate of his, in the undefeated George “El YuYu” Acosta (7-0, 1 KO). Acosta a last minute replacement for Alex Solorio, was originally scheduled to fight Torres but for undisclosed reason that fight was never made. Both Acosta and Torres grew up in the Santa Fe Springs Gym together and are friends, but now will leave feelings aside when they fight this Friday. “This is a great opportunity for both fighters,” stated Acosta’s advisor Charles Bosecker. “These guys grew up as kids in the same gym, they respect each other and they’re both fighting the toughest opponent they’ve faced to date, each other. It’s a boxer vs a boxer puncher and it’s going be exciting, a real 50-50 fight.” Acosta who trains at Maywood Boxing Club has sparred with several world champions including Masayuki Ito as he prepared for his next fight “I’ve had a long camp sparring with the McKenna bothers to start and moved on to Ito and Manny Robles in preparation for whatever came my way and now we know its Ruben” stated Acosta. “We trained as kids together and we’re still cool, but this is the boxing business, so it is what it is. I’m a boxer that’s going to press the action, use movement and skills to beat him and with the victory I know this will open up doors and prove to the promotor and those watching that I’m ready to step up to the next level.” Torres who has been a staple of the Thompson Boxing shows recently stated “I really want to thank God for this opportunity, I feel great and I’m ready for my second fight of the year. This fight I know I have to box smarter, use my reach, skills and ring intelligence. I was able to get in some great sparring with the former world champion Jhonny Gonzalez, as well as Michael Dutchover and Manny Robles Jr. to prepare for this fight and Friday night all cylinders will be firing when I come away victorious. Winning this fight will move me up in the ranks and solidify me as a true prospect. I know the Showtime people will be watching so this fight will definitely give me a chance to showcase all of my skills and make an impression on them as well as the fans in attendance.”

Also on the card is the veteran Petr Petrov (39-6-2, 20 KOs) who will take on Ruben Tamayo (27-12-4, 18 KOs) in a cross-roads fight. Supreme Boxing spoke to the 36-year old Petrov and he stated “I know that Friday night I need to look impressive, and I will, as my trainer Danny Zamora and strength and conditioning coach Jerry Arias have me in the best shape of my life. I know I’m one of the best fighters at 135lbs and once I get through Tamayo on Friday I’ll be ready to make another run at a world title I’m ready to fight the best.”

Barry Tompkins will call the ShoBox action from ringside with Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing, are priced at $125, $75 and $60 and can be purchased online at www.thompsonboxing.com, or by calling 714-935-0900.