Boxing News: Ouma Battles Mora on ESPN\’s Friday Night Fights

Former IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim Ouma has declared war on the 154-pound weight class in 2006, vowing to not only reclaim his crown but to clear out the division. He takes the first step of that journey on Friday, January 27th, when he squares off against Francisco Antonio Mora in a 12 round NABO title bout at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona.

Ouma-Mora, which headlines an outstanding night of fistic action presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, will be aired live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights beginning at 7:30pm ET.

Doors open at 5:00pm, and the first bell rings at 5:30pm.

In the co-feature, rising star Vicente Escobedo looks to keep his unbeaten record intact when he faces Johnny Nolasco in an eight round junior lightweight contest.

Also in action will be Escobedo’s 2004 US Olympic teammate Rock Allen, middleweight banger David Lopez, and the winner of The Next Great Champ reality show, light heavyweight prospect Otis Griffin.

Kassim Ouma (22-2-1, 14 KOs) is considered by most observers to be one of the top young fighters in the world today. An exciting two-fisted puncher with a warrior’s will, the 27-year-old native of Kampala, Uganda is well on his way to recapturing the form that saw him win the IBF junior middleweight crown in 2004. After an upset loss of his title to Roman Karmazin in 2005, “The Dream’ bounced back less than three months later with an emphatic fourth round TKO of veteran Alfredo Cuevas.

Rugged Argentinean contender Francisco Antonio Mora (50-9, 34 KOs) is a ten year veteran of the ring with his sights on a world title. The winner of many regional championships over the course of his career, the 31-year-old Mora added the WBO Latino crown to his trophy case last August with a third round stoppage of Alexander Pacheco Quiroz, and is currently on a ten fight winning streak dating back to 2003.

2004 United States Olympian Vicente Escobedo (8-0, 8 KOs) has taken the boxing world by storm with his hard-hitting style and quiet charisma. In Arizona’s own Johnny Nolasco (15-4-4, 6 KOs), Escobedo will take on his toughest test to date, a fellow prospect who gave unbeaten Jason Litzau the toughest fight of his career before losing a controversial split decision in 2005.

A supremely talented young fighter with a work ethic to match, junior welterweight Rock Allen (4-0, 4 KOs) has dispatched all of his pro opponents thus far with little difficulty. Looking to halt the rise of the 2004 US Olympian will be Marina Del Rey’s Alex Ariza (3-5, 3 KOs), a tough fighter with a never say die attitude within the ropes.

IBA Americas middleweight champion David Lopez (24-13, 14 KOs) is one of the favorites among fans at the Desert Diamond Casino, where he has fought his last five bouts. Chicago’s Shay Mobley (12-5-1, 5 KOs) is looking to play the role of spoiler on January 27th in the ten round middleweight contest.

The winner of the reality show The Next Great Champ, Otis Griffin (10-1-2, 4 KOs) is looking to make his move in the light heavyweight division in 2006, and after a busy schedule of eight fights in 2005, the Sacramento resident is primed and ready for another exciting year. Griffin’s opponent will be named shortly.

Opening up the show will be Phoenix super featherweight Juan Garcia (6-0, 2 KOs), who will face a to be determined opponent in a four round bout.

Tickets are $25.00, $50.00, $60.00, $75.00 and $100.00 in advance and $30.00, $55.00, $65.00, $80.00 and $105.00 Day of show. Tickets are on sale now at the Desert Diamond Casino Box Office at either casino location, by calling (520) 321-1000, or online at TicketMaster.com

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com