Recently in Boxing Category

The fighters of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy boxing will return to Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino Friday, March 8.

The main event features Oxnard's Hugo Centeno (17-0, 9 KOs) vs. Keandre Leatherwood (12-1-1, 8 KOs) in a 10 round junior middleweight fight.

This event is also scheduled to be broadcast live on Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" at 11 p.m. EST. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the first bout starting at 5:30 p.m. and the Showtime telecast beginning at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25, $35, $45 and are available at the Fantasy Springs box office, by phone at 1-800-827-2946 and www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

For information on the full fight card go to www.goldenboypromotions.com.

Friday, Jan. 11:

The Fab Four at 8 p.m. Tickets: $20, $25, $35 Location: Pechanga

Golden Boy Boxing at 8 p.m. Tickets: $25, $35, $45 Location: Fantasy Springs

Oslen Dance & Illusion at 9 p.m. Tickets: $20, $30, $35 Location: Agua Caliente

Saturday, Jan. 12:

Oslen Dance & Illusion at 7 p.m. Tickets: $20, $30, $35 Location: Agua Caliente

The Fab Four at 8 p.m. Tickets: $20, $25, $35 Location: Pechanga

Arrival From Sweden at 8 p.m. Tickets: $30, $35, $40 Location: Pala

Kool and the Gang at 8 p.m. Tickets: $45, $55, $65 Location: Spotlight 29

Once again Golden Boy boxing has a full card for desert fight fans Friday, Jan. 11 at Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino.

In the season premiere of "Shobox: The Next Generation" undefeated Ronny Rios will face off against former world champion Rico Ramos for the NABF featherweight championship.

The card also includes Daquan Arnett vs. Brandon Quarles and hometown hero, Coachella's Randy Caballero fighting an opponent to be named later.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first fight starting at 6:30 p.m. The Showtime broadcast will begin at 8:15 p.m. PT, going live to the east coast.

Tickets are $25, $35, $45 and available at the Fantasy Springs box office, 1-800-827-2946 and www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Manny Pacquiao is hands down the most famous boxer in the world right now. Though his recent loss against Timothy Bradley was controversial, his popularity hasn't waned one bit.

His next fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, their fourth bout, is highly anticipated. Pacquiao vs. Marquez 4 is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

For local fight fans a trip down Interstate 15 is unnecessary since many Inland area casinos will be broadcasting the bout.

Agua Caliente:

Location: The Show at 6 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 day of event

Fantasy Springs:

Location: Lit Lounge, Springs Bar, 12th Floor Wine Bar

Pala:

Location: Infinity showroom and throughout casino

Pechanga:

Location: Kelsey's, Round bar, Cabaret, Cascade Bar (high limit)

San Manuel:

Location: Sportswatch Grill, throughout gaming floor

Spotlight 29:

Location: Hot Spot

Coverage begins at 6 p.m. with many venues including undercard in screenings. Check individual casino websites for complete details of broadcasts.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez is also available on pay-per-view on most cable and satellite systems.

For those not interested in driving to Vegas for the big fight, Pala Casino Resort Spa will screen Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday, Dec. 8.

Pala will broadcast the fight inside Infinity, on the Center Bar big screen and throughout the casino.

This will be the fourth meeting between the fighters, with fight one ending in a draw and Pacquiao winning the next two.

In June Pacquiao suffered his first defeat in seven years at the hands of Palm Springs native Timothy Bradley. That fight ended in a controversial split decision that many thought would lead to an instant rematch. However, Pacquiao chose to once again fight Marquez.

Pacquiao is the most famous boxer in the world right now and is single handedly keeping the sport relevant as it fights off the continued popularity of mixed martial arts.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez will take place Saturday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The 11th Annual Desert Showdown World Amateur Boxing Championships are July 10-14 at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Special Events Center.

The competition is the second largest amateur boxing tournament in the United States. It features more than 1000 boxers and is open to the public.

The single elimination tournament is open to men, women, boys and girls of all ages, starting at 8-years old, through the Master Division, which is 35 to 65 years old.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Weigh-ins are at 7 a.m. daily, with boxing starting at 1 p.m.

Fantasy Springs is located at 84-245 Fantasy Springs Pkwy. in Indio.

In sunny SoCal, Groundhog Day doesn't carry the meteorological significance it has in less balmy climes. But Feb. 2 seems as good a time as any to watch mixed martial arts bruisers grind each other down. San Manuel Casino will celebrate the holiday with a King of the Cage event, Reckless Abandon.

