Heavyweight Boxing Contenders Quezada, Walker Meet July 16

Tachi Palace’s own Manuel Quezada said he was ready to make his move in the Heavyweight division after winning his 16th straight fight in April of this year.

On Thursday, July 16 at Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California, Quezada will get his wish when he will be testing his World Championship aspirations against hard-hitting Heavyweight World contender, Travis “The Freight Train” Walker.

Quezada vs Walker headlines a stellar six-bout card of boxing presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions.

The 29-year old Walker (30-2-1, 24 KOs) came ever so close to upsetting the current #1 Heavyweight in the World, Cristobal Arreola, in a November 29, 2008 bout televised on HBO. Walker insists on fighting his way back into the top echelon in the sport’s glamour division and he believes Quezada is the next step.

A former National Golden Gloves Champion, the Tallahassee, Florida native has entertained fight fans with his “live by the sword, die by the sword” ring mentality. “I like to give the fans entertaining bouts, and knockouts fr om a big heavyweight puncher like me is always fun to watch,” said the 6-4, 250 pound Walker.

Walker’s only two setbacks were to TJ Wilson and Arreola. Walker avenged the Wilson loss in emphatic fashion with a 2nd round KO victory in the rematch of his controversial stoppage in their first fight.

In the Arreola bout, Walker had Arreola down on one knee in the second round, before being stopped by Arreola in the third round in one of the most exciting heavyweight bouts in recent years.

Since the Arreola bout, Walker has scored two first round knockout victories.

Quezada (27-4, 17 KOs) has taken the hard bumpy road to being the WBC #11 World ranked contender. The Wasco, California Quezada overcame a slow start in his professional career to become one of the sports top rising stars.

Quezada won the WBC CABOFE title in September of 2007 and has since defended it twice. Fresh from a first round win over Jeffrey Brownfield on April 23, Quezada returns to his home-away-from-home when he makes his 14th appearance at the Tachi Palace on July 16.

No slouch himself when it comes to putting opponents to sleep, a win over the respected Walker puts Quezada in the middle of the heavyweight picture. “By far he’s the biggest challenge I’ve had,” Quezada said. “It’s this type of high-profile fight I need to get me to the World Championship level. I will not let my fans down at Tachi.”

In the other featur ed bouts, 2008 United States Olympian Shawn Estrada (6-0, 6 KOs) hasn’t missed a beat in his transition from the amateurs to the pro ranks, scoring six straight wins without a loss. Estrada attended high school in nearby Hanford and feels right at home fighting in Lemoore.

“It’s not too often a fighter has a chance to entertain his friends and fans in a place I used to call home,” said Estrada. “Believe me, there is no better feeling than to have that home-cooking support. I wish they could have been there with me in Beijing, China during the Olympics.”

The charismatic 24-year old now living in East Los Angeles has one-punch knockout power and all the excitement that goes with it. Five of his six KO’s have come in the first round, a streak he hopes to keep going on July 16th.

Estrada’s Olympic teammate in Beijing, Javier Molina (2-0, 2 KOs), comes from a fighting family. The 19-year old Molina has had over 110 amateur wins preparing him for his Olympic run. An honor student at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, California, Molina is quickly establishing himself as a consummate professional and future star.

Also in action is the exciting junior welterweight from Bakersfield, Calif., Michael Dallas Jr. (8-0-1, 1 KO), as well women’s former lightweight champion, Jessica Rakoczy (30-3, 10 KOs) from Las Vegas, Nevada. Rounding out the card is Ruben Cuellar (3-1, 1 KO) from Tulare, CA who will fight James Ventry (7-8-1, 4 KOs) of Niagara20Falls, NY in a 6-round junior welterweight rematch. In their first bout in February, Cuellar won by split-decision.

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino gift shop.

Doors open on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and fights start at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, fans are encouraged to come out to the Palace and attend the official weigh-in, which takes place on the third floor at The Den Sports Bar, are slated to begin at 4 p.m. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to attend the weigh-in.