Garcia to meet Action Jackson in Battle at the Boat 88!

Full Card set for Saturday’s “Battle at the Boat 88”!

Seattle, WA (August 16, 2012) – Halquist Productions has finalized their lineup for “Battle at the Boat 88.” The card is taking place at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA on Saturday and features a total of six action-packed matchups.

Tickets are still available on ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Emerald Queen box office.

Topping the bill is an intriguing ten round lightweight contest between Fort Worth, TX’ Jose Hernandez and Robert Osiobe of Ughelli, Nigeria. Both fighters, who are yet to decline a difficult challenge, look to make a statement by emerging victorious.

Hernandez, 13-5-1 (5 KO’s) and Osiobe, 12-5-4 (6 KO’s), faced Luis Ramos, Rances Barthelemy, Matt Remillard, Sharif Bogere, Michael Angelo Perez, Evgeny Gradovich and Spend Abazi among others. The likable lightweights combined to face an incredible 15 unbeaten opponents, going the distance in 14 of those bouts. Unlike the majority of their matches, this is a showcase opportunity for both fighters on a level playing field.

Easily the most talked about local matchup in recent memory, the six round co-feature pits Yakima’s favorite son Nate Serrano against Portland OR’s Osvaldo Rojas in a highly-anticipated rematch. Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s) went toe-to-toe with Rojas, 6-2-2 (2 KO’s), on June 2 in a bout that ultimately ended in a draw and both are promising to emerge victorious this time around.

The rest of the undercard features locals in four round bouts, which are expected to take place before a packed house on fight night. Omar Cruz, a Moses Lake, WA resident who’s also a mixed martial artist, meets Kelso, WA’s William Fernandez. A second battle featuring Washington State natives will see Andres Ramos (Eltopa) challenge Frank Mendez (Longview), while Visala, CA resident Jose Leon squares off against Jesse Udhe of Lakeside, MT. Gabriel Pineda, who hails from Hillsboro, OR, meets Matthew Flores, the pride of Twin Falls, ID, to round off the card.

“The local feel is something I really enjoy,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “Some of these fighters are from non-boxing states and don’t have the same opportunity as guys from places like New York, California or Texas. I’m excited about this card on multiple levels, from the main event, to the Serrano-Rojas rematch and of course the preliminary matches. In fact, it’s usually the undercard fights that are often the best, so I advise all ticketholders to get to the venue early.”

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

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Tacoma, WA (July 27, 2012) – On Saturday, August 18, lightweights Juan Garcia and John “Action” Jackson will go toe to toe at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA when they headline Halquist Productions’ “Battle at the Boat 88.”

Tickets from $25 are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or the EQC box office.

Garcia, 16-3 (5 KO’s), hails from Phoenix, AZ and took many tough fights thus far, challenging the likes of David Rodela, Cornelius Lock and “Battle at the Boat” veteran Jose Hernandez. Only six of Garcia’s 19 opponents had losing records and he’ll enter the ring wit a two bout winning streak.

Known in the boxing world as “Action Jackson,” 26-year-old John Jackson was born in Detroit, MI and fights out of Miami, FL. With a 15-3 professional ledger and 13 wins by way of knockout, the cement fisted Jackson perfected his craft at the famed Kronk Gym. Prior to turning pro, he won medals at numerous amateur tournaments en route to being one of the hottest prospects in boxing when he turned pro in 2005.

The Garcia-Jackson showdown is scheduled for ten rounds.

Local hero and retired Marine Nate Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), has his sights set on revenge when he meets Osvaldo Rojas, 6-2 (2 KO’s), in the co-featured bout of the evening. Serrano, of Yakima, WA, and Portland, OR’s Rojas met in June at the Emerald Queen, battling to a crowd-pleasing six round draw. The two welterweights will once again duke it out in a six rounder.

The undercard also pits junior welterweights Portland native Ray Lampkin Jr., 1-0, against Yakima’s Randell Corpuz 2-1-1. Lampkin is the son of Ray Lampkin Sr., who challenged legend Roberto Duran for the lightweight title in 1975. In a battle of debuting cruiserweights looking to make a statement, Cody Kraylavich meets Cody Gates in a four round affair.

“I’m very excited to see how these match-ups will play out on the 18th,” stated Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “I’ve always loved matching two hungry guys like Garcia and Jackson because 99 times out of 100, they leave everything in the ring. Serrano and Rojas is another solid fight and Ray Lampkin Jr. really impressed me in his pro debut, so I encourage all of the fight fanatics in the Pacific Northwest to come out and show their support.”

Additional bouts will be added shortly.

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.



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