The promoters behind Team Puerto Rico, the eight-man collective of the island’s best young boxing talent, say that on the nights of June 10 and 11 they’ll be actively scouting for new members of the team.
Promoters Gary Shaw (Gary Shaw Productions), Lou DiBella (DiBella Entertainment), Javier Bustillo (Universal Promotions) and Leon Margules (Warriors Boxing) want to make clear to the Puerto Rican fighters participating as Team Puerto Rico opponents or on the undercard of their blockbuster June 10 and 11 “Boricua Invasion I & II” shows at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City that their performances will be closely evaluated for possible recruitment onto the team of Puerto Rican boxers being called their next generation of world champions.
In addition to the seven team members fighting on those two exciting nights, other Puerto Rican fighters appearing will include Vega Baja, Puerto Rico’s Irving Garcia (17-6-3, 8 KOs), who will face TPR’s Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza in the 10-round junior middleweight main event on June 10, while San Juan’s Emanuel Gonzalez (9-7, 4 KOs) will appear in a light heavyweight scrap and Puerto Rico-born women’s former world champion Melissa Hernandez (14-2-3, 5 KOs) will appear in special attraction super featherweight battle.
In a co-main televised bout on June 11, Puerto Rican New Yorker Vincent Arroyo (11-1, 7 KOs) will face TPR’s Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez in an eight-round welterweight battle, while Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico’s undefeated junior middleweight Elieser Gonzalez (11-0, 6 KOs); Bronx, New York super bantamweight Raul Lopez (5-1, 3 KOs) and undefeated Puerto Rican women’s sensation Amada Serrano (9-0-1, 5 KOs) will appear in separate bouts.
“The concept behind Team Puerto Rico was to assemble the best talent on the island, so on either night, if we see real talent in any of the Puerto Rican fighters, we will take a real look at bringing them in,” said promoter Shaw. “The team is not limited to eight members. It is limited to the best boxers in Puerto Rico.”
Lou DiBella, co-promoter for both Boricua Invasion shows, hopes the magnitude of this opportunity is not lost on the Puerto Rican fighters that weekend.
“The country is on fire for Team Puerto Rico, media response was overwhelming at their first press conference. I hope all the Puerto Rican fighters those two nights will enter the ring knowing they have a huge opportunity to earn their way onto the world stage with strong performances.”
Back-to-back, on June 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday before the 2011 National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday) at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Gary Shaw Productions and DiBella Entertainment will present Boricua Invasion I and II, featuring members of Team Puerto Rico Boxing, the eight-man team of Puerto Rico’s future ring stars.
Friday’s Boricua Invasion I will feature the unstoppable welterweight on everybody’s “one to watch” list, Thomas “Tormenta” Dulorme (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. former world champion DeMarcus Corley; Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico’s highlight-reel welterweight KO specialist Kenny “Battlestar” Galarza (14-1, 14 KOs) vs. Puerto Rican compatriot Irving Garcia and the future superstar already fighting in main events after just two bouts, Jose “El Dulce” Pedraza (2-0, 2 KOs). The main bouts of Boricua Invasion I will be televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Saturday’s Boricua Invasion II will feature four more members of Team Puerto Rico: featherweight Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs) vs. Dat Nguyen; junior middleweight Jonathan “Mantequilla Gonzalez (12-0, 12 KOs); and light welterweight Sanchez vs. Arroyo. Also scheduled for action are Team Puerto Rico light welterweight Jorge “Machito” Maysonet Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs); plus a special off-TV appearance by Puerto Rico-born light welterweight Gabriel “Tito” Bracero (15-0, 1 KO) of Brooklyn. The main bouts of Boricua Invasion II will be broadcast live on Showtime: The New Generation.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion I on Friday, June 10 are priced at $175, $125, $75, $45 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Friday, doors will open at 6:00 pm and the action starts at 6:30.
Tickets for Boricua Invasion II on Saturday, June 11 are priced at $200, $150, $85, and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone, or at any Ticketmaster outlet. On Saturday, doors will open at 7:00 pm and the action starts at 7:30.
For VIP Package tickets to both nights, please call DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577.
The Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street in New York City.
All bouts are subject to change.
For more information, visit www.teampuertoricoboxing.com orwww.latinoboxing.com. For more information on the Roseland Ballroom, visitwww.roselandballroom.com.
