LOS ANGELES – Toro Promotions, Inc. has been building an impressive stable of heavyweights and two, undefeated Tsotne Rogava (9-0, 7 KOs) and Alexander “The Great” Flores (19-4-1, 17 KOs), will square off in the 10-round co-main event on September 28th to launch Toro’s inaugural “Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, California.
In general, boxing fans enjoy watching the “big boys” battle and Rogava (6’ 5”, 270 lbs.) and Flores (6’ 4”, 260-lbs.) will be fighting for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. Heavyweight Championship.
Trained by Hall of Famer Joe Goossen, Rogava was a 2020 Ukraine Olympian who was born in Georgia and raised in Ukraine. The former world-class kickboxing and Muay Thai fighter now lives in Marina del Rey (CA).
Flores is one of the toughest opponents I’ve faced,” Rogava said. “He’s experienced and knows how to fight, so this is definitely not going to be an easy fight. But I don’t want easy fights. It’s important for me to grow and prove that I’m ready for serious challenges.
“Facing Flores is a great opportunity to show what I’m capable of. It’s going to be a tough, intense fight. I’m ready for any outcome, but I’m confident in myself, and hope to finish with a win, maybe, even early.”
Three of the more experienced Flores’ four career losses have been to world champions Charles Martin, Joseph Parker and Luis Ortiz.
“Tsotne has a lot of experience, maybe not as much as the three world champions I’ve faced, but he’s a hungry prospect trying to get to the top,” the Rowland Heights (CA) Flores commented. “Beating Tsonte gets me a step closer to a title shot, so it’s a must win for me. I think it’ll be boxing from the outside and inside fighting, but it will definitely end with my hands rained in the air in victory.”
Rogova and Flores are Toro stablemates as are other top heavyweights such as Kinsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (12-2-1, 10 KOs) and undefeated Jay “The Outlaw” May (10-0, 9 KOs), who are slated to throwdown October 19th in the 10-round main event at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Another Toro heavyweight, Dante Stone (17-1, 11 KOs) extended his win streak to 17 with an eight-round unanimous decision over Terrell Jamal Woods last week in Phoenix.
In the other co-main event, Walnut High senior Paolo “Pow” Barredo will make his long-awaited pro debut in a four-round featherweight bout against Mychaquell Shields (2-5, 0 KOs), of Alpine (CA).
Barredo was a celebrated U.S. amateur boxer who won 90 of 106 matches, highlighted by his 2021 Junior Olympics title-winning performance. He turns 18 two days prior to making his pro debut.
In a pair of six-round matches, Santa Ana (CA) junior lightweight Michael “El Chamuco” Bracamontes (9-2-1, 5 KOs) faces Arsen Poghosyan (3-2-1, 2 KOs), who fights out of Los Angeles, and undefeated Mission Hills (CA) junior welterweight Ricardo Sonny Robledo (9-0, 3 KOs) meets Matt Gaver (3-9-2, 1 KO), of Bakersfield (CA).
Six additional local fighters will make their pro debuts in four rounders: La Puente (CA) lightweight Alejandro Alvarado, a 2021 California State Silver Mittens Champion, vs. San Diego’s Eduardo Mondragon, Fontana welterweight Jesse Zuniga vs. Riverside’s Oscar Trujillo, and Riverside (CA) bantamweight Hector Oros vs. Alexander Robles, of Modesto (CA).
Card Subject to change.