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Nestor Bravo: "Valtierra Is Tough &
Hungry But I’m Ready To Dominate"
Unbeaten junior welterweight Nestor Bravo could easily look
beyond his fight against Jair Valtierra, 16-2 (8 KO’s),
Saturday evening at the Caribe Royale in Orlando.
The current NABO champion, Bravo’s ranked #10 in the world
by the WBO and has a perfect record of 21-0 with 15
knockouts. It’s not that Bravo doesn’t envision becoming a
world champion in the near future but rather that he
recognizes the importance of winning impressively against a
young and hungry opponent.
“First and foremost, (the fight in front of me is always)
the most important of my career,” said Bravo, who resides in
Orlando and is originally from Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
“Valtierra is a young and hungry fighter who believes he can
beat me. I’m expecting the best version of Valtierra and
we’ve put together multiple game plans so we can win
impressively on Saturday evening.”
“We’re proud of Nestor and his recent accomplishment of
winning the WBA/NABO title last October,” said Amaury Piedra
of Boxlab Promotions. “Now we kick off 2023 with a title
defense against a tough Mexican in Valtierra who was the WBC
Latin Champion. Nestor is ranked in the top 10 in the WBO
and we believe the sky is the limit for him. He’s got a
great work ethic, power, good movement and defense and is
truly entering his prime. This is the year of Nestor Bravo
and we’re ready for anyone in the top 10 and current
champions, be it Josh Taylor, Teofimo Lopez, Arnold Barboza,
Liam Paro or Alberto Puello. We’re ready to put on a show
this Saturday and then calling out the champs to see where
we go next!”
The ten round Bravo-Valtierra bout serves as Bravo’s first
NABO title defense and headlines Boxlab Promotions “Night of
Champions II”. The fight will air via tape delay Sunday,
February 26 on CBS Sports Network at 10:30 PM ET.
2016 US Olympian Antonio Vargas faces his toughest foe to
date when he challenges Mitchell Banquez for the WBA
Continental Americas bantamweight title. Fighting out of
Kissimmee, FL, Vargas is 15-1 with 8 wins by KO. Banquez,
who hails from Venezuela and resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL,
has an excellent 20-2 professional ledger with 14 of his
victories coming by KO.
Vargas-Banquez is scheduled for 10 rounds.
WBA Fedecaribe lightweight champion Idalberto Umara, 8-1 (5
KO’s), puts his belt on the line against experienced Devi
Julio, 24-12 (15 KO’s), of Colombia in a ten round contest.
After dropping a controversial decision in his pro debut,
the Cuban born Umara’s dominated inside the squared circle,
winning virtually every round he’s fought.
19-year-old junior welterweight sensation Elijah Flores
battles heavy-handed Mexican Juan Aguirre Herrera, 7-6-2 (5
KO’s). in a six round bout. Fighting out of Woodlands, CA,
Flores is 4-0 with 2 KO’s. Last October, Flores stepped up
in competition and won an thrilling six round decision over
Rashield Williams (6-1) at the Caribe Royale.
The Vargas-Banquez and Umara-Julio fights will air on the
CBS Sports Network telecast, with Flores-Aguirre serving as
a swing bout.
Undefeated junior middleweight sensation Jeovanny Estela
faces well-respected Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis of
Lancaster, CA in a six rounder. Representing Orlando, FL, by
way of Puerto Rico, Estela is 10-0 with 3 wins by knockout.
A pro since 2004, Pendarvis’ record is 21-14-2 with 9 KO’s
and he’s faced many top fighters from 140 to 168 lbs.
Middleweight powerhouse Darrius “The Hawk” Jackson of
Orlando looks to score his fifth knockout in as many fights
when he meets 23 fight veteran Mario Aguirre of Mexico in a
six round contest. The 18-year-old Jackson was a multi-time
amateur champion and is the younger brother of Derrick
Jackson.
The 12-bout card also features Jamar Pemberton, Yoenis
Tellez, Mikenna Tansley, Freudis Rojas, Otha Jones III and
Adrian Pinheiro in separate bouts.
Doors open at 6 pm and the first bout begins at 6:30.
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