Before former World Champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz steps into the ring for his highly-anticipated comeback fight against Pipino Cuevas Jr. on Saturday, April 13, fans at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas will be treated to a full slate of undercard action featuring local junior lightweight prospect Jerry Belmontes in an eight round bout against Nicaragua’s Daniel Diaz in the evening’s co-main event that will be televised on FOX Sports Networks, FOX Deportes and FUEL TV.
This exciting card is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Â Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:00 p.m. PT. Â The FOX Sports Networks telecast will air live at 10:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. PT. Â FOX Deportes will air the fights on Sunday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. Â FUEL TV will rebroadcast the fight on June 9 at 12:00p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $161, $152, $102, $47, $22 and $17 are available for purchase by calling Leija & Battah Promotions at 210-979-3302 or via email at [email protected], at the American Bank Center Box Office, H-E-B Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via charge by phone at (800) 745-3000.
“The Corpus Christi Kid” Jerry Belmontes (17-1, 5 KO’s) will certainly have the crowd on his side on April 13 when he looks to bounce back from the lone loss of his career against Eric Hunter last December. Â A highly decorated amateur star, the 24-year-old turned pro in 2008 and won his first 17 bouts before the decision loss against Hunter. Â Now he gets his shot to get back in the win column and continue his journey to the top of the junior lightweight division in front of his hometown fans. Â Former world title challenger Daniel Diaz (19-4-1, 14 KO’s) has the experience and style to upset the hometown favorite on April 13 and despite moving up to 130 pounds for the first time, the 27-year-old from Managua has every intention of delivering the goods on fight night.
Also featured on the broadcast will be welterweights Justin DeLoach (1-0) of Augusta, Georgia and Edinburg, Texas’ Martin Gonzalez (1-1), as they compete in a four round fight.
Corpus Christi will be fully represented in undercard action as junior lightweight Ramsey Luna (10-0, 4 KO’s) puts his perfect record on the line against Dallas’ Jesus Rocha (2-3-1), welterweight Cesar Villa (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Laredo’s Alberto Espinoza (1-3), heavyweight Ernest Reyna (1-0) faces Houston’s Tony Wilcox (0-4) and Robert Vela (5-0-1, 3 KOs) faces Francisco Arellano (4-1) of Bay City, with all four fights are scheduled for four rounds.
Other undercard bouts include a six round fight between another Corpus Christi native, Greg Gutierrez (9-1, 2 KO’s) and Dallas’ Jose Rodriguez (6-1, 2 KO’s) in a clash of lightweight prospects and San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda (2-0, 1 KO) battling Laredo’s Olvin Mejia (4-5-3, 4 KO’s) in a four round junior lightweight match. Â In the four round junior lightweight opener, San Antonio’s Joseph Rodriguez (2-0, 1 KO) takes on Brownsville’s Carlos Orenday (0-4).