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| Photo credit: Rich J. Hundley III/SHOWTIME |
Tensions rose today at the Parlour Restaurant in midtown Manhattan during a press conference to discuss the back-to-back Team Puerto Rico boxing events this weekend, when hard-punching prospect Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (13-0, 13 KOs) and his opponent, tough veteran Richard Gutierrez, quickly figured out they dislike each other.
“You haven’t fought anybody,” asserted Gutierrez with a growl.
“I’ve fought 13 guys and knocked them all out. You’re going to be #14,” Gonzalez shot back.
Things degenerated back and forth from there until they culminated with:
“He’s a clown. I’m going to destroy him,” from Gonzalez.
“We’ll see in the ring,” came the quick reply from Gutierrez.
Gonzalez and Gutierrez will meet in a 10-round battle for the NABA and WBO Latino Youth Junior Middleweight Championships at Boricua Invasion II, on June 11, at Roseland Ballroom in New York City and televised live on ShoBox: The New Generation at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.
In the featured attraction, Team Puerto Rico’s Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle (12-0, 10 KOs), of Bayamon, P.R., will meet his toughest foe to date, Dat “Be Dat” Nguyen (17-1, 6 KOs) of Vietnam, in a 10-round featherweight matchup.
Luis Del Valle and Jonathan Gonzalez are members of Team Puerto Rico, the boxing teamdeveloped by promoters Gary Shaw, Lou DiBella, Javier Bustillo and Leon 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 for the NABA and WBO Latino Youth Middleweight Championships; and light welterweight Hector Sanchez 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 orwww.latinoboxing.com. For more information on the Roseland Ballroom, visitwww.roselandballroom.com.
