SAN ANTONIO, TX (November 14, 2024) – Triple A Promotions, in association with South Park Boxing Academy, are set to bring San Antonio another great night of boxing for the community as “The Showdown at the Shrine” will return to the Alzafar Shrine Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The eagerly awaited event will be broadcast live on KSAT.com and KSAT+, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy the excitement from home.

Tickets priced $35 (General Admission), $65-$75-$85 (Table Seating / $850-10seats / $750-10seats / $650-10seats) are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (210) 605-8933. Doors open at 6:00 pm, and the first bout is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm.

The main event will showcase a thrilling 6-round light flyweight showdown between San Antonio’s next rising star, unbeaten 19-year-old David Cardenas (8-0, 6 KOs), who battles Robert Ledesma (3-13-1, 2 KOs), also from San Antonio, TX. Cardenas brings a fan friendly style to the ring and is rapidly making a name for himself in the boxing world.

“It’s an honor to fight in front of my hometown fans here in San Antonio once again,” said Cardenas, who is gaining popularity with local fans as his relationship with San Antonio Spurs power forward Keldon Johnson, is known around town. “I’m ready to give everyone a show they won’t forget. As always, fans can expect me to go for the knockout. I’m here to bring exciting fights to everyone in attendance and those watching on KSAT.”

In the 4-round co-main event, two rising stars in the lightweight division will go toe-to-toe as Aseel Martinez (2-0, 1 KO), from San Antonio, TX, will battle Jose Jimenez, also from San Antonio, TX, who will be making his pro debut. Martinez vs. Jimenez promises to be a war as both fighters bring exciting fighting styles to the ring.

“Tickets are still available for this event, but we are expecting another sold out show, so fans please get your tickets now before they are gone,” said promoter Rick Nunez. “This event promises to be another unforgettable night of boxing. Fans in the arena and those tuning in on KSAT can look forward to seeing some incredible knockouts. I’m truly grateful to the boxing community in San Antonio and the surrounding areas for supporting this even. The card is stacked with talented prospects ready to make their mark. Boxing in San Antonio is on the rise, and I’m committed to building on that excitement.” 

In addition, singing the National Anthem will be celebrated Country and Tejano 

?artist Laura Linda, who was awarded the All Star Music Awards’ Best Female Entertainer of the Year in 2023, a testament to her dynamic presence in the music scene. That same year, her influence extended beyond music as San Antonio Monthly Magazine honored her as the 2023 Socialite of the Year.

Undercard Bouts:

Middleweights – 4 Rounds: Blazen Rocili (7-0, 6 KOs) – Las Vegas, NV vs. Corey Caad (8-7, 3 KOs) – San Antonio, TX.

Featherweights – 4 Rounds: Juan Garcia (5-0, 2 KOs) – Carrizo Springs, TX vs. TBA

Welterweights – 4 Rounds: Martice Taylor (Pro Debut) – San Antonio, TX vs. Juan Mata (1-0-1) – San Antonio, TX.

Super Middleweights – 4 Rounds: Westley Phillips (2-0, 2 KOs) – San Antonio, TX vs. Victor Mendoza (0-1) – San Antonio, TX.

Super Bantamweights – 4 Rounds: Jesus Cortinas (0-1-1) – San Antonio, TX vs. Jose Crespo (1-0) – San Antonio, TX.

Lightgweights – 4 Rounds: Orlando Davila (2-0) – San Antonio, TX vs. Jose Ceja (1-12-2) – Spring, TX.

Middleweights – 4 Rounds: Ethan Lopez (1-1, 1 KO) – Castroville, TX vs. Nicholas Whitehead (Pro Debut) – San Antonio, TX.

Super Bantamweights – 4 Rounds: Carlos Torres (2-4, 1 KO) – Corpus Christi, TX vs. Jacob Barrientez (0-1) – Kennedy, TX.

