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Vicente Escobedo vs. Lonnie
Smith
Headlines "Solo Boxeo Tecate" On March 3
Vicente Escobedo has fought all over the world, represented
his country in the Olympics and fought some of the best
fighters in the sport throughout his career, but the one
thing the top junior lightweight contender has never done is
compete in his hometown as a professional. That changes on
Saturday, March 3 as Escobedo steps into the ring at the
Woodland Community Center in Woodland, Calif. against Lonnie
Smith in a 10 round fight for the vacant NABO Junior
Lightweight Title which will be televised on TeleFutura's "Sólo
Boxeo Tecate."
Joining Escobedo on this exciting homecoming card will be
Fairfield's unbeaten featherweight star on the rise, Manuel
"Tino" Avila, who faces an opponent to be named in the six
round co-main event.
Escobedo vs. Smith headlines a night of world-class
professional boxing presented by Golden Boy Promotions and
Don Chargin Productions in association with Paco Presents
and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate. Doors open at 6:00pm, the
first bell rings at 7:00pm and the TeleFutura broadcast
begins at 11:00 pm ET/PT.
Tickets, priced at $40, $50 and $70, are on sale now and
available for purchase at Paco's Restaurant by calling (530)
669-7946, F&F Multiprint by calling (530) 666-3102 or online
at PacoPresentsBoxing.com.
A 2004 United States Olympian who got his start in the sport
at the Woodland Boxing Club, Vicente "Chente" Escobedo
(24-3, 14 KO's) has come a long way since those early days,
and at 30 years old, he is approaching his physical prime as
a boxer. The owner of wins over former World Champions Kevin
Kelley and Carlos Hernandez, Escobedo lost in his lone world
title shot at lightweight via a razor-thin split decision to
Michael Katsidis in 2009. Now fighting at 130 pounds,
Escobedo has been better than ever, defeating Walter Estrada
and Rocky Juarez in his most recent fights and he's ready to
make a move on the junior lightweight elite in 2012.
A professional since 2006, 24-year-old Las Vegan Lonnie
Smith (14-2-2, 10 KO's) appears to be reaching his prime and
is ready to prove it against a tough contender in Escobedo.
In 2009 Smith returned from a two-year layoff and came back
as a more mature and polished fighter and has been
unstoppable since, winning nine in a row, with six coming by
knockout, including victories over David Rodela and Eduardo
Arcos. Now he takes a big step up in facing Escobedo, a
fight he's been waiting for, in Escobedo's hometown.
A talented amateur who turned heads every time he stepped
between the ropes, Manuel "Tino" Avila (6-0, 2 KO's)
continues to impress as a professional, winning all six of
his fights thus far. A professional since late 2010, the
19-year-old stepped on the gas last year, fighting five
times and ending 2011 on a with a big win over then-unbeaten
David Reyes in October.
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