Thompson Boxing Promotions and Banner Promotions are re-signing Tijuana’s crackerjack super featherweight contender Juan Carlos Burgos (30-1-1, 20 KOs) to a second promotional contract. After coming extremely close to winning a world title why stop now?
Co-Promoters Thompson Boxing and Banner Promotions and Burgos held a press conference luncheon on Wednesday in East Los Angeles to celebrate the re-connection at the world famous Tamayo Restaurant.
Said Thompson, “Juan Carlos Burgos should be recognized as the best 126-130 pounder out there. He has done a great job in every facet of his young career and today we will solidify his future and we will make sure he gets what he so eagerly deserves, a belt around his waist. Although he is 25 years old, he is a veteran of the sport as he started his professional career at the age of 16 and we know one day he will be considered as one of the greats. This is a happy day for our company.”
“We know Juan Carlos Burgos can be the best 130 in the world. He is ranked #1 in the world by the WBO and he should be challenging for that title in the very near future. I’m happy to have been able to work with Burgos thanks to my friendship and association with Ken Thompson and Alex Camponovo, I know we will continue doing great things together,” added Art Pellulo (President of Banner Promotions).
Said Camponovo, “we have worked very hard to make sure Juan Carlos Burgos stays with our family. We know of his potential and value it as such, we will show him the way and he will get there soon. He tried to capture that elusive belt twice, once he was close but inexperienced (Hasegawa), the last time he was robbed (Martinez) and got a draw, so we are hopeful that the third time will be the charm.”
“Mini” Burgos as boxing enthusiasts call him, has come razor close to winning a world title on two occasions. Last January, in New York City, the Mexican slugger was soundly beating Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez and was the recipient of the worse judging seen in several years. After 12 rounds the fight was ruled a split draw and the Tijuana fighter was denied the WBO junior lightweight world title.
Many in the boxing media including those on the HBO telecast found the scoring an abomination.
Offered Burgos, “I want to thank both my promoters, Ken Thompson of Thompson Boxing and Art Pelullo of Banner for having the confidence in me and in my career and to Alex Camponovo for guiding me along the way, I also have to thank my trainer Gerardo Espinoza and my manager Roberto Sandoval for being always there for me. All of them have given me the opportunity to get to a world title in two occasions and now is my turn to pay them back. I will be a world champion and that day we will have a big celebration because they have been with me during the happy and hard times of my career.”
Added Sandoval (Burgos’ manager), “The signing of a new contract is really not the main significance of this event. It’s the confidence of our promoters in a young boxer who will be a world champion and now he has to show it in the ring. We are thankful because we want to continue the good work we started some five years ago and I know that Juan Carlos can reach all his goals but with the people that really care for him and have been there since the beginning.”
Back in 2010, Burgos was blocked from winning the WBC featherweight world title while challenging Hozumi Hasegawa. That fight held in Nagoya, Japan ended in a unanimous decision in favor of the Japanese boxer.
Burgos, who is the nephew of former mini flyweight world champion Victor Burgos, has rattled off some impressive wins while fighting under the promotional banner of Thompson Boxing Promotions and Banner Promotions. Wins over undefeated Luis Cruz and Cesar Vazquez established Burgos as a force in the 130-pound division. Other notable wins came against Ricardo “Piolin” Castillo and former world champion Cristobal Cruz.
There’s little doubt that Burgos will follow in the footsteps of other Thompson Boxing fighters who achieved world championship status such as Yonnhy Perez and Timothy Bradley. More than a few think it’s just a matter of time.