The fights include match-ups between flyweights Marvin Garcia and Frank Baca. Also on the fight card: heavyweights Tony Lopez vs. Ryan Fortin, and Shonie Carter vs. Tony Bonello.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Fights start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and $75. Tickets are available at the casino or on Ticketmaster.

Meet the MMA warriors at the official weigh-in at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Tukut Lounge. It's free and open to the public, 21 and older. Find details at the San Manuel website.

Skip the same old ho-ho-ho and put some POW in your holidays. San Manuel is celebrating Decem-grrrrrrr with King of the Cage competition Thursday, Dec. 15, in the casino. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Fights start at 7:30 p.m.

John De La O will square off against Brian Warren, while Nick Gaston takes on Tony Lopez. Fighters will vie for the KOTC Legends Superfight belt. Even better than Santa's elves, the KOTC ring girls will add some cheer.

Tickets are $40 and $75. Find tix at Ticketmaster. For details, check out the San Manuel website. Must 21 or older to enter the casino.

See the fighters up close -- the official weigh-in at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Tukut Lounge. The weigh-in is free and open to the public.

Add some "pow" to the holidays. Gladiator Challenge returns to Soboba Casino for Season's Beatings 3 on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Cody Bollinger, an up-and-coming featherweight on the mixed martial arts circuit, will take on the undefeated champ Aaron Neveu. The Hit Man Amateur World Championships start at 3 p.m., followed by the pro fights at 6 p.m. Gates open at 2 p.m.

One ticket covers both shows. Tickets are $40 at Virtual Box Office. Find details at the Gladiator Challenge and Soboba websites.

It's billed as the "Pinoy Invasion." Champ Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank present an evening of boxing at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on Thursday, Oct. 27.

Three Filipino boxers form the Pinoy fighting forces. (Pinoy is the word Filipinos use to refer to themselves.) Bernabe Concepcon from Rizal Province, Philippines, will square off against Aaron Garcia of San Diego in the WBC Continental Americas Featherweight Championship.

Also on the fight card: Former world champ Rodel Mayol from Mardue City, Philippines, will duke it out with Luis Maldonado from Mexicali in the super flyweight division. And Richie Mepranum from Maasin, Philippines, takes on Rigoberto Casillas from Tijuana.

Door open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and $90, and are available at Ticketmaster and the San Manuel box office. Find details at the San Manuel website.

Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is known as the "art of eight limbs" because its fighters can strike with hands, feet, elbows and knees. A number of local fighters will show off their chops when Pala Casino presents a WCK Full Rules Muay Thai fight card at 7 p.m. this Saturday in the Pala Events Center.

Craig Buchanan of Victorville will defend his WBC Muay Thai USA middleweight championship in the five-round main event. He will go up against Muay Thai fighting legend James Martinez of New Mexico. Other local fighters on the 10-fight card include Fernando Gonzalez of Murrieta, Romie Adanza of Irvine, Sean McCulley of Costa Mesa and Daniel Macha of Upland. The undercard include local fighters Ken Finister of Temecula, Jason Rzepka of Fullerton, Joe Davidson and Julian Lugo Jr. of Rancho Cucamonga, and Mike Ryan and Pal Giroth of Chino Hills. Many of the fighters are also known for their prowess at mixed martial arts.

Tickets, priced at $40 and $100, are available with no service charge at the Pala Casino box office, (877) 946-7252, or at Star Tickets. Find details at the Pala website.

Welterweight Dashon "Fly Boy" Johnson of Escondido will duke it out with veteran boxer Bernardo Guereca of El Paso, Texas, as the main event in a seven-fight card at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Pala Casino. The co-main event pairs up junior welterweights Ariz Ambriz of Duarte and Juan Santiago of Denver.

 

Former five-time champ and Boxing Hall of Fame member Sugar Ray Leonard will host the event.

"Flyboy" Johnson, 23, turned pro in March 2008. His professional record is 12-4-3 with 4 KOs. In April, he knocked out Willie Walton in the first round of a fight in Temecula. Guereca, 38, has a lengthy career as a tough pro. Last February, he won a unanimous decision over the much younger fighter Joseph Gomez.

Tickets are $100, $60, $50 and $40. Purchase tickets with no service charge at the Pala Box Office, (877) 946-7252. Find details at the Pala website. Tickets also are available at Star Tickets.

The evening includes several more local boxers, including Danny Martinez of Duarte, Luis Cervantes of Highland, and Josh Berezela, Alejo Gusman and Danny Ruiz of Riverside. The evening marks Berezela's professional debut.