Peltz Boxing: Martinez Out, Valtierra In Against Mtagwa In Philly March 7

ByBoxing Press

Aldo Valtierra, of Mexico City, Mexico, who thought he lost a razor-thin 12-round split decision to Rogers Mtagwa, of Philadelphia, PA, for the vacant NABF featherweight title last summer, gets a rematch over 10 rounds Friday evening, March 7, at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia.

Univision/Telefutura will televise the Mtagwa-Valtierra rematch match as well as the eight-round featherweight semifinal between Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, and Castulo Gonzalez, of Lynn, MA, as part of its popular Solo Boxeo series. The televised show begins at 8 p.m. with the Kennedy-Gonzalez bout.

Valtierra, 37, accepted the fight on Sunday after David Martinez, of Albuquerque, NM, suffered an ankle injury Saturday during roadwork. Martinez himself was a replacement for Mtagwa’s original challenger, Roger Gonzalez, of Chino, CA, who sustained bruised, ribs in a Los Angeles sparring session.

Following the Mtagwa-Valtierra fight last July 20, Mtagwa tested positive for ephedra, a weight-reducing drug, and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission declared the fight a No Contest. However, Valtierra did not hear about the No Contest until he was asked Sunday to box Mtagwa again.

Valtierra, who has not boxed since fighting Mtagwa last summer, is 24-9, 13 K0s. He has never been stopped. However, since he took the March 7 fight on five days’ notice, he says he cannot make the 126-pound championship limit. Therefore, this fight is scheduled for 10 rounds, not 12.

Mtagwa, 28, has fought once since July 20. He moved up moved up in weight but lost on points to Australian Billy Dib in an eight-round contest Nov. 10 in Madison Square Garden. A pro since 1997, Mtagwa is 22-12-3, 17 K0s.

In the co-feature bout, Teon Kennedy, 21, will be going eight scheduled rounds for the first time in his brief career.

The former National Golden Gloves Champion at 112 pounds in 2004, Kennedy turned pro 12 months ago and has won all seven pro fights, four by knockout. However, he has never boxed an opponent with a winning record. In his last fight Dec. 12, Kennedy scored a four-round decision over Arthur Parker, of Lancaster, PA.

Gonzalez, 30, is originally from Guatemala. His 9-4 record includes four K0s. Three of Gonzalez’ setbacks were to undefeated fighters, including current United States Boxing Association (USBA) super bantamweight champion Mike Oliver, of Hartford, CT. Gonzalez also pinned the first loss on Philadelphia’s Ramaz Gazashvili in 2005 in Manchester, NH.

Five preliminary fights complete the card, which is promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. First of seven fights at 7.30 p.m.

Tickets priced at $40, $55 and $65 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.