(Press Release) Reprise is a musical term, meaning “a repeated passage of music, or a return to an earlier musical theme.” Reprise also holds another definition as a transitive verb, meaning “take back or recover by force”. On March 26, Chevelle Hallback will return to Albuquerque, New Mexico to rematch Holly Holm, on the “Warrior Vengeance“ card, and this time, is looking to rewrite a passage in her career resume and soundly defeat the hometown heroine and multi world champion. Read more »

Amarillo’s Adam Ochoa (2-1, 1 KO) is hot on the trail for a rematch with Albuquerque powerhouse David Proa (7-1, 7 KOs), and hopes to get one on the March 26 Isleta card. Ochoa’s camp attributed the “no mas” loss to Proa to nerves and a chance at redemption, they argue, could make the fight of the night. If a shot at Proa is unobtainable, Ochoa’s camp hopes to get a shot at the one man to beat Proa – Robert Guillen.

WBA No. 1 Jr. Middle Contender Austin Trout says his team is working on having something lined up in April, hopefully – possibly a shot at the interim champ, Nobuhiro Ishida.

Juarez’s Cesar “Cobrita” Soto and Chihuahua’s Victor Zaleta will be featured on a free WBC webcast on Saturday. Tune in to WBCBoxing.tv on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m.

Fight manager Cameron Dunkin says 2010 will be a busy year for Albuquerque’s Fidel Maldonado. He expects Maldonado to be back in the ring shortly.

Albuqerque’s Archie Ray Marquez should be back in the ring in April. His team has decided to give him a rest, bypassing the previously-announced March 6 date in California.

Albuquerque’s Michael Brooks (2-0, 2 KOs) will be fighting debuter Eric Bautista, of El Paso, on the Feb. 26 card at the Don Haskins Center. The rest of the card includes the following line-up: Antonio Escalante (22-2, 14 KOs) headlines in a cross-border showdown with Miguel “Mickey” Roman (28-6, 20 KOs) in a ten-rounder; In the co-main, unbeaten prospect Danny Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs) takes on Ashley Theophane (25-3-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-rounder; welterweight Jermell Charlo (10-0, 5 KOs) fights Travis Hartman (10-16-1, 7 KOs), also an eight-rounder; welter Luis Grajeda (8-0, 7 KOs) fights Michael Anderson (4-0-1, 2 KOs) in a sixer. Jt. welterweights Omar Figueroa (8-0, 8 KOs) and Sharif Bogere (13-0, 7 KOs) are also fighting separate opponents in six-rounders.

Quotes & photo by Gerardo Martinez

Holly Holm: “Everyone is entitled to revenge a loss. Chevelle has ring knowledge, movement, speed, power . . . she has all the pieces.  I am training for ten rounds, because I know how she is. Of course, we want a KO – we go for it every fight.”
. . . . .
Chevelle Hallback: “I have to beat the best to be the best. Holly Holm has great conditioning, but I have been doing lots of hills and swimming . . . . I’ve had pizza with Holly, we are great friends.”
. . . . .
Victoria Cisneros: “I had time to prepare this time. Terry (Blair) is no pushover. This time, I will have my own boxing equipment and my own shoes. I have been sparring with Amanda Crespin and Jessica Sanchez. I will put on a great show.”

Welter/jr.welter/jr. middleweight champ Holly Holm (26-1-3, 7 KOs) will rematch Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback (27-5-2, 11 KOs) March 26 at Isleta Casino and Resort south of Albuquerque. The card, billed as “Warrior Vengeance” and promoted by Fresquez Productions, will see Holm defend her WIBA light welterweight belt. In the co-main, an eight-rounder at jr. welter between two former Holm opponents, top contender Terri Blair (11-14-3, 7 KOs) will take on Albuquerque’s Victoria Cisneros (3-8-2). Also scheduled for the card: Albuquerque welter Josh “Pitbull” Torres (3-1, 2 KOs) stages a comeback against debuting Ben Acosta, also from the Duke City; fan favorite David Proa (7-1, 7 KOs), coming off a blazing kayo win last Friday, will take on an opponent TBA; comebacking heavyweight Fernando Reyes (0-1) takes on debuter Eric McElroy; Albuquerque super featherweights Randy “Savage” Arrellin (2-2, 1 KO) and Salvador Zamora (4-2) go four; and Albuquerque super bantam Sammy Piar (1-0) goes four with TBA.

A press conference to officially announce the March 26 Fresquez card at Isleta will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. The card headlines Holly Holm (26-1-3, 7 KOs) defending her WIBA jr. welterweight title. The co-main features Victoria “La Reina de la Guerra” Cisneros (3-8-2) vs. top contender Terri “The Road Warrior” Blair (11-14-3, 6 KOs) in an eight-rounder. The public is invited to attend.

Proa added: Duke City knockout artist David Proa (7-1, 7 KOs), fresh off his stunning victory of Adam Ochoa Friday night, will fight on the undercard in a six-rounder. Albuquerque’s Sammy Piar (1-0, 1 KO) and heavyweight Fernando Reyes (0-1) are also scheduled to fight.

The March 6 headliner at the Ohkay Casino with Johnny Tapia vs. Jorge Reyes is a confirmed exhibition bout. The pro-am card, however, will also feature ten amateur bouts and six pro, including the debut of Henry “Poison” Anaya III, Lucas Galle vs. Carlos Sanchez, and a potential scorcher between Raymond “Hollywood” Montes vs. Alan Sanchez. A press conference will be announced soon.

Ringside by Gerardo Martinez

A packed crowd attended the Rosales smoker Saturday afternoon at the Rosales Gym in Albuquerque for a show of amateur boxing and kickboxing.

