Fight Week kicks off on Wednesday, March 24 with a press conference open to the public, at 2 p.m., at Isleta. Official weigh-ins follow on Thursday – same time and place. On Friday, doors open at 5 p.m.

With her March 26 rematch against Holly Holm just days away, Chevelle Hallback is prepared mentally and physically for the bout and gives some insight on her preparation for the battle ahead, her career and her thoughts on Holly Holm.

Ever the gracious champion, Chevelle acknowledged Holly Holm. “I want to thank Holly for the opportunity to fight her again,” she said, and is pleased to return to Albuquerque where she captured the IFBA title on June 13, 2008 in a thrilling toe to toe victory over Jeannine Garside. “Albuquerque is a wonderful place. I love the weather and the people are very nice, and treat me as their own.” Read more »

Albuquerque’s Fidel “The Atrisco Kid” Maldonado (1-0, 1 KO) will be back in action April 2 in Las Vegas, Nev., on a TKO Boxing card billed as “Hometown Heroes.” The card headlines Las Vegas’ Sharif Bogere and will take place at the Rio Casino.

Advance tickets, priced at $100, $50 and $30, can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000) and the Rio Casino box office (www.riolasvegas.com, 1-888-746-7784).

There will be a meet & greet for IFBA Lightweight Champ Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback, Wednesday, March 24, at the Uptown Sports Bar, 6601 Uptown Blvd., in Albuquerque, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. In addition to a meet & greet, director Annie Griffin will reveal her upcoming documentary on Hallback, “Fists of Steel.”

The line-up for the upcoming April 24 card in Las Vegas, N.M. is shaping up. In the main event, Las Vegas’ Arturo Crespin (4-1, 1 KO) will go six with less-than-dangerous Jess Salway (3-14-1), of Browning, Montana, who is 1-9 in his last ten. In the co-main, Victoria Cisneros (3-8-2) goes six with Denver’s Mercedes Mercury (3-10, 1 KO), who’s dropped seven straight bouts. Other scheduled bouts: David Proa (7-1, 7 KOs) vs. TBA; Vincent Mirabal (5-0, 1 KO) will rematch unwon Michael Coca-Gallegos (0-4) in a sixer; Josh Torres (3-1, 2 KOs) vs. Joel Vargas (1-0, 1 KO, of Kansas, six rounds; in a four-rounder, Amanda Crespin (0-2-1) will take on Ashleigh Cury (0-2), of St. Joseph, Mo.; and former state champion Shawn Gallegos (16-4, 5 KOs) will take on TBA in a six-rounder.

Services for John Sedillo are scheduled for Friday, March 19 at 10:00 am at Tome church, south of Los Lunas on Highway 47.

The 62nd New Mexico State Golden Gloves Tournament is scheduled for March 26, 27 and 28 March. Tournament will be held at the Roy Walker Community Center in Clovis, N.M.  Everyone is invited. The tournament chairman is Chuck Haas. He can be reached at 575-763-7561. All boxers must be ready and available to fight on Friday if  necessary. We may hold some show bouts or pre-matches over until Saturday. You are allowed to enter more than one boxer in a weight division. No seating in the brackets! Blind draw system will be used. Read more »

The bad news? The April show in Garden City, Kansas, featuring several local fighters, has been nixed. The good news? It’s been moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Longtime trainer and amateur boxing promoter Carlos Crespin has stepped into the pro ranks to promote the show, to take place at the West Las Vegas High School in Las Vegas. Albuquerque’s Robert Padilla will be matchmaker.

On the card, Las Vegas’ own Shawn Gallegos will make his return to the ring. In the co-main, Victoria Cisneros will take on Tammie Franks of San Antonio, Texas. Also slated to fight: David Proa, Arturo Crespin, Michael Coca-Gallegos, Amanda Crespin, and Josh Torres, who takes on Joel Vargas of Kansas. Stay tuned as the show progresses.

John Sedillo, former assistant coach at Rosales Karate and Kickboxing, passed away yesterday following a massive stroke in February.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Longtime kickboxer and part-time boxer Fernando Calleros has decided to jump into boxing. “After sparring 32 hard rounds this past week with Elco Garcia, I finally decided to try to make a career in boxing,” Calleros said on Tuesday. “I have been self-trained and managed since 2000, and this was a decision I’ve thought about a lot. My main focus is Jessica Sanchez and her career . . . However, I believe that if trained well and in condition, I could go with the best of them, even in boxing.” Calleros has also teamed up with trainer Tony Sigala.

Calleros has secured a March 25 date in Los Angeles on a TKO Promotion event and will be taking on highly-touted Russian, Dmitry Chudinov. As an amateur, Chudinov was 159-16. As a pro, he is 3-0, 2 KOs.  ”I can’t wait to knock him out,” says Calleros. “I have always been counted out by many in boxing, but I hope to make Albuquerque proud and knocking out Dmitry is the only the beginning. I want to go for a title down the road.”

Interview by Emit Hamilton for Fresquez Productions

Holly Holm talks about her upcoming bout with Chevelle Hallback, March 26 at Isleta:

How has training been for your upcoming bout with Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback? Read more »

Photo by Ray Kasprowicz/Fightnews

Last night at the Orleans in Las Vegas: Even with Yoel Judah in his corner, Michael Gallegos couldn’t box well enough to get past Juan Alcolea’s aggressive – yet reckless – attack and dropped a unanimous decision. Gallegos (0-4) lazy punches gave Alcolea (1-2) all kinds of chances to counter but Alcolea was contempt with throwing one punch at a time. Early in the first frame, Alcolea would land a looping right hand that dropped Gallegos to the mat. Gallegos would rise but the damage was already done in their four round welterweight bout. Unable to figure out how to get past the one punch approach of Alcolea, Gallegos opted to try and mug his opponent to no avail. The plodding fight ended in a wild flurry that saw Alcolea land the hardest punch of the night – a low blow. In the end, judges saw it in favor of Alcolea 38-37 and 39-36 (twice). — Andreas Hale, Fightnews

Photo by Chris Cozzone

Last night in Grapevine, Texas, on the Fox Sports-televised Top Rank card, Daniel Calzada (0-1) of Dona Ana, N.M. lost his pro debut to Francisco Vargas (1-0). The two fought a non-stop four-round war but Calzada’s lack of defense made the difference. Scores were 40-36 across the board.

Last night in Yonkers, N.Y.,  El Paso’s Jennifer Han (0-1-1) fought a six-round draw with Nydia Feliciano (2-0-1). Scores were 57-57, 59-55 Han and 58-56 Feliciano.

From Las Vegas, Nev.:
Michael Coca-Gallegos 138 vs. Juan Alcolea 135

From Yonkers, N.Y.:
Nydia Feliciano 126 vs. Jennifer Han 125

From Dallas, Texas:
Francisco Vargas 131 vs. Daniel Calzada 132*
* Calzada is a debuter from Dona Ana, N.M.