“Destroyer” to Defend Title.

Desert Diamond Casino and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions have put together another blockbuster fight card to ring in the New Year. On Thursday, January 6, 2005 “Boxeo de Oro” on HBO Latino presents its first show of the year live from the Diamond Center. Tickets range from $25-$100 and are available now at the Desert Diamond Casino box office, Radio XENY in Nogales, MX or by calling (520) 393-2799 or 866-DDC-WINS. Nogales, Mexico native and current IBA world middleweight champion, David “Destroyer” Lopez, will headline the January card defending the title he won vs. Kirino Garcia at the Diamond Center in August. Lopez, who has firmly established himself as one of the world’s top middleweights, will be making his HBO debut. In this first fight since signing with the Golden Boy Promotions’ camp, “Destroyer” will be pitted against up-and-coming knockout artist, Fulgencio Zuniga of Columbia. Zuniga has a 16-1 record with an impressive fifteen KOs. His lone defeat was to current WBO champ Daniel Santos.

The boxing world will be watching as 2004 Mexican Olympian Abner Mares makes his professional debut on January 6th. Before turning pro, Mares was one of the most distinguished amateurs in the world. He built a 120-8 record and won numerous international competitions, including the Central American, European and World Championships. His first bout as a prizefighter will come vs. Puerto Rican Luis Malave, 8-5 (6KOs). Malave has the professional experience of 13 fights, including a WBO Intercontinental title fight and is an extremely dangerous opponent for a fighter who has never fought without amateur headgear.

Tucson’s own Norberto “Nito” Bravo starts his 2005 boxing year at Desert Diamond Casino. Having gone undefeated in his last ten bouts, Bravo looks to keeps the streak going and pick up win number twenty-one on January 6th when he faces Corey Alarcon, 11-8 (4 KOs) of Denver, Colorado. The January 6th undercard picks up where the featured bouts end. Alfredo Angulo, who was a teammate of Mares’ on Mexico’s 2004 Olympic team, will also make his pro debut vs. Thomas Padron. In addition, Phoenix Heavyweight Jermaine Woods, 8-1 (5 KOs) of Phoenix is set to jumpstart his career vs. New Mexico strongman Augustine Trujillo, 4-1 (3 KOs).

Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions, said, “I could not be happier with the way this card has come together. Not only is Nogales’ own David “Destroyer” Lopez defending his title as a Golden Boy fighter on HBO, but Mexican Olympians Abner Mares and Alfredo Angulo will both be making their professional debuts. All boxing eyes will be focused on Desert Diamond Casino January 6th.” Treena Parvello, Director of Marketing for Desert Diamond Casino, added, “Quite simply, January 6th is going to be another great fight card at the Diamond Center. With IBA Middleweight Champion David Lopez, Tucsonan Nito Bravo, two Olympians and heavyweights, what more can fight fans ask for?”