FAIRFIELD, CALIFORNIA — Local draw and emerging welterweight prospect Alan Sanchez is back headlining the bill at the Fairfield Sports Center as he takes on free-swinging slugger Clint Coronel in an eight-rounder tonight. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in Thursday evening at the Courtyard by Marriott Fairfield Napa Valley Area in Fairfield.
Sanchez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) of Fairfield has quickly turned into a fan favorite and drawing card in his hometown and looks to impress his local following for the third straight time this year. Last time out, Sanchez pounded John Ryan Grimaldo, scoring two knockdowns en route to an eight-round unanimous decision. Sanchez scaled 147-pounds Thursday night.
Coronel (4-2-2, 1 KO) of San Jose, California pulled out a hard-fought six-round decision at the Fairfield Sports Center back in March, overcoming Carlos Musquez via six-round split decision. In the last ring appearance, Coronel fought well but came up short against former amateur standout Michael Zewski, dropping a six-round majority nod in April. Coronel, fighting below his usual weight, managed to come in at 149-pounds Thursday.
In the four-round co-main event, former amateur star and budding professional prospect Manuel “Tino” Avila (4-0, 2 KOs) of Fairfield makes his third appearance at the Sports Center this year in taking on pugnacious Salvador Cifuentes (1-1) of Chula Vista, California. Avila, who will be fighting off television for the first time in his professional career, weighed in at 123-pounds. Cifuentes, dropping down from lightweight, scaled 124-pounds Thursday.
Quickly becoming a venue favorite, super featherweight prospect Guy Robb (4-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California returns to Fairfield for the third time this year against debuting Tyshawn Sherman of Hesperia, California in a four-round bout. Local fight aficionados are still buzzing over Robb’s exciting four-round decision over Manuel Morales in March. Sherman has a limited amateur background, but word is that the Jack Mosley-trained fighter can in fact fight. Robb and Sherman both scaled 128-pounds.
Former amateur standout and professional mixed martial arts prospect Mike Ortega (1-0) of Sacramento will make his long awaited return to boxing in a four-round light middleweight bout against Michael Alexander (1-4-3) of Antioch, California. Ortega turned pro back in 2008 before turning his attention MMA. Despite his record, Alexander poses a tough challenge for Ortega’s squared circle return. Local fight fans may remember Alexander scoring a knockdown over still undefeated prospect Brandon Gonzales in Sacramento in 2008. Ortega came in at 152-pounds, while Alexander made the 154-pound light middleweight limit.
In a four-round light welterweight bout, Fairfield’s Omar Sanchez (0-2) will look to get into the win column against Jhonnathan Zamudio of San Francisco, California by way of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, who will be making his professional debut. Sanchez, an unrelated J.L. Tepito Boxing Club stablemate of Alan Sanchez, has been matched incredibly tough in his young career, but always given his opponent as well as the fans ringside an exciting fight. Sanchez, who scaled 134-pounds, takes on the primed and ready Zamudio, who trains out of the Pastel Boxing Club in Watsonville, California. Zamudio weighed in at 139-pounds.
Also on the card, Jonathan Chicas (1-0, 1 KO) of San Francisco will take on well regarded Michael Islas of Madera, California, who will be making his professional debut, in a four-round light welterweight bout. Chicas thrilled his fans in San Francisco back in April when he demolished Maja Khali in one round. Islas, who competed at the national level on numerous occasions in the amateurs, scaled 139-pounds, while Chicas came in at 142.
Tickets for the event, promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents, are available by calling 925-286-0195.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
Welterweights, 8 Rounds
Sanchez 147
Coronel 149
Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Avila 123
Cifuentes 124
Super Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Robb 128
Sherman 128
Light Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Ortega 152
Alexander 154
Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Sanchez 134
Zamudio 139
Light Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Chicas 142
Islas 139
Photos by Arturo Ramos
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
