Corpus Christi, TX (June 18) – “The Corpus Christi Kid” Jerry Belmontes will return to his Texas hometown to face Puerto Rico’s Abner “Pin” Cotto in the 10-round junior lightweight main event of FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes’ Golden Boy Live! on Thursday, August 7 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Also featured on the card will be a stacked lineup of Texas’ finest that will be looking to put on a show for their local fans including Austin’s KeAndre Gibson who will face an opponent to be named in the eight-round junior welterweight co-main event. Also taking to the ring will be Kingsville’s unbeaten Oscar Cantu who meets San Antonio’s Joseph Rios in an eight-round bantamweight bout that will open the televised portion of the card.
Also featured at the American Bank Center will be San Antonio’s Jairo Castaneda (5-0, 2 KOs) and Robstown’s Greg Gutierrez (9-2, 2 KOs) and Robert Vela (8-0-1, 5 KOs). The evening will also showcase some of Corpus Christi’s finest with Ernest Reyna (4-1), Julian Gilden (4-0, 4 KOs) and Jeremy Longoria (4-3, 1 KO) looking to shine in front of their hometown fans.
Unbeaten in four fights in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Jerry Belmontes (19-4, 5 KOs) will fight in front of his home fans for the first time since April of 2013 when he steps into the ring on August 7. The bout against Cotto will also be the 25-year-old’s first since his April 26 showdown with amateur rival and WBC Lightweight World Champion Omar Figueroa Jr. where Belmontes gave a supreme effort, only to lose a disputed 12-round split decision. Vowing to get back into the title hunt and earn a shot at a rematch w Figueroa Jr., “The Corpus Christi Kid” wants to make a statement against Cotto.
Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico’s Abner Cotto (17-2, 8 KOs) has the style to trouble any fighter at 130 pounds, including Belmontes. Cotto is looking to get back in the win column after a hard-fought loss to highly touted Francisco Vargas in March but he knows he is coming into enemy territory to prove he has what it takes. The cousin of recently crowned WBC Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto, 26-year-old Abner is determined to one day bring another title to the family and his first step is defeating Belmontes on August 7.
Fresh from a spectacular fourth round knockout over John Nater in May, 24-year-old KeAndre Gibson (10-0-1, 5 KOs) will be fighting in front of his Texas fans once again when he battles an opponent to be named. A versatile prospect that many believe will be ruling the junior welterweight division one day, Gibson has won three of his last five fights by knockout and he’ll be bringing the thunder again in Corpus Christi.
A multi-talented boxer who is making a name for himself on the Texas scene, 23-year-old Oscar Cantu (7-0, 1 KO) will seek his eighth straight win when he meets 32-year-old Joseph Rios (13-9-2, 4 KOs) on August 7. The current WBC USNBC Super Flyweight Champion, Cantu is coming off of an eight-round win over Felipe Castaneda in March. Rios is no stranger to fighting unbeaten opposition, as five of his last six foes were undefeated and he put losses on three of those five opponents’ records, making him a dangerous test for Cantu.
Belmontes vs. Cotto, a 10-round junior lightweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija Battah Promotions and is sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly AutoParts. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. CT and the first bell rings at 5:30 p.m. CT. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. PT.
Individual tickets priced at $12, $17 and $25 as well as group table packages priced at $600, $800 and $1000, plus applicable fees and service charges will go on sale Friday, June 20 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Tickets will be available for purchase by calling Leija Battah Promotions at (210) 979-3302, the American Bank Center at (361) 826-3000 by Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
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