Philadelphia, PA—Junior middleweight prospect Fred Jenkins, Jr., of Philadelphia, and undefeated Jeff Lentz, of Lanoka Harbor, NJ, square off in an intriguing six-round contest Friday evening, March 6, at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia.
The seven-fight card features a pair of eight-round contests: Jason Sosa (13-1-3, 9 KOs), of Camden, NJ, vs. Bergman Aguilar (12-1-1, 4 KOs), Esca zu, Costa Rica, junior lightweights; Joey Dawejko (13-3-2, 6KOs), Philadelphia, vs. Enobong Umohette
(9-2-0, 8KOs), Milwaukee,WI, heavyweights.
First bout is 7 p.m.
Jenkins (above left), 28, is coming off a six-round points win over James Robinson, of York, PA, last Dec. 13 at the 2300 Arena. Jenkins (9-1, 3 K0s) turned pro in 2011 at 170 pounds. In 2012, he was as heavy as 174.5 pounds but weighed 155.75 when he beat Robinson.
Before he began his professional training, the 5-foot-7 Jenkins was as heavy as 225.
Jenkins is managed and trained by his dad, Fred Jenkins, Sr., a former pro in the 1970s and a member of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Jenkins, Sr., trains heavyweight Bryant Jennings and also managed and trained Charlie “Choo Choo” Brown, the first IBF world lightweight champ, as well as junior welterweight Rockin’ Rodney Moore.
Lentz, 26, is 4-0 with 1K0 as a pro boxer. He registered his biggest victory in his last fight on July 12 in West Deptford, NJ, when he scored a six-round upset decision over Tim Witherspoon, Jr., of Philadelphia. Witherspoon was 10-4-1 at fight time when Lentz earned scores of 59-55 from all three ringside judges. Lentz also defeated Vinny O’Brien, of East Hanover, NJ, in 2012.
In MMA, Lentz is the owner-operator at Jeff Lentz Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu Jitsu and also works as a personal trainer and fitness instructor. He also is schooled in Muay Thai.
A six-round lightweight contest matches popular Victor Vasquez, of Philadelphia, against Jose Guzman, of the Bronx, NY.
Vasquez (above right), 32, earned a six-round decision over fellow-Philadelphian Gerald Smith in his last fight Oct. 18 at the 2300 Arena. A pro since 2006, Vasquez has a record of 17-9-1 with 7K0s.
Guzman, 26, makes his first start in more than four years. He is 5-8-1 but has lost to world-class fighters such as former super bantamweight world-title challenger Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, and ex-WBO junior welterweight champ Chris Algieri, of New York.
Also returning after a three-year absence is unbeaten lefty Keenan Smith, of Philadelphia. He takes on hard-luck welterweight Malik Jackson, of Newark, NJ, over six rounds.
Smith, 24, last boxed in 2012, beating Chris Finley, of Detroit, MI, over four rounds in Atlantic City, NJ. Smith is 5-0, 1 K0.
Jackson, 32, who can’t seem to get a break from the ringside officials, is 1-5-4, including a six-round draw last fall with unbeaten David Gonzales, of Philadelphia, in Gonzales’ backyard.
Smith represents the ninth undefeated fighter Jackson will have boxed in less than two years.
Two four-round fights complete the 7 p.m. card: Jerome Conquest, Philadelphia, vs. Kevin Garcia, Phoenixville, PA, lightweights; Lamont McLaughlin, Philadelphia, vs. Alshamar Johnson, Vineland, NJ, super middleweights.
About March 6
The Sosa-Aguilar and Dawejko-Umohette fights headline a seven-bout card at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. Doors open at 6 pm; first fight is 7pm. The card will be streamed live on www.gfl.tv and on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) on a delayed basis. Tickets are $35, $50 and $75 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and Wanamaker’s Tickets (215-568-2400). Tickets also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.wanatix.com. The March 6 card is promoted by Joe Hand Promotions, Peltz Boxing and BAM Boxing.