This night of boxing will showcase a blend of rising stars and local talent, promising nonstop action and unforgettable moments. With the expected sold-out venue and the live stream on KSAT.com, fans are in for a treat as Triple A Promotions, and South Park Boxing Academy continues to bring top-tier boxing to San Antonio. This event is sponsored by Gamez Law Firm, AAA Garcia Bail Bonds, JD Tax & Associates, and Texas Roofing. 

SAN ANTONIO, TX (August 22, 2024) – Triple A Promotions is set to deliver an electrifying night of boxing at the Alzafar Shrine Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas, this Saturday, August 24, 2024. The highly anticipated event, which has already sold out, will be streamed live on ABC affiliate KSAT.com and KSAT+, allowing fans to experience the thrill from home. Doors open at 6:00 pm, with the first bell ringing at 7:30 pm.

Headlining the event is an exciting 6-round light flyweight clash between San Antonio’s own unbeaten prospect, 19-year-old David Cardenas (7-0, 5 KOs), who is popular with the San Antonio Spurs, and Jaime Guevara (2-2-1) from Laredo, TX. Cardenas, known for his knockout power, will be looking to extend his unbeaten streak in front of his hometown fans, with his good friend San Antonio Spurs power forward Keldon Johnson in attendance.

“It’s a great feeling to be fighting at home once again,” said Cardenas. “I’m ready to give my hometown fans a great show. Everyone can expect me to let my hands fly as my goal is always to get the knockout. My main goal is to build my name in San Antonio, and become the next big star from our city.”

In the co-main event, San Antonio’s undefeated super lightweight Isaac Bermea (4-0, 3 KOs) will put his perfect record on the line against fellow unbeaten foe Fabian Diaz (6-0, 3 KOs) from Edinburg, TX. This highly anticipated 4-round bout features two rising stars determined to showcase their skills and maintain their unblemished records. With both fighters boasting knockout power, fans can expect an explosive clash as Bermea and Diaz battle it out to see who will remain undefeated.

The card will also showcase, Gilroy, California’s 17-year-old star on the rise Robert Guerrero Jr. (2-0, 1 KO), the son or former 3-Time world champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, as he takes on Jesus Cortinas (0-0-1, 0 KOs), from San Antonio, TX, in a scheduled 4-round super featherweight bout.

“This is going to be a great night of boxing,” said promoter Rick Nunez. “Everyone in attendance and those watching on KSAT are going to see some action-packed fights, and some incredible knockouts. I’m very thankful for all the boxing fans in San Antonio, and the neighboring towns for making show a sold-out event. The show is loaded with rising stars looking to make a name for themselves. Boxing in San Antonio is thriving, and I want to keep the momentum going.”

Undercard Bouts:

Super Featherweights – 4 Rounds: Robert Guerrero Jr. (2-0, 1 KO) – Gilroy, CA vs. Jesus Cortinas (0-0-1, 0 KOs) – San Antonio, TX.

Lightweights – 6 Rounds: Javier Fernandez (15-0, 7 KOs) – San Antonio, TX vs. Juan Rodriguez (13-24-1, 7 KOs) – Front Royal, VA.

Middleweights – 6 Rounds: Corey Caad (7-6, 3 KOs) – San Antonio, TX vs. Christopher Arguello (2-16-1, 2 KOs) – Colorado Springs, CO.

Super Lightweights – 4 Rounds: Richard Medina (4-0-1, 1 KO) – Von-Ormy, TX vs. Luis Gerardo (1-3, 0 KOs) – Eagle Pass, TX.

Super Flyweights – 4 Rounds: Guillermo Gutierrez (10-1, 1 KO) – San Antonio, TX vs. Robert Ledesma (3-11-1, 2 KOs) – San Antonio, TX.

Super Featherweights – 4 Rounds: Aseel Martinez (2-0, 1 KO) – San Antonio, TX vs. Dean Fraire (Pro Debut) – San Antonio, TX

Super Lightweights – 4 Rounds: Juan Guajardo (2-0, 2 KOs) – San Antonio, TX vs. Jullio Phillip (Pro Debut) – Dallas, TX.

