Welterweight contenders collide at the Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico on Saturday, March 16 when Mexico’s own Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano and Manuel Perez square off in a 10-round battle that will be broadcast on FOX Deportes in the United States and Televisa in Mexico.
The co-featured attraction will be a 10 round fight for the vacant NABF Super Middleweight Championship between unbeaten Marco Antonio Periban of Mexico City and Colombian power-puncher Samuel Miller.
Plus, recent world title challenger Alberto Guevara battles Jesus Jimenez in a fight to also be televised by Televisa. In non-televised undercard action, Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares takes on “Dangerous” David Rodela, while rising stars Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez and Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. enter the ring eager to add victories to their records.
Former WBA Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (25-2-1, 19 KO’s) made a big impression in his 147-pound debut last October, going 12 rounds with WBA Welterweight World Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi and scoring an 11th round knockdown before losing a controversial split decision. On March 16, the 23-year-old Cano begins his road back to a world title.
Hawaii-born Manuel Perez (19-8-1, 4 KO’s) has won several regional titles, but his sights are set on the big names at 147 pounds. Stepping up his game in a big way in 2012, the 28-year-old won three out of four bouts last year, including wins over Edgar Santana and Jose Miguel Cotto. Now he will begin his quest for the welterweight crown with a pivotal showdown against Cano.
28-year-old Marco Antonio Periban (19-0, 12 KO’s) begins his fistic year this Saturday after a 2012 that saw him continue his march toward a world title shot with four consecutive victories over Jesus Nerio, Gerardo Diaz, Lester Gonzalez and Francisco Sierra. Although he expects a tough fight from Colombia’s Miller, he also plans on coming out of the ring with his 20th straight victory while making a statement that he’s ready for a the elite at super middleweight.
Colombian veteran Samuel Miller (25-6, 22 KO’s) has tested himself against the best for years, facing opposition like David Lopez, Brian Vera and Marco Antonio Rubio. Approaching his ten-year anniversary as a professional, the 33-year-old is hitting a power stride with his last 10 wins all coming by way of knockout, including six in the first round.
Fighting out of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, 22-year-old Alberto “Metro” Guevara (16-1, 6 KO’s) is one of the junior featherweight division’s top young stars. In his last fight in December 2012, Guevara went 12 rounds with IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz in his first world title fight and learned several valuable lessons that he will implement in his upcoming 10-round bout against Guadalajara’s Jesus Jimenez (33-7-1, 24 KOs).
Back in the win column after losses to tough competition in Antonio DeMarco and Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson, former Two-Division World Champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares was in top form in defeating Hector Velazquez last October. Now the 27-year-old from Venezuela hopes to keep the momentum going when he takes on Oxnard’s “Dangerous” David Rodela (16-7-3, 7 KO’s) in Cancun. The 30-year-old Rodela is always a tough test for anyone he steps into the ring with and fight fans can expect that he will be in Linares’ face from the first bell to the last.
The great nephew of former World Champion Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, 19-year-old Los Angeles native Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (7-0, 5 KO’s) has been a quick study in the family business, winning all seven of his fights as a professional. Blessed with speed, bujaj and power, the always exciting Ramirez has victory number eight on his mind come March 16 when he meets up with Mexico City’s Aaron Olivares (6-3, 2 KO’s).
2012 United States Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz Jr. (2-0, 1 KO) has made a smooth transition to the world of professional boxing, winning both of his bouts since debuting last December with a unanimous decision win over Vicente Alfaro. In February, Diaz scored his first pro knockout, finishing Jose Ruiz in the second round. On Saturday, he will face Chetumal’s Alberto Cupido (7-7-2, 6 KO’s) in a six-round junior featherweight match-up.
Cano vs. Perez is presented by Golden Boy Promotions Pepe Gomez Promotor Deportivo and sponsored by Corona, Periodico QueQui, The Grand Oasis Cancun, Quintana Roo Tourism and Cancun Tourism. Doors open at 5:45p.m. CT and the first fight begins at 6:00p.m. CT. The Televisa broadcast will air on Canal 5 and begins at 10:30p.m. CT and the FOX Deportes broadcast will air at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
