SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – Middleweight prospect Islam Abdusamadov takes on veteran spoiler Moris Rodriguez in the six-round main event of “Showdown in Sactown II” at the DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento on Saturday night. Fighters for the six-bout card weighed-in at the host venue on Friday afternoon. 

Abdusamadov (7-0, 3 KOs) of Santa Clara, California by way of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia is ready to get his year started, having last seen action in December, scoring an explosive first-round knockout over Jon Thomas. Ready for his second scheduled six-rounder, Abdusamadov weighed-in at 161.2 pounds on Friday. 

Rodriguez (9-18-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento is back down closer to the middleweight limit, having moved up to upset light heavyweight Tony Hernandez via six-round unanimous decision at the nearby Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln two months ago. Rodriguez, a pro of seventeen years, weighed-in at 162 pounds on Friday. 

Junior middleweight prospect Sergio Gonzalez (4-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento fights in his hometown for the first time as a professional to take on six-year pro Christian Seals (4-3-2, 2 KOs) of Carson, California in a six-round bout. Gonzalez, who moved up to the six-round distance in March with a unanimous decision over Michael Portales, weighed-in at 155.2 pounds on Friday. Seals, who local fans may remember for his split decision draw with Ruben Torres at the DoubleTree back in 2023, scaled 155 even. 

In a four-round bout, unbeaten super featherweight Jose Contreras (2-0) of Oakland, California will take on the most experienced opponent of his short career in Jonathan Almacen (7-15-3, 2 KOs) of Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contreras was last in the ring in March, scoring a one-sided unanimous decision over MMA fighter-turned boxer Benji Gomez. Almacen, who has managed to hang tough with naturally larger opponents in the past, weighed-in at 127.2 pounds, while Contreras scaled 129.2 on Friday.  

Making their professional debuts, Aaron Wisdom of Atwater, California will meet Jorge Luna Ramirez of Carson City, Nevada in a four-round featherweight bout. Wisdom, an 18-year-old training out of the Merced Crossroads Boxing Gym in Merced, California, weighed-in at 127.1 pounds. Luna Ramirez, a 21-year-old training out of the Carson City Boxing Club in Carson City, weighed-in at 126.3 on Friday. 

Vicky Zhao (2-2) of Watsonville, California by way of Chongqing, China will take on Shavon Furrow (1-0, 1 KO) of Fresno, California in a four-round super flyweight bout. Zhao, riding a two-fight win streak, will be competing at the highest weight of her career to this point at 114 pounds. Furrow, moving down a few pounds from her pro debut in February, also weighed-in at 114 on Friday. 

With local bragging rights on the line, Maurice Powell (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento will take on fellow Sacramento native Milton Ramirez (1-2) in a four-round light welterweight bout. Powell turned pro with a quick first-round stoppage of Ty Tarver in March. Returning to the ring from a nearly three-year layoff, Ramirez weighed-in at 145 pounds, while Powell scaled 142.1 on Friday. 

Quick Weigh-in Results:

Middleweights, 6 Rounds

Abdusamadov 161.2

Rodriguez 162

Junior middleweights, 6 Rounds

Gonzalez 155.2

Seals 155

Super featherweights, 4 Rounds

Contreras 129.2

Almacen 127.2

Featherweights, 4 Rounds

Wisdom 127.1

Luna Ramirez 126.3

Super flyweights, 4 Rounds

Zhao 114

Furrow 114

Welterweights, 4 Rounds

Powell 142.1

Ramirez 145

Tickets for the event, promoted by Upper Cut Promotions, are available online at Leapevents.com 

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

Four years into his journey as a boxer and nine years removed from the prom date that brought him into the public consciousness, Albert Ochoa is set to take to the ring for his second bout as a pro, and first in the United States, this coming Thursday night at the Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. Ochoa, having just celebrated his first Father’s Day as one himself, will take on Leon Miles Jr. in a four-round welterweight bout as part of SOCA Fights’ Fight Club OC event, which will be streamed internationally by TrillerTV+. 

Ochoa (1-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, California made his pro debut in February, scoring a first-round stoppage over Miguel Angel Ortiz in San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. Ochoa had been slated to meet an American opponent before Ortiz, an unknown commodity, stepped in on short notice to keep his debut bout intact.  

“I had one day’s notice [on my new opponent] and I was terrified,” admits Ochoa candidly. “I was scared. The guy I fought had more fights and I didn’t have amateur experience, so I wanted to pull out too, but I had to believe in myself and the work that I put in. With a last minute opponent switch, a lot of fighters would pull out of a fight, because you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, but I went in there and knocked him out.”

