THE BATTLE OF THE BELTS A SHOWCASE OF THE BEST NEW YOUNG ARIZONA TALENT IN BOXING MARCH 13TH AT THE WE-KO-PA RESORT IN SCOTTSDALE

Carlos Castillo to make his pro debut vs. Jeff Tabrizi. Undefeated Emmanuel Nieves defends his perfect record against Ben Acosta.

     

Scottsdale, Arizona.- On Friday, March 13, Roy Jones Jr. Boxing (RJJ) will present the “Battle of the Belts” at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

In the main event Heavyweight Champion Bronco Billy Wright, 46 -7 (37 KOs) of Morenci, Arizona makes a rare appearance in his home state, defending his WBC Latin America Belt and his WBC Fecarbox Belt against Gilberto Matheus Domingos, 22 – 2 (20 KOs) from Sao Paolo, Brazil.

 

This will be Wright’s 4th time in the Ring in Arizona in his 50-fight career, and his first return to the state since defeating Abdul Muhaymin in Phoenix on April 13th, 1999.

The complete card can be seen via GFL.tv starting at 10:00 p.m. ET for $14.95.

In the co-main event, RJJ fighter MILORAD ZIZIC (11-0) will take on Louis Rose (11-2) for the vacant NABF Middleweight Belt.

 

Featured in the undercard bouts are two of Arizona's own outstanding insurgent boxers eager to advance their careers. 

 

First up is Welterweight Carlos Castillo a 24-year-old fighter who will be making his professional boxing debut after a long and successful run in amateur boxing.  He has been boxing for 15 years, and in 2013 he was ranked 7th in the nation in the 141 pound category. He was an Arizona Golden Gloves Champion and, in addition to boxing, recently made his debut in Mixed Martial Arts.  After unsuccessful attempts at entering the ring professionally, he will now have his opportunity against fellow newcomer, Jeff Tabrizi, a Canadian-born fighter now living in Los Angeles, California.

 

Like Castillo, Tabrizi was part of the hardscrabble amateur boxing circuit, competing in the Canadian Regional Bronze Gloves. Recently transplanted to California, he advertises his services as a certified personal trainer, but admits to surviving on odd jobs. As for Castillo, his business card reads “Professional Boxer, Custom Tile Installer and Home Renovator in the Tucson, Arizona Area.”

 

Next up is Emmanuel Nieves, an outstanding amateur fighter who was originally planning to stay in the amateur ranks until the 2016 Olympic Trials. But he decided to take the advice of several agents, including representatives from top promotional companies, who suggested that he was ready to take on the professional route.

 

He did precisely that and in July 2014 won his first fight over Alex Holguin, and then returned to the Ring again last November 11, where be defeated Edgar Ivan Garcia. He is currently 2-0 and will now face Ben Acosta, a 4th degree Black Belt in American Kenpo, and also a professional Muay Thai fighter and professional Mixed Martial Artist. In 2012, Acosta On September 2012, lost to Mike Maldonado via choke hold and has not returned to MMA since.

      

Nieves is currently 21-years-old.  Acosta is 23.

 

A local newspaper put it in perspective with a note to local boxing fans: "Be there at the We-Ko-Pa, Friday March 13, and witness raw hunger in the ring. Support our young gladiators!"

 

The complete card, pending routine Arizona Athletic Commission approval, is currently as follows:

MAIN EVENT

 

WBC LATIN AMERICA AND FERCARBOX CHAMPIONSHIP

Billy "Bronco" Wright vs Gilberto Matheus Domingos

46-4 (37 KO) 22-2 (20 KO)

Morenzi, AZ     Sao Paulo, Brazil

10 Rounds Heavyweight

 

CO-MAIN EVENT

 

NABF CHAMPIONSHIP

Milorad Zizic  vs Louis Rose

11-0 (5KO)        11-2-1 (3KO)

Montenegro/LAS VEGAS  Los Angeles

8 Rounds Junior Middleweight

 

FEATURED BOUTS

 

Solomon Egbermine   vs Gerardo "Pipino" Cuevas Jr

22-4-1 (11KO)            17-12 (15K0)

Sydney, Australia       Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

8 Rounds Welterweight

 

Jonatha Blue  vs Yoann Kongolo

0-2- (0 KO)        1-0 (O KO)

Las Vegas, NV    Geneva Switzerland

4 Rounds Light-Heavyweight

 

Emmanuel Nieves vs  Ben Acosta

2-0 (0 KO)       Pro Debut              

Phoenix AZ      El Paso TX

4 Rounds Lightweight

 

Jeff Tabrizi vs  Carlos Castillo

Ontario CA       Tucson AZ

Pro Debut        Pro Debut

4 Rounds Welterweight

 

 

The We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center is located at 10438 N. Fort McDowell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Tickets for “Battle of the Belts” start at $20, and can be purchased at tickets.ticketforce.com or by calling 877/840-0457.

 

For more information,” visit http://royjonesjrboxing.com/event/friday-night-fights/.  

 

 

EVENT SCHEDULE

 

Thursday, March 12, 2015

 

Press Conference/Weigh-ins

·         5 p.m.   Press conference The Peaks Room

·         6 p.m.   Official fight weigh-ins The Peaks Room

Boxers must Check-in at 5PM

 

 

Friday, March 13, 2015

 

Fight Night

·         6 p.m.   Door open Ko Pa Resort & Conference Center

·         7 p.m.   First Bell

Boxers must Check-in at 6 PM