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The Cuban Revolution continues at The National Stadium in Dublin this Saturday when unbeaten Cuban duo Alexei Acosta and Luis Garcia feature on the undercard of the Hunky Dorys Fight Night.
Acosta and Garcia are two of a trio of undefeated Cuban sensations now based in Cork having all won World Junior Championships in the amateur ranks. The third is heavyweight Mike Perez who was forced off Saturday’s card earlier this week due to illness. All three are unbeaten and tipped for big things in the pro ranks.
Garcia, a 22-year-old Super Middleweight is currently undefeated in 8 pro fights and already rated number 26 in the World by the independent boxing records site, Boxrec.com.
Garcia faces American veteran Christian Cruz on Saturday with the Californian having perviously extended current WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pascal in to the 10th round and having lasted into the 12th with reigning IBF Super Middleweight Champ Lucien Bute. Cruz also holds a stoppage win over perennial contender Enrique Ornelas and with 10 of his 12 wins coming by KO he can clearly punch.
Garcia has prepared for the contest by sparring former World Champion and Joe Calzaghe foe Byron Mitchell in Cork and he’s hoping to put on a show for Dublin fights fans on his first appearance at the National Stadium.
“I have trained hard for this fight and I am looking to putting on a real show for the fans in Dublin,” said Garcia. “I want to give them a performance to remember. Cruz is an experienced opponent but I never worry about who is in the opposite corner. It’s up to them to worry about me!”
Super Bantamweight Acosta has so far won all 11 of his professional outings since making the switch from the amateur ranks just under 2 years ago. Amazingly the 22-year-old has yet to rely on the scorecards having stopped all 11 opponents inside the distance and he will be hoping to continue that run on Saturday.
Acosta had been set to take on former World title challenger and Bernard Dunne foe Cristian Faccio but the Uruguayan was forced to pull out of the fight earlier this week due to personal circumstances. Acosta will now square off with Venezuelan Oscar Chacin on Saturday but Faccio remains on his hit list.
Acosta (along with Garcia and Perez) is due back in the ring in Letterkenny on October 2nd on the next Hunky Dorys Fight Night and he’s hopeful that Faccio will be in the opposite corner on that occasion.
“It’s unfortunate that Faccio was forced to pull out because he was certainly talking a good fight but now I have to focus on Chacin and taking care of business on Saturday,” said Acosta. “Hopefully the Faccio fight can be rescheduled for October 2nd but for now the fight with Chacin is all that matters.”
The card is headlined by a European title double header that will see Brian Magee make the first defence of his European Super Middleweight title against Roman Aramian while Kiko “La Sensacion” Martinez returns to Dublin as he bids to reclaim his old European Super Bantamweight crown when he clashes with Arsen Martyrosian.
A third title bout on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night will see Dubliner’s Anthony Fitzgerald and Robbie Long square off as they look to complete a trilogy that has already thrilled Irish fight fans with both men having a win a piece. This time around, Fitzgerald’s Irish Super Middleweight title will be on the line.
Reigning EU and Irish Super Bantamweight Champion Paul Hyland will also be in action as looks to press his claims for a shot at the winner of the Martinez – Martirosyan fight while Hyland’s fellow Dubliner’s Gavin Prunty and Brendan Fitzpatrick will also be in action alongside reigning Irish Heavyweight champ, Coleman Barrett from Galway.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced €40, €75 and €100 are available from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 or the National Stadium on 087 2511772, the Ticket Office on 086 8120135 or the boxers on the bill.
