Fairfield's Avila TKOs Gutierrez in hometown bout (w/ video)

In front of a nationally televised audience, 18-year-old super bantamweight Manuel “Tino” Avila impressed his hometown fans with an emphatic second round technical knockout over Frank Gutierrez at the Fairfield Sports Center.

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/26/11/img-srchttpcsnbayareacomcommonglobal_ima/landing.html?blockID=491168&feedID=2539

Fairfield's Avila to fight in national spotlight (w/ video)

It’s not very often when an 18-year-old pro boxer gets the opportunity to fight on national television, much less before his hometown fans.

However, for Fairfield native Manuel “Tino” Avila (2-0, 1 KO), such plaudits are to be expected even at this fledgling stage of his career.

“It never feels overwhelming,” said Avila, who takes on Frank Gutierrez (2-8-2, 1 KO) this Friday at the Fairfield Sports Center in the latest installment of Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate series. “I’ve been training out here in Vacaville for eight or nine years here, and I’ve fought here in the amateurs. It’s just another fight to me.”

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/24/11/Fairfields-Avila-to-fight-in-national-sp/landing.html?blockID=490186&feedID=2539

Bay Area Brawler: Meet Joey Gumina

Check out my latest MaxBoxing.com article on San Bruno's Joe "The Punisher" Gumina, a fan-friendly lt. heavyweight who finished his first pro foe in 62 sec. after notching 16 KOs in 26 bouts in the AMATEURS! He fights this Fri. in Fairfield on the Telefutura off-TV undercard.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/max-boxing-news/bay-area-brawler-meet-joey-gumina

Bay Area college boxers begin national title chase (w/ video)

College boxing’s answer to March Madness features fighters from Cal, San Jose State, Santa Clara, and USF.

These often overlooked student-athletes seek their own version of “One Shining Moment” in the ring this spring. Their bid for greatness begins Thursday in Reno with the National Collegiate Boxing Association's Far-West Regional Tournament.

The winners will advance to the national championships an the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., April 7-9.

Cal's Andrei Vasilj, San Jose State's Pablo Diaz, Pat Welde of Santa Clara University and USF Ramsey Ayloush represent the Bay Area contingent. Here's a sketch of each fighter:

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/17/11/Bay-Area-college-boxers-begin-national-t/landing.html?blockID=443004&feedID=2497

Luis Ramos Jr.: Hernandez Now, Gesta in the Summer?

One of Orange County’s own takes center stage on Telefutura this Friday, when undefeated lightweight Luis Ramos Jr., 17-0 (8), takes on a dangerous test in Jose Hernandez, 10-4-1 (4), at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif.

For many fight fans outside Southern California, it will be their first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the 22-year-old Santa Ana southpaw on national television.

"I’m going to put on a good show for everyone,” said Ramos yesterday, “so make sure you watch Telefutura this Friday! Thanks for your support.”

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/luis-ramos-jr-hernandez-now-gesta-in-the-summer

Maquiñana: What does Donaire's De La Hoya move mean?

In light of Nonito Donaire’s move from Top Rank to bitter rival Golden Boy Promotions, here’s my take on why it happened and where the “Filipino Flash” goes from here.

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/16/11/bMaquianab-What-does-Nonaires-move-mean/landing_thecooler_v3.html?blockID=442202&feedID=2491

Ticket information for the Mar. 25 Golden Boy/Telefutura show in Fairfield

Many Bay Area fight fans have asked me about how to obtain tickets for March 25's Telefutura Solo Boxeo Tecate show in Fairfield, CA, at the Fairfield Sports Center.

Paco Damian, who's co-promoting the event with Don Chargin and Golden Boy, says you can buy tickets in person at these spots. I would call in advance to see about availability:

FAIRFIELD:
La Charrita Market (707-434-8344)
JL Tepito Boxing Gym (707-384-8420)

VACAVILLE:
Baldo's Restaurant (707-469-1329)

WOODLAND:
Paco's Restaurant (530-669-7946)

The $30 bleacher seats are gone. Tickets are $60 for VIP Gold (first 2 rows), $50 for VIP Silver (next 3 rows), and $40 for the rest of the floor.

For information about the fight card itself, click here.

Hope that helps!

Tentative Bout Sheet for Mar. 25 Solo Boxeo Show

ESCALANTE vs. PEREZ

Friday, March 25, 2011

Fairfield Sports Center - Fairfield, CA

Solo Boxeo - TeleFutura

8 ROUNDS - SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS (MAIN EVENT)

Antonio ESCALANTE

El Paso, TX

24-3-0(15KO’s)

vs.

