(MAY 9, 2005) ESPN2 will televise it’s Friday Night May 13th boxing show from the San Jose Civic Auditorium, with every featured fighter on the card having fought in Monterey.
The Main Event showcases 26-2 Jose Celaya from Salinas, who fought on five RIOT cards. The Co-feature to be televised is focused on Nonito Donaire, 11-1, who has Monterey RIOT experience. Jose Perez Jr. and Alejandro Perez on the off-television bouts also cut their boxing teeth fighting in Monterey.
THE RIOT pro boxing series is moving from the Hyatt to the Conference Center in Downtown Monterey on July 2nd, and will feature many other top prospects. 7-0 Heavyweight George Garcia, a member of the Mexican Olympic Team will make his first Monterey appearance.
A spectacular battle of the unbeaten matches local favorite Carina Moreno (7-0 Watsonville) vs. Julie Rubalcava (5-0 Garden Grove) in an eight-round flyweight affair, and a featherweight clash between 4-0 Joel Santiago and 3-0 Sadot Vazquez showcases a pair of future champions.
Other undefeated fighters Enrique Gutierrez (4-0 Santa Rosa), Alejandro Perez (3-0-1 Saliinas) and 5-1 Light heavy Richard Paige from Sacramento are all scheduled on the 6 bout RIOT card Independence day weekend in Downtown Monterey.
Promoter/Matchmaker Jerry Hoffman states, “I’m excited to have so many of our fighters who have dazzled fans in Monterey, now getting their chance on national television, and hopefully when ESPN2 returns to our area in the future, other prospects from THE RIOT will featured”.
“In our 13 years of promoting pro boxing shows in Santa Cruz and Monterey, we featured future World Champions such as Sugar Shane Mosley, (twice) Stevie Johnston, James Page, and Gina Guidi. We’re hoping Jose Celaya and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero who have been Monterey regulars will achieve World Championship status as well” Hoffman beams.