Results of the card follow:

In the first amateur boxing bout, Efrain Escobedo Jr. (Escobedo) decisioned Robert Silas (Winklejohn) after three rounds.

In the second fight, a women’s kickboxing bout, Megan Jackson (International TaeKwon-Do) decisioned Samanta Bench (Rosales) after three rounds. Read more »

The postponed “Noche de Campeons” USA Boxing card originally slated for Jan. 23 will now be held Feb. 13, at the Cities of Gold Casino located at 10-A Cities of Gold Road, in Pojoaque, N.M. Rooms will be available for $59. For room reservations call 877-455-0515 and ask for the “Noche de Campeones” rate.

Ringside by Chris Cozzone and Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Chris Cozzone

While most of New Mexico spent their Friday digging out of a blizzard that swept through the state, hot California bantam Chris Avalos spent the evening sweeping through Jose Nieves, burying him with an avalanche of punches in just under four rounds.

An estimated crowd of 4,500 frenzied fight fans filled Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M. to watch what turned out to be one of the best shows in years. The Gary Shaw-promoted show, headlined by Avalos and local hopeful Archie Ray Marquez, turned out a blistering-paced undercard of local talent, with the main and co-main televised on Showtime’s ShoBox.  . . . Click here for more

Undefeated bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos (15-0, 12 KOs) stopped  Jose Nieves (17-1-3, 8 KOs) on Friday night at the Tingley Auditorium in Albuquerque, NM. The hard-hitting Avalos put Nieves on the deck in round two and twice in round four, the second time for the count. Referee Rocky Burke waved it off at the 2:20 mark.

Unbeaten hometown super featherweight favorite Archie Ray Marquez (9-0, 6 KOs) outclassed Derrick Campos (20-8, 11 KOs) over eight rounds to win by scores of 79-72, 80-71, 77-74. Though losing the first round on most cards, Marquez took control in round two, outboxing Campos for the duration, scoring a knockdown in the final round.

On the undercard: With just one snoozer on the undercard, New Mexico fighters put  on the best bouts seen in years. Stealing the show was Albuquerque super bantamweight  David Proa (7-1, 7 KOs) who not only earned redemption from his loss in December, but scored the biggest win of his career over former Texas amateur star Adam Ochoa (2-1, 1 KO). Weathering a second round knockdown, Proa got up, showed a huge heart by getting up and fighting back. In the third, Proa turned the fight around, showing defense, boxing skills and power. In the fourth, it was Proa’s fight. Ochoa took a knee midway through the round and, after Proa poured it on, he quit, official time 2:38.

In other results: In a high-action fight between Albuquerque welterweights, Vincent Mirabal (5-0, 1 KO) edged a split decision win over Michael Coca-Gallegos (0-3). Scores were 39-37 twice and 37-39. In yet another blistering fight, Albuquerque’s Nohime Dennison (2-1) won a unanimous decision over Amanda Crespin (0-2-1) of Las Vegas, N.M., with scores of 39-37. Arturo Crespin (4-1, 1 KO), of Las Vegas, N.M.,  paid back Albuquerque’s Carlos Sanchez (4-1, 1 KO), winning a majority decision with scores of 40-36, 38-38 and 39-37. Comebacking Duke City cruiserweight Max Heyman (23-10-4, 13 KOs) won a near-shutout decision over Roy Ashworth (5-7, 1 KO) of Lake Charles, La., with scores of 60-52. In the opener, heavyweight Maurice Harris (21-14-2, 10 KOs), of Newark, N.J., won a unanimous decision over Billy Zimbrun (23-11-1, 13 KOs), of Ogden, Utah, with scores of 60-54 twice and 58-56. — Chris  Cozzone and Gerardo Martinez at ringside

Forty-six rounds in eight bouts are scheduled tonight at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque. Of eight bouts, six feature local fighters. The line-up:

Chris Avalos (14-0, 11 KOs) vs. Jose Nieves (17-1-3, 8 KOs)
Archie Ray Marquez (9-0, 7 KOs) vs. Derrick Campos (20-7, 11 KOs)
David Proa (6-1, 6 KOs) vs. Adam Ochoa (2-0, 1 KO)
Carlos Sanchez (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Arturo Crespin (3-1, 1 KO)
Vincent Mirabal (4-0, 1 KO) vs.  Michael Coca-Gallegos (0-2)
Max Heyman (22-10-4, 13 KOs) vs. Roy Ashworth (5-6, 1 KO)
Amanda Crespin (0-1-1) vs. Nohime Dennison (1-1)
Maurice Harris (20-14-2, 10 KOs) vs.  Billy Zumbrun (23-10-1, 13 KOs)

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the first bout will start at 6:30.

Undefeated, hard-hitting prospect Chris Avalos weighed in at 118 pounds and once-beaten Jose Nieves tipped the scales at 119 pounds during Thursday’s weigh in at the Jockey Club at the Downs of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, N.M. Unbeaten, hometown favorite Archie Ray Marquez weighed in at 131 pounds and Derrick Campos measured 132 pounds for the ShoBox co-feature. The aggressive Avalos (14-0, 11 KOs) of Lancaster, Calif., will make his main event debut when he when he faces Nieves (17-1-3, 8 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico, in a 10-round match tonight on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME ® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). Read more »

“Carlos who?” might’ve been the response of a fight fan a couple years ago, when asked about Carlos Sanchez.

Those days are over for Sanchez.

After four wins that forced fight fans to stand up and take notice, the quiet, humble mechanic-turn-pugilist who goes by the moniker “El Gallo” has quickly become a crowd favorite . . . Click here for more