Hobbs fight card preview
Preview by David Finger
In one of the most eagerly anticipated professional debuts to hit the state of New Mexico in the last five years, former amateur standout Edgar Zubia is set to take on debuting John Herrera in a four round lightweight fight in Hobbs, New Mexico tomorrow night at the Club la Sierra. The city of Hobbs has not seen much in the way of professional boxing, but local boy Zubia is already widely perceived as one of the best prospects to ever come out of the southeastern part of the state, and many local fans are predicting a large turnout.
“He is going to bring a crowd,” commented promoter Isidro Castillo, “he’s a beautiful boxer, but being his first pro fight I know he’s going to go for a knockout.”
However, many insiders feel that Roswell New Mexico’s John Herrera is a deceptively durable and competent opponent, with over forty amateur fights under his belt.
“He’s pretty tough,” Castillo said of Herrera, “he’s a good defensive fighter, he a Joshua Clotty type of fighter. But I have seen him bang too. He’s no push over, this is going to be a tough fight for both of them.”
In the co-main event Snyder, Texas’ Johnny Vasquez Jr. (2-0, 2 KO’s) returns to the ring after an eleven month layoff to take on Los Lunas, New Mexico’s tough Joseph Salazar (5-4, 3 KO’s), who is coming in off a nearly ten year layoff. Although Vasquez impressed boxing fans with a dominant knockout over undefeated prospect Pedro Dominguez in his professional debut, he is nonetheless facing a very seasoned professional in Salazar. Salazar had notable fights against both Eric Morel (in 1996) and Steven Luevano (in 2000), and although he was stopped in both of those fights many insiders feel that Vasquez can not afford to look past the gritty veteran. The fight will be a four rounder in the lightweight division.
Rounding off the card, middleweight Al Dixon (1-1, 0 KO’s) of Abilene Texas, will take on debuting Servero Padilla of Amarillo, Texas in a four round fight. Lupe Guzman (3-5) takes on hard luck Albuquerquebrawler Michael Gallegos (0-5) in a four round welterweight fight. Although Gallegos appears the underdog on paper, many insiders feel that the New Mexican can pull off his first win, citing a pair of split decision losses to undefeated Vincent Mirabel (6-0) this year. Debuting junior welterweight Oscar Valenzuela takes on debuting Andres Quintana in a four round affair.
In the opening fight of the night, Socorro New Mexico’s Miguel Armendariz (0-3) looks for his first win against Los Lunes’ Matthew Salazar (1-1, 0 KO’s). Salazar exploded onto the scene back in March of this year when he defeated Jonathan Chavez Tapia, son of the legendary former world champion Johnny Tapia on the undercard of the senior Tapia’s comeback fight against Jorge Reyes. It proved to be, along with the dismal performance of Pete Dominici Junior’s gubernatorial campaign, the most significant thrashing of a New Mexico dynasty this year. However, Salazar himself was unable to maintain the momentum of his shocking upset over Tapia, getting stopped by debuting Eduardo Cruz in California back in April. With the loss to Cruz, Salazar needs a dominant win over Armendariz to reestablish himself as a legitimate prospect in the state of New Mexico.
The card, promoted by Isidro Castillo’s School of Hard Knocks Promotions, will take place at the Club la Sierra at 3000 W. Marland in Hobbs. Doors open at 5:30 PM with exhibition fights kicking off around 7 PM. Tickets start at $25 for general admission, with ringside tickets going for $40, $50, and $60. A few VIP tables (which seat 6) are still available at $500. Tickets can be obtained at the door or by calling Castillo at 1-575-318-3759.
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