This night of boxing will showcase a blend of rising stars and seasoned veterans, promising nonstop action and unforgettable moments. With the sold-out venue and the live stream on KSAT.com, fans are in for a treat as Triple A Promotions continues to bring top-tier boxing to San Antonio. This event is sponsored by Gamez Law Firm, AAA Garcia Bail Bonds, JD Tax & Associates, and Texas Roofing. 

SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 8, 2024) – Super flyweight prospect David Cardenas, the 19-year-old rising star from San Antonio, TX, remained undefeated with a first-round knockout against Steveen Angeles Cruz, improving his record to (7-0, 5 KOs). The scheduled 6-round bout, promoted by TMB Promotions, took place this past Saturday at the Event Center in Floresville, Texas.

After a feeling out process in the opening minutes of the opening round, Cardenas landed a picture-perfect left hook to the body, sending Cruz to the canvas where he didn’t recover. The stoppage came at the 2:13 mark of round one.

“I landed that body shot with a lot of force and he went down,” said Cardenas, who is trained by Rick Nunez, the longtime San Antonio boxing coach from the South Park Boxing Academy. “This is a guy I fought and went the distance earlier in my career, so it felt good to get the knockout, especially in the first round.”

With the knockout victory, Cardenas is rapidly becoming a household name in the city of San Antonio, where he has strong ties to San Antonio Spurs power forward Keldon Johnson. He is tentatively scheduled to be back in the ring on August 24, 2024, at the Alzafar Shrine Temple in his hometown of San Antonio, TX.

“I’m looking forward to fighting at home in San Antonio next month, where I know a lot of my fans and family will be in attendance,” concluded Cardenas. “I have plans to make a name for myself in San Antonio and become the big name to come out of our city. Bam Rodriguez and Mario Barrios have paved the way and I’m coming fight behind them, God willing.” 

SAN ANTONIO, TX (July 4, 2024) – Undefeated super flyweight prospect David Cardenas (6-0, 4 KOs), the 19-year-old rising star from San Antonio, TX, is set to step back into the ring this Saturday, July 6, 2024, against Steveen Angeles Cruz. This will be Cardenas’ first scheduled 6-round bout, and it promises to be an exciting showcase of his talent and skillset. The fight, promoted by TMB Promotions, will take place at the Event Center in Floresville, Texas, just outside of San Antonio.

Cardenas has quickly become a noteworthy name in the San Antonio boxing scene. His rise has been supported by his good friend, San Antonio Spurs power forward Keldon Johnson. The two met at a boxing gym and have since formed a strong bond, with Johnson attending Cardenas’ fights whenever he’s in town.

“My friendship with Keldon has been a huge source of motivation for me,” said David Cardenas. “Having someone like him in my corner, supporting me and believing in my potential, has really boosted my confidence and drive to succeed.”

Cardenas is trained by Rick Nunez, a seasoned coach who played a key role in guiding WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a world title. Nunez is optimistic about Cardenas’ future and sees great potential in him.

“David is competing in a smaller weight class, where fighters often get world title shots early in their careers,” said Rick Nunez. “With his talent and great work ethic, I believe he can reach a world title shot quickly. We’re working hard to ensure he’s ready for that opportunity when it comes.”

Fighting in his home state of Texas, Cardenas is excited about the opportunity to build his fan base and put on a show for his local supporters.

“There’s nothing like fighting at home in front of my friends, family, and fans,” said Cardenas. “San Antonio has always been there for me, and I’m grateful for the support. Each fight at home helps me connect more with the community and build a loyal fan base. I’m hoping to follow in the steps of Bam Rodriguez, Joshua Franco and Mario Barrios, three world champions from San Antonio that I look up too.”

The upcoming bout at the Event Center in Floresville, Texas, is expected to draw a large crowd eager to see the young prospect in action. Boxing fans can anticipate an entertaining night of boxing as David Cardenas continues his journey toward the top of the sport.

By Mario Ortega Jr.

