The 2013 Northern California Fighter of the Year, Bruno Escalante, returns to the place where his magical year all started, the Fox Theatre in Redwood City, CA this Friday, February 28th. Escalante, an Olympic alternate in 2008, found the hard work of his past, whether it was living below the poverty line in Cebu, Philippines, or picking up the gloves at age fourteen in Hawai’I after his family moved there .A few years later, Escalante turned pro in 2010 after a short, but decorated amateur career.
Escalante is the definition of likeable. Whether it is his kind demeanor, the way he spent hours recently at the Milpitas Boxing & Fitness Gym anniversary party to ensure every fan got an autograph, or the way he captivates the fans with his energetic style. Escalante signed with Herb Stone, the Al Haymon of Bay Area managers, and saw his fortune come to fruition.
Escalante, who both trains and works at Undisputed Boxing Gym, is corned by 2013 Northern California Trainer(s) of the Year, Brian Schwartz and Michael Bazzel. On top of that, Escalante is using training that most don’t get access to with his work with Victor Conte.
“When you train hard, you know you can do things that are less than what you did in the gym,” Escalante said last July at a public media workout prior to his destruction of Manuel Galaviz. Escalante had just sparred that day for 20 minutes straight, no breaks, four fighters entering in and out of the ring. Escalante picked up the pace as his sparring partners began to get tired. The sight was eerily similar to something I saw a years prior at a gym in Lodi, CA, when MMA fighter Nick Diaz sparred fighter after fighter starting out slow, only to have each fighter tire out, and none seemed inspired to get back in.
“[Escalante] is facing a tough come forward fighter,” Escalante’s coach Brian Schwartz said a week ago backstage at Golden Boy Live in Salinas, CA, as he corned another future star of the Undisputed Boxing Gym stable, Andy Vences.
Escalante faces Lorenzo Trejo, who has not gone the distance since 2010 and has a pattern of pushing the fight onto those he fights. Trejo’s is so aggressive that he finds himself getting hit with counterpunches and this is something the IBA Super Flyweight champion, Escalante, is hoping to exploit. The thing about Trejo is that he does have power and power alone can provide problems, since some have faulted Escalante for being too eager to exchange at times, for example the Rigoberto Casillas fight.
Even still, Escalante is more excited than ever to be so close to his new found home, and will be looking to put on a performance for the home crowd while unveiling a brand new t-shirt as well. In a post released via Escalante’s social media Facebook/Twitter, Escalante unveiled the shirt which he explained will be for sale at Undisputed Boxing Gym, as well as at the fight. The shirt featuring Escalante’s silhouette in his iconic crouch ready to strike with the words “Aloha Kid” on his trunks, pays homage to Escalante’s nickname.
This Friday, February 28th, Escalante hopes to further his legacy as the most exciting fighter in the Bay Area. Tickets are still available at PacoPresentsBoxing.com or at Undisputed Boxing Gym by calling (650)631-3781. Escalante vs. Trejo takes place at the Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway St, Redwood City, CA 94063. Doors open at 5:30 with the headliner Escalante taking to the ring at 8:00 PM.