Ochoa, who came to prominence after reality TV star Kendall Jenner agreed to be his junior prom date in 2016, decided to turn professional after a run on the influencer boxing exhibition circuit and without any traditional amateur experience. As one could expect, Ochoa has heard from naysayers along the way, which ultimately made the taste of his first pro victory all the more sweet. 

“I got goosebumps and was very emotional,” recalls Ochoa of hearing his name announced victoriously after the win. “So many people have doubted me and people doubt me in this sport still. Being from Sacramento, I have a big target on my back. I knew whether I won or lost, people were going to talk. In the end, I had to do what was best for me and I went in and got the job done. I was very happy and emotional, because this sport isn’t easy.” 

Ochoa’s debut came after a brief camp with new trainer Stan Martyniouk, a former international level amateur with nearly 18 years of professional experience, dating back to his own pro debut in 2007. Martyniouk was pleased with what he saw out of his new charge in that first fight together. 

“We went into the fight and I had to keep him calm a little bit, so as not to waste a lot of energy,” explains Martyniouk. “He had a little bit of the jitters, so we warmed up and he shook out a little bit. He went into the fight and executed the game plan very well. He got the victory and everything was good.” 

Adding to the swirl of emotions Ochoa experienced on the night of his debut, his girlfriend Maricela Cornejo, who fought Cecilia Braekhus to a close decision in an attempt at an interim title last year, was in the home stretch of her pregnancy, as their son Ocean arrived just over a month later. 

“When I knocked that guy out, I was extremely happy, because now I could enjoy the time with my baby boy,” recalls Ochoa. “So that’s all I was thinking about, was the after effects. I got this job done and now I can spend some time with them and relax with them and be there for Mari as well.” 

Ochoa has managed to juggle his newfound responsibility as a father and as a professional fighter while preparing for his upcoming bout against Miles this Thursday. 

“My baby now is three months and we dialed-in [for this upcoming fight] when he was three-weeks-old,” explains Ochoa. “So I’ve been in camp about nine to ten weeks. I’ve been 100 percent focused and motivated. It does suck to be away from him, being at the gym twice a day. We had a media workout in Sacramento and so many people came, but it does suck being away. I know it is going to pay off in the long run and beating this guy in L.A. is going to be great, but the after effect is what I am looking forward to and that is spending time with my son.” 

In addition to being away from his newborn son, Ochoa has been training mostly out of the Salas Boxing Academy in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, while Martyniouk remained in the Bay Area. Despite the distance, Martyniouk has continued to be a guiding voice and will be in the Ochoa corner on Thursday night. Thus far, Ochoa has impressed Stan “The Man” with his improvement. 

“It has been a bit different, because I have been talking to him about what I’ve seen mostly through videos,” explains Martyniouk. “We discuss what he’s been doing, what he needs to improve and work on. Ever since we started working together, either over the phone or when he comes and sees me, his timing has improved a lot. His power and his ring IQ, have all improved. He looks like a whole different fighter. We worked a lot on speed and while he’s been out there in Vegas, you can tell the difference in speed. He looks like a seasoned fighter now.”  

“It’s been a long camp, but I’ve jumped so many levels,” says Ochoa. “My sparring competition has been higher. My IQ is higher and I’ve been boxing amazingly. I am keeping up with these pros coming up as well. So this camp has been my best camp, it really has. From my strength to my IQ, to letting my hands go in combination, I feel I have taken a big leap from the last fight until now.” 

Ochoa will meet a familiar face on Thursday, taking on Miles, known on social media as “Suede The Plug.” Miles comes from the influencer boxing circuit as well, which is where he and Ochoa met before. Ochoa boxed his way to a decision win over Miles in an exhibition in December of 2023. 

“I am sure he has grown as both a person and a fighter and I am definitely not taking him lightly,” says Ochoa of Miles. “I am training my butt off and doing everything I need to do to come out victorious. He was my toughest challenge. That influencer fight was fun for sure, but now I am going into the pros and it is a different game. Miles wanted to run it back and for [promoter] Roy [Englebrecht] to give me the opportunity, being from Sacramento, it is a blessing to be on that card. [Miles] is from L.A. and he’s a good fighter. We went the distance the last time we fought, but I just have to focus on myself and no matter who they put in front of me, I need to get the job done and that means winning.”

With all the motivation that comes with becoming a father for the first time and pursuing a passion, Ochoa is excited to show that all of his hard work has paid off as he goes for his second pro win on Thursday night in Costa Mesa. 