Alejandro PEREZ

Salinas, CA

14-2-1(9KO’s)

6 ROUNDS - SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS (CO-MAIN EVENT)

Manuel AVILA

Fairfield, CA

2-0-0 (1 KO)

vs.

Frank GUTIERREZ

Highland, CA

2-8-2 (1 KO)

4 ROUNDS - SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Guy ROBB

Sacramento, CA

2-0-0 (1 KO)

vs.

Manuel MORALES

Chino, CA

Pro Debut

4 ROUNDS - SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS

Bruno ESCALANTE

Cebu, Philippines

2-0-1 (1 KO)

vs.

Danny PANTOJA

Fairfield, CA

0-3-2 (0 KO’s)

4 ROUNDS - SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS

Roman MORALES

San Ardo, CA

1-0-0 (1 KO)

vs.

Jose SANDOVAL

Modesto, CA

Pro Debut

4 ROUNDS - LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Joe Gumina

San Mateo, CA

1-0-0 (1 KO)

vs.

TBA

*Note: Right now the Robb-Morales fight is in jeopardy. I will keep you posted.

The Fairfield Sports Center in Fairfield, CA, is located on the corner of West Texas & 5th St. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Local stars shine in S.F. Regional Golden Gloves (w/ video)

Olympic hopefuls from Sacramento all the way to Bakersfield descended on downtown San Francisco Saturday afternoon to compete in the 2011 Regional Golden Gloves finals.

The winners advanced to the California state finals on April 2 in Vacaville, where if they can emerge victorious, they move on to the National Golden Gloves in Indianapolis on April 25. The ultimate champion of each weight class earns one of the eight coveted spots for next year’s Olympic Trials.

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/13/11/img-srchttpcsnbayareacomcommonglobal_ima/landing.html?blockID=440147&feedID=2539

Regional Golden Gloves boxers ready for Saturday

The 2012 London Games are just around the corner, and boxing fans across America will soon be introduced to the next crop of future stars at next year’s U.S. Olympic Trials.

This Saturday marks the first step toward anointing the next Andre Ward, as San Francisco’s Fight and Fitness Club plays host to the Region 11 Golden Gloves Championship, which will pit some of the best amateurs of Northern California against their Central California counterparts.

The winners will move on to April 2’s State Golden Gloves Tournament in Vacaville, whose victors will fight in the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Indianapolis on April 25. It is here where the ultimate champions of each weight division will automatically earn one of the eight coveted spots for the 2012 Olympic Trials.

Among the diverse group of hopefuls to watch include an accomplished Starbucks barista, a converted martial artist, and a former cast member of MTV’s “Road Rules.”

LINK: http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/11/11/Regional-Golden-Gloves-boxers-ready-for-/landing.html?blockID=438955&feedID=2539

Former SaberCat Griffin a win from world title shot (w/ video)

Four years ago, Otis “Triple O.G.” Griffin had the boxing world in the palm of his hand.

“I had a great contract and I was making seven figures,” said the former SaberCats defensive specialist turned pugilist. “I was undefeated in 20 straight fights and on the warp-speed track to a world title.”

Then everything slipped away. An overconfident Griffin traveled to Australia and was knocked out by Danny Green. Four more losses in his next five fights followed. Suddenly, the fame and the paydays were gone.

Griffin was no longer the pigeon, but rather, the statue. Even worse, his own mother asked him to hang up his gloves for good.

“She told me that I had a successful job and an education, so why not just call it quits?” recalled Griffin, who attended West Texas A&M. “But I refused. I became a fighter to win a world title, and I’m not stopping until I do that.”

Perhaps it’s fitting that the SaberCats return to the AFL from a two-year hiatus at precisely the same time the 33-year-old Griffin (23-6-2, 9 KOs) enjoys a career resurrection, having won his last four bouts in a row.

LINK: http://www.csncalifornia.com/03/04/11/img-srchttpcsnbayareacomcommonglobal_ima/landing.html?blockID=433402&feedID=2539

Northern California Notes: Donaire a Free Agent, Guerrero in Vegas, Golden Gloves Results

It’s been a busy two weeks in Northern California, ranging from San Mateo resident and new bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire’s momentous knockout victory to the start of the 2011 Golden Gloves festivities in Vacaville last weekend.

I made the rounds and scoured as much information as possible for you fight fans, so in the spirit of this past Sunday night’s Academy Awards, let’s begin this edition of the West Coast Watch with an Oscar-themed feature presentation.

LINK: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/northern-california-notes-donaire-a-free-agent-guerrero-in-vegas-golden-gloves-results