Drian Francisco To Headline August 2nd Card

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ThaBoxingVoice.com received notification of hard hitting Filipino former super bantamweight contender Drian Francisco (29-2-1 19KOs) making his debut at 118 lbs. August 2nd at Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. Francisco will take on Manuel de los Reyes Herrera (21-13-1 15KOs) of Columbia, who is no stranger to wild exchanges. For weeks it was feared that Francisco may not be able to top the bill of the card as the already heavy handed puncher at 122 lbs. is making his debut at 118 lbs. in which many make the assumption that Francisco’s power will only increase. Then there is another factor, the law of diminishing returns and is Francisco go to the point where he will sacrifice physical health and well-being to be the bigger man in the ring.

Manuel de los Reyes Herrera is also no stranger to power and has been fighting at the 118 lbs. weight class his whole career. When not too many were keen to fight Francisco after his hotly contested bout last year with Chris Avalos on “Friday Night Fights”in which Francisco mainly lost due to Avalos’high output of 100 plus punches a round to keep Francisco off him. The one thing that is promised is that both guys pack power and both are willing to exchange meaning that this could be a short night for one of the combatants.

In the co-main event, Aaron “Heavy Metal”Coley (8-0-1 5KOs) looks to make his professional debut in his native bay area as he has earned much praise over the course of his professional career, but hasn’t fought in his backyard. Coley recently fought to a draw with John Hayes in a fight that many felt Coley won. “It was a weird fight.”Coley said of the clinch heavy affair that saw the boxer, Coley, getting smothered in odd exchanges.

Coley will face Augustine Renteria (10-25-6 3KOs), who is a game veteran who has been in the ring with James Page, Vernon Forrest, John David Jackson and Julian Jackson. For Coley, Renteria will serve as a test as he is the most seasoned fighter Coley has faced to this date. Coley is nearing that point to be tested at the next level and a guy like Renteria could be the type of test that would help him graduate to the next level as Coley said in interview this April he “…is looking to fight the toughest fights as soon as possible.”

Fan favorite Levan “The Wolf”Ghvamichava (11-1-1 8KOs) whom is trained by Virgil Hunter will face undefeated Chris Singleton (12-0 5KOs) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The big question in this will be about Singleton, who has fought solely in Louisiana and Indiana where competition could have large discrepancies compared to California. Ghvamichava recently fought to a draw with decorated amateur Abel Ramos in a hotly contested bout on the undercard of Chris Arreola vs. Bermane Stiverne II undercard in Los Angeles, CA. Ghvamichava as a whole has faced the tougher competition and should have a lot of the advantages, but never discount a fighter who doesn’t know how to lose.

Bilal Mahasin (4-1) will face Dwan Victorian (4-2 2KOs) in an interesting style clash. Mahasin, who spent the majority of 20s in prison for a crime committed at the young age of 19 has taken an old school approach to boxing, fighting all comers. Earlier this year, Mahasin flew to the Washington D.C. area to fight top junior welterweight prospect Mike Reed, a fight that many feel was closer than the finally scorecards indicated. Mahasin is now back in the ring and spent this camp between working at Boxing For Health in Oakland, CA and Virgil Hunter’s private gym in Hayward, where he is working with Eddie Croft for this camp. Mahasin has also focused on speaking to troubled youth prior to this fight as Mahasin has a goal beyond boxing which is to enrich his community for the better, a noble goal that is sadly uncommon in this day and age.

For Victorian, a fighter who has never been stopped before he is looking to right some wrongs as he recently lost to an 0-2 fighter in Montebello, CA as the promotional a-side. Prior to that lose, Victorian had only faced one fighter with a winning record and lost to him in Danny Ramirez in closely contested fight in Costa Mesa, CA.

In probably the most interesting fight on paper, Wilkins Santiago (10-0-1 1KO) will face Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-20-1 5KOs), why is this fight so interesting? Santiago and Lugo are both pressure fighters and neither is known for power and both have had moments of showing fatigue in fights. Lugo who will enter the smaller man will have to use some form of elusiveness to stay busy and not allow to get worn down, whereas Santiago will look to show that the move from Ohio to Virgil Hunter’s Gym in the bay area was just what he needed to adjust his game.

Light Heavyweight Ryan “The Rhino”Bourland (2-0 1KO) of Vallejo, CA will take on the debuting Ray Mesa. Bourland is known for his explosive power and ability to stop a fight at any minute and as we learned last week with debuting fighters in San Francisco, CA, you never know who you will get on the other side with pro debut.

Highly touted prospect and Nonito Donaire Sr. trained fighter Adam Fiel (2-0 1KO) of Vacaville, Ca will face Jonathan Alcantara (6-10 1KO) of Novato, CA. Fiel has been working on throwing every shot with power and not leaving anything back as heavy bag combinations can only be described as violent and abrupt as well. Fiel earlier this year was featured as well on a Top Rank undercard and is already building busy around the talent he has at his division.

Rounding out the card is Moises Benitez of Dreamland Boxing in San Jose, CA, who will be looking to make his debut against Percy Peterson (0-2) to open the card. Benitez gave Robert Guerrero hard sparring a few years ago and is known for being a powerful, power puncher with relentless pressure. Very little to date is known of Benitez, but most people have witnessed him in the ring are very excited for what the future holds.

Sources close to Mauricio Zavaleta of The Kennel Boxing Gym have stated that Zavaleta will not be fighting on this card due to injury though the promotion has yet to publicly announce it.

 

For ticket information please visit SquareWarriors.com.

Full Card

Bantamweight

 

Drian Francisco (29-2-1 19KOs) vs. Manuel de los Reyes Herrera (21-13-1 15KOs)

 

 

Light Middleweight

 

Aaron Coley (8-0-1 5KOs)  vs. Augustine Renteria (10-25-6 3KOs)

 

 

Welterweight

 

Levan Ghvamichava (11-1-1 8KOs) vs.  Chris Singleton (12-0 5KOs)

 

 

Welterweight

 

Wilkins Santiago (10-0-1 1KO) vs. Luis Alfredo Lugo (13-10-1 5KOs)

 

 

Light Welterweight

 

Bilal Mahasin (4-1) vs.  Dwain Victorian (4-2 2KOs)

 

 

Featherweight

 

Adam Fiel (2-0 1KO) vs. Jonathan Alcantara (6-10 1KO)

 

 

Light Heavyweight

 

Ryan Bourland (2-0 1KO) vs. Ray Mesa (pro debut)

 

 

Lightweight

 

Moises Benitez (pro debut)  vs. Percy Peterson