While often overlooked and underappreciated, the lower weight divisions in boxing produce some of the best fights each year. Rarely able to rely on punching power to win fights, the elite fighters furthest down the scale more often than not are superb technicians that have honed their craft in the gym. Historically, the American boxing public has been most drawn to the knockout punchers of the heaviest divisions, or the flashy athleticism of welterweights and lightweights. Former amateur sensation David Cardenas Jr. has begun to chart his rise and could one day become a fighter that draws eyeballs to the lowest weight divisions. Cardenas continues his ascension up the ranks Saturday, July 6th in Floresville, Texas. 

Cardenas (6-0, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas capped a distinguished amateur career by winning the USA Boxing National Championship at 106-pounds in December 2022 and becoming the #1-ranked fighter in his weight division before turning professional last August in Mexico. For most amateur fighters at the top of their respective weight class, the ultimate goal is the Olympic Games. With the 2024 Summer Olympics on the horizon, but the lightest weight division in competition set at 112-pounds, Cardenas and his team had a decision to make. 

“We thought about [qualifying for the U.S. team,] because not everyone gets to go to the Olympics, but 112 isn’t really my weight class, so we decided to just go pro,” recounts Cardenas. 

The 105-pound weight class in professional boxing, a division that first became recognized by the professional governing bodies of the sport in the late 1980’s, is often overlooked by even the most ardent followers of the sweet science in the United States. The division’s failure to break through into the public consciousness could be partially contributed to the fact that the division has never had a U.S.-born standout star and had never had a world champion born stateside until Oscar Collazo claimed the WBO title just last year. 

Cardenas plans to make his campaign at 105-pounds, or the 108-pound light flyweight division, eventually. Six fights into his professional career, Cardenas has fought opponents as heavy as 121-pound Rodric Cherry, whom he stopped in two-rounds in his second pro bout late last August in San Antonio, and no lighter than 14-fight veteran Richard Hernandez, who made 112-pounds before lasting the four-round distance this past December. 

“The difficult part is his weight class,” explains Rick Morones Jr. of TMB Promotions, promoter for Saturday’s event in Floresville. “It is hard to find those little guys. You run out of them pretty fast, so I think that will be the most difficult task for promoters [attempting to match David.] Promoters will tell you that weight class is a problem.” 

Helping guide Cardenas’ career and charged with pointing him towards the right opponents as he progresses is his trainer Rick Nunez. “I have been guiding him throughout his fights,” says Nunez, a twenty-year veteran of the sport. “I have a lot of experience in that. I have been trying to build him up and get him to contender status.” 

During his stellar amateur run, Cardenas was trained by well-respected U.S. National Team coach Jeffery Mays, among others. Across town, Nunez trained fighters out of his South Park Boxing Academy, including one consistent opponent from Cardenas’ weight class. Unbeknownst to the two, Nunez and Cardenas would eventually stumble into realizing they were in fact of family relation. 

“David and his dad showed up to a local boxing event, with his uncle, who I knew was my cousin and I asked how they knew each other, and his uncle said [David Sr.] was his little brother,” recalls Nunez. “I was like, ‘What do you mean this is your brother?’ I still didn’t believe him, so I called my aunt and asked her about it.”

A year or so after getting the verification from his aunt of their family relation, Nunez took on the assignments of training Cardenas and steering his career in the right direction as the young amateur star was set to begin his run as a professional. 

“Once he turned pro, I guess he realized he needed to make the transition and I already had a really good resume with building pro fighters and helping guys get to the next level as pros,” says Nunez, who was a part of the team that guided Mario Barrios to a world title. “He just told me, ‘Hey Cus, once I get ready to turn pro I want to come over to work with you.’ We have been working together ever since. We started off last August, so this August will be one year and hopefully he will be 8-0 in one year [of fighting professionally].” 

For Cardenas’ first bout, Nunez opted to take his young charge on the road to Tamaulipas, a border state in Mexico, just south of Texas. It was a positive experience for Cardenas, one that he will be able to draw from down the line, as his weight class may require that he pack his passport to seek out the biggest possible bouts. 