“The event is about sold out already I believe,” says Ochoa. “I am excited and it is going to be fun. I expect fireworks. I am going to put on a great performance and in this fight, I am going to show why I became a boxer. I think it is going to be a good fight, a really fun one and I plan to show out.”  

The few remaining tickets for the event, promoted by SOCA Fights, are available online at socafights.com 

Photos courtesy Team Ochoa

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

ROSEVILLE, CA — Upstart Northern California boxing promoter O.P.P. brings live professional boxing back to the Placer County Fair & Events Center in Roseville with “Showdown at the Fairgrounds II” on Saturday, October 12th. The highly-anticipated event is headlined by fast-rising junior middleweight prospect Aaron Coley and highlighted by a showdown between two undefeated light welterweights, Aldwayne Simpson and Ulises Soriano, both based out of Richmond, California. Several of the region’s most promising fighters will round out the card. Tickets are on sale now and available via the PayPal window on this page.

Coley (7-0, 4 KOs) of Hayward, California will make the move up to the six-round distance for the first time in his career as he takes on veteran gatekeeper Michael Alexander (2-8-3) of Antioch, California. Coley was last in the ring back on July 20th at the initial “Showdown at the Fairgrounds” where he took a shutout four-round decision over a game Saul Benitez. The tough luck Alexander has an appeal pending regarding his seventh pro loss, which took place on June 1st. In that fight, against unbeaten Ricardo Pinell, Alexander was clearly hit by a shot after the bell which resulted in the stoppage.

Aldwayne Simpson (4-0, 2 KOs) of Richmond, California by way of Kingston, Jamaica takes to the ring for the first time in 2013 against long tenured journeyman Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-19-1, 6 KOs) of Richmond by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a four-round light welterweight contest. Simpson is a frequent sparring partner for Amir Khan when the former champion moves his camp to nearby Oakland. Lugo has fought virtual who’s who of world champions and contenders. Upon moving to the United States, Lugo took on nine consecutive undefeated fighters from May 2008 to September 2009. In that stretch Lugo went the distance with eventual world champions Danny Garcia and Adrien Broner.

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ONLINE ORDERING CLOSED.
Call 925-208-1086 for ticket availability.

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Local fan favorite John Abella (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of neighboring Sacramento, California returns to the ring against Christian Cartier (0-2) of Yuma, Arizona by way of Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico in a four-round featherweight bout. In his last outing, Abella erased a headbutt-induced technical draw with a one-sided six-round decision in a rematch with Salvador Cifuentez this past April. Cartier has not shied away from tough competition, taking on unbeaten prospects in all of his pro bouts.

Former international amateur standout Adam Fiel (1-0, 1 KO) of Fairfield, California will be looking for win number two in a four-round featherweight bout. Fiel spent time competing for both the U.S. and Filipino National Teams as part of a long and decorated amateur career. Fiel, under the tutelage of trainer Nonito Donaire Sr., turned pro at “Showdown at the Fairgrounds” with a devastating first-round stoppage of Francisco Solis. Fiel will be taking on an opponent to be announced shortly.

Making his return to the ring after a two-year absence, Miguel Lopez (2-1, 1 KO) of Oakland, California will take on debuting Luis Cruz of Sacramento in a four-round light middleweight bout. Lopez, who in his time away opened up the gym Boxing For Health in Oakland, suffered his only pro loss in his last contest, but to a fighter in Brandon Adams that now has an 11-0 career mark. Cruz is a pupil of Horacio Barrera at Broadway Boxing in Sacramento.

LaRon Mitchell, one of the top amateur heavyweights of the U.S. boxing system over the last couple of years, makes the second start of his pro career as he takes on tough journeyman Blue DeLong (0-4) of Glendale, Arizona in a four-round heavyweight bout. Mitchell (1-0, 1 KO) was the runner-up at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and silver medalist at the 2012 USA Boxing National Championships when a shoulder injury prevented him from competing in the finals. DeLong is coming off of a tough assignment against still unbeaten Gerald Washington.

Another local favorite making his return to Roseville will be Sacramento’s undefeated Alberto Torres, who will be taking on debuting Percy Peterson of Stockton, California in a four-round lightweight bout. Torres (3-0-1) dropped San Francisco, California’s Denis Madriz en route to a four-round unanimous decision victory at July’s “Showdown at the Fairgrounds” event. Peterson is a frequent sparring partner of up-and-coming pro Don Jose.

The card will open up with a slate of USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur contests featuring fighters some several of the top local gyms.

During intermission from the boxing action, the ring will host a live musical performance by Northern California’s own Davina Joy.

Tickets for the event, promoted by O.P.P., are available online at www.15rounds.com/Showdown or by calling 925-208-1086.