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PHOTO: CARLOS BAEZA
/ THOMPSON BOXING |
On June 11 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, undefeated super welterweight, Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (13-0, 13 KOs) of Barrio Obrero, Puerto Rico, will face experienced Colombian veteran Richard Gutierrez (24-6 -1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the WBA-NABA and WBO Latino Youth Middleweight Championships.
Gonzalez vs. Gutierrez will be part of Boricua Invasion II, the second half of back-to-back boxing shows to celebrate Puerto Rican Pride Parade Day, featuring the island’s best prospects in challenging showdowns and will be televised live on a special Saturday edition of ShoBox: The New Generation on SHOWTIME® (10:35 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
‘Mantequilla’ was last seen scoring a KO 7 over former ESPN’s The Contender star Rudy Cisneros of Chicago.
“I’m ready for this challenge. Gutierrez has a lot of experience but I know I have the necessary tools to win. My focus is to win these two titles because they will help me someday fight for a world title, “said González, who is promoted by Universal Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions and Warriors Boxing.
Gutierrez is most recognized by the boxing fans for his wars with Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo and Joshua Clottey. Team Puerto Rico Boxing was developed by Shaw, DiBella, Bustillo and Margules in order to group the best young talent on the island on one team.
Team Puerto Rico’s Next Appearance:
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 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 “Sniper” 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) vs. Richard Gutierrez; and light welterweight Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs) vs. Vincent 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 or www.latinoboxing.com. For more information on the Roseland Ballroom, visit www.roselandballroom.com.
