ESPN “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”
PEDRAZA vs. MARTINEZ
CO-MAIN EVENT TO NUGAEV vs. SHAFIKOV
FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2014
FROM THE CHUMASH RESORT CASINO
UNDERCARD BOUTS ANNOUNCED
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SANTA YNEZ, CA (August 6, 2014) – Gary Shaw Productions undefeated Super-Featherweight sensation, Puerto Rico’s, Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (17-0, 11 KOs), makes his way back to the ring against Juan Carlos Martinez (20-14-1, 7 KOs) August 15, 2014 as the co-feature to Rustam Nugaev (27-6-1, 17 KOs) vs. Denis Shafikov (33-1-1, 18 KOs). The 10-round bout will air live on ESPN “Friday Night Fights” and will take place at Chumash Resort Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Pedraz, who’s knocked out five of his last seven opponents, is currently ranked WBA #4, IBF #7 and WBC #7. A slick boxer-puncher, Pedraza is not looking past Martinez who recently defeated top contender Alejandro Perez. He vows to put on a great performance for all the fans in attendance, as well as those watching on TV.
“Martinez is coming off an impressive win against Perez who is a good fighter,” said Pedraza. “I know he’s going to be coming with all he’s got to try to knock me off, but I’ll be ready for anything he brings. Gary Shaw and Javier Bustillo have once again got me a wonderful opportunity to showcase my skills on an international stage. A world title fight is right around the corner and I just want to keep getting better with each fight. I’m excited to put on a good show for the fans.”
“Bustillo and I have really seen the improvement in Pedraza with each fight,” said Gary Shaw. “He’s advancing brilliantly. I know he has the skills to take his career to the next level. Martinez has a lot of skill and he is going to bring a unique style, but I’m confident Pedraza will use his superior boxing skills to come out victorious.”
Undercard Bouts
8-Round Welterweight Bout
Francisco Santana (20-3-1, 9 KOs) vs. Wilfredo Acuna (15-15, 12 KOs)
6-Round Featherweight Bout
Rufino Serrano (14-5, 1 KO) vs. Khabir Suleymanov (16-4-1, 6 KOs)
4-Round Super-Bantamweight Bout
Edwin Sandoval (2-1, 1 KO) vs. Lyonell Kelly (0-3)
4-Round Heavyweight Bout
Makani Sarellano (1-1, 1 KO) vs. Andrew Tinae (0-2)
4-Round Super-Middleweight Bout
Carlos Samuel Lopez vs. Jamal Harris (5-10-4, 3 KOs)
The ESPN “Friday Night Fights” telecast begins Friday August 15, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PST from the Chumash Resort Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Tickets priced $35, $50, $65, $85, and $95 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Chumash Casino Box office or online at HERE. Doors open at 5:00 P.M, first fight starts at 5:30 P.M.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
