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Few professional fighters bring a crowd like Efrain Esquivias does. Few boxing prospects risk their immediate future after unsuccessful outings. Esquivias and Castañeda, who face each other in an eight-round main event of Friday, May 17, will make their return to the ring with the knowledge that another setback will directly interfere with their championship wishes.
Once again, Thompson Boxing Promotions brings a fully loaded fight card to the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, where many current boxing stars began their careers. Esquivias and Castañeda lead this newest fight parade.
Efrain Esquivias (16-2, 9 KOs) hails from Carson and has built a reputation as a prizefighter capable of fighting the best. So far he's been at close range of getting a world title shot but fell short and lost. Those losses are nothing to be ashamed of as they came against former or current world champions Rico Ramos on Telefutura and Jhonatan "Momo" Romero in a ShoBox main event.
"I picked myself up and dusted myself off," said Esquivas while training in Carson.Ca. "Those losses made me think and concentrate even more on what is at stake. On May 17, Castañeda will have his hands full and I'm only thinking about the victory."
Roberto "Azabache" Castañeda (20-3, 15 KOs) comes from Mexicali, a border town known for its toughness and for producing some of the best prizefighters in Mexico. It's a big moment for Castañeda, who lost a seesaw battle until he got dropped by successive body shots to Christopher Martin on ESPN Friday Night Fights. He also lost by knockout to Gary Russell, Jr. on Showtime's ShoBox.
"I appreciate the opportunity to return to the ring and show everyone that I'm not finished," said Castañeda from his training camp. "I know Esquivias well and he has the perfect style for me to shine and clean the slate."
As the co-main event, Riverside's Richard "El Terminador" Contreras (10-1-1, 9 KOs)recently fought victoriously on the May 2 undercard of Herrera-Kim, prior to his fight he was out of action for a an extended time due to a jaw injury. He's had time to heal and has made his return to the ring and is ready to keep the momentum of his winning streak going. He fights Houston's Victor Sanchez (4-6-1, 1 KO) in a featherweight match set for eight rounds.
Featured on the undercard, is San Diego's Giovanni "El Gallo de Oro" Santillan (7-0, 5 KOs) who recently fought and won late last month at this same venue. His opponent Jesus Mendez (3-3, 2 KOs) from Houston, TX, will need to come prepared and expect to feel the rising star's wrath in the 6-round junior welterweight showdown.
In a junior middleweight bout former 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (2-0, 2 KOs) of the Ukraine and Mario Angeles (1-3-1) of Mexico City clash in a four round bout. Fight fans should expect a competitive match up between these two fighters from opposite parts of the hemisphere. A four-round super middleweight fight has Riverside's Rafael Lopez (5-1, 5 KOs) meeting Omar Barefield (0-3) of Los Angeles who is looking for his first win. Lopez is the younger brother of welterweight contender Josesito Lopez. Others on the card include Lancaster's junior featherweights Johnny Reyes (2-0, 1 KO).
"PATH TO GLORY" is presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions and sponsored by Lucas Oil, Tequila Don Cardona in association with Time Warner Cable Deportes.
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