The huge "Gloria Dominicana" boxing event which will be held on December 18 at the Sports Palace is loaded with Dominican boxing talent besides main event star and national hero Joan Guzman.

The undefeated WBO super featherweight champion is just one of seven Dominican boxers who will be fighting out of the red corner on the biggest boxing show staged in the Dominican Republic in 20 -plus years.

Rugged veteran Hector Julio Avila, who has a 13-bout winning streak since he lost to Guzman in 2001,, is in a co-featured WBC Carribean super bantamweight title bout. Avila will put his 40-2, 37 KOs record on the line against tough Nicaraguan Santos Martinez (12-4-3). The two went the 10-round limit two years ago in Costa Rica with Avila getting the decision.

"This should be a great rematch," international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz said at a press conference held Monday and hosted by Dominican Sports Minister Hon. Felipe Payano.
"These two guys went to war last time and Martinez has vowed to dethrone Avila on his home turf. In their first bout, Martinez decked Hector in the final round. It was a controversial finish. So there is some bad blood between the two boxers now."

"This may be the greatest boxing promotion ever staged in our country," Genero Fanjul, head of the Dominican boxing commission, said. "We have two great prospects Algenis Mendez and Guzman's younger brother, Jose Aamaro Guzman, making their professional debuts. Look for great things from these two kids."

The big card is being co-promoted by SEDEFIR, the government agency which is headed by former basketball star Payano, and Jay Boxing (Jose Nunez) in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions of San Diego and Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya's company based in Los Angeles.

Young Guzman and Mendez will make their first pro starts in four-rounders. Mendez is a featherweight while Guzman is a super featherweight. The two tyros are in Joan Guzman's training camp in Las Vegas learning how a world champion conducts his business.

Three other homegrown boxing stars make up the middle of the card.

Undefeated welterweight Euri Gonzalez (12-0, 9 KOs) is in an eight-rounder against 11-3 Emilio Julio of Colombia.

Unbeaten middleweight Juan Jose Cabrera (7-0, 6 KOs) faces Jhon Berrio of Colombia in another bout scheduled for eight rounds. Berrio owns a record of 11-2 with eight KOs.

In a second middleweight eight-rounder, Giovanni Lorenzo (21-0 with 13 knockouts) will take on Jordan Sanchez (13-6) of Costa Rica.

"The show really is packed with good fighters," Nunez said. "Lorenzo, Gonzalez and Cabrera could each be a main event fighter on any other show. There will be fireworks inside and outside the ring. This will be a show that will long be remembered in this country. It will be awesome."

Guzman faces rugged American Antonio "TRex" Davis, the No. 5 WBO contender at 130 pounds, in the main event. Davis, who is from Atlanta, is 22-2 with 11 KOs.

It is hoped that Dominican Republic President, Hon. Leonel Fernandez, who has backed the show and cited Joan Guzman as a "great example" for the nation's youth, will be able to attend.

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