“It was a good experience,” recalls Cardenas, who never fought internationally as an amateur. “Rick was like, ‘Let’s go to Mexico and get all the nerves out in Mexico.’ I know a lot of fighters do that at the beginning of their career. I trusted in my team and I did that.”

Since his debut in Mexico, Cardenas has enjoyed the luxury of fighting in or within driving distance of his native San Antonio each time out, a streak that continues with his next scheduled bouts, July 6th in Floresville and August 24th back in his hometown. 

“I enjoy [fighting at home,”] says Cardenas. “I have a lot of supporters in San Antonio and throughout Texas. They are the reason why I am here in this spot. Later on, it is going to be hard to fight as much here in San Antonio, Texas.”  

The fight on Saturday in Floresville will be a rematch, as well as Cardenas’ first bout scheduled for six rounds. Getting ready for the longer distance only requires minor adjustments for a fighter that will have competed eight times in just over his first twelve months as a professional. 

“We just do twice as much work,” says Cardenas. “If I am fighting six rounds, I do eight rounds or ten rounds in sparring. I am just doing everything harder.” 

“We spar a few extra rounds here and there,” explains Nunez. “I have a lot of amateurs in my gym, but I am not big on amateur boxing, so everyone in my gym is training as if they are a pro or going to turn pro sometime down the line. It is nothing different. It is just about being more patient in the ring and being comfortable with the longer distance.” 

For his first bout scheduled for six, Cardenas will meet a familiar foe in 16-fight veteran Steveen Angeles Cruz. The two met in March, with Cardenas winning every round on the judges’ scorecards en route to a four-round decision. Despite the lopsided scoring, it was a tougher-than-expected fight the first time out. With the rematch set for six-rounds Saturday, Cardenas has a second chance to silence any doubters, and two extra rounds to accomplish that feat. 

“That was probably one of David’s only not-so-good, not-so-exciting performances,” admits Nunez. “Within the first two rounds, it looked like David was going to knock the kid out, but David just got tired. He just couldn’t put him away and it’s just extra motivation for David. So that is the only reason [for a rematch.] There were some people that said he didn’t look too good against this guy. So we said he had a bad night, we will take it and show everybody that he just had a bad night. He is human like anybody else and it happens.” 

Promoter Rick Morones Jr. expects to see an interesting fight on Saturday, with both the young prospect David Cardenas Jr. and the game veteran Steveen Angeles Cruz having something to prove. 

“With these types of fights, especially with the first one being tough, you are going to get the best version of Steveen Cruz, so this one will be even better,” says Morones. “But you are also probably going to get a better version of David Cardenas, which makes the fight all that more interesting.”  

Should things go according to plan on July 6th, Cardenas will keep the busy schedule rolling into an August 24th bout back in San Antonio. “The first year or two, it is always good to move them at a good pace, because they are only four-round fights and obviously he is not going to go the distance in every one of them,” says Nunez. “He’s not getting into ring wars. His skillset is very good and his IQ is also. He’s not taking punishment, so it’s good to keep him busy. When we get him to that next level, then we will look to back him down to three or four fights a year.” 

While it is early to look too far down the road, Cardenas’ team have designs on building him up over roughly the next two years, before setting their sights on challenging for a title. With the aforementioned New Jersey-born, but Puerto Rico-raised and based Oscar Collazo representing the only previous American champion in his division, Cardenas could one day be the first 105-pound champion with a strong hometown fanbase to fight out of the continental United States. 

“My career is moving pretty fast and it is going pretty good,” says Cardenas. “I have just been staying in the gym throughout the year and trusting my team and my dad. I stay in the gym and trust that they will get me the fights and wins I need to keep moving forward. Keep expecting exciting fights. Expect to see me keep on improving in these fights and looking better. The tougher the competition is, the better I look.” 

Tickets for Saturday’s event at the Floresville Event Center, promoted by TMB Promotions, are available by calling 210-449-5599 or 210-322-9974. 

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com