Vazquez not fighting in father’s shadow

Posted on | February 5, 2010 | No Comments

Ready to make Puerto Rican history against Sonsona

“The Double Assault” PPV Feb. 27

HOBOKEN, N.J. (Feb. 5, 2010) – Unbeaten Wilfredo “WV2” Vazquez, Jr., the proud son of 2-time world champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Sr., plans to make Puerto Rican history Feb. 27 when he fights the 19-year-old being billed in the Philippines as the next Manny Pacquaio, “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona, for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO junior featherweight title, headlining one of two sensational shows airing on pay-per-view in North America.

The double-barrelled “The Double Assault” is presented by PR Best Boxing Promotions in Puerto Rico, in association with All Star Boxing and Sampson Boxing LLC, and KO Entertainment in Cancun, Mexico. The unique broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice and Shaw PPV for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

The action starts at 9 PM/ET live from Reben Rodriquez Coliseum in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, with hometown hero Vazquez, Jr. (17-0-1, 14 KOs) taking on former WBO Super Flyweight champion Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBO junior featherweight belt. Unbeaten cruiserweight prospect Carlos Negron (7-0, 6 KOs), 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian, provides chief support in a 6-round bout against an opponent to be determined.

Vazquez, Jr., the WBO Latino super bantamweight champion, is rated No. 2 by the WBO, while former WBO super flyweight titlist Sonsona is ranked No. 3.

“This is a very important fight because we will make history in Puerto Rico by being the first father and son World Champions, also with the same promoter (Tuto Zabala, Jr.),” Vazquez, Jr. explained. “I will leave everything in the ring to accomplish it. Sonsona is a very good boxer. It will be a good fight for fans to watch. I have trained very hard and I hope he did, too. He had a strong amateur background and I had no amateur fights, but they chose the wrong opponent to move up in weight to fight. Nothing is personal, it’s all business.

“There’s no added pressure on me because of my father. It’s different times. I see him as my father and trainer. I am relaxed and will do this for my family. For boxing fans who haven’t seen me, you will see me focused to secure his family’s future. I am a young, exciting fighter. I will win, by decision or knockout.”

Vazquez, Sr. was a great bantamweight and super bantamweight in the late eighties and early nineties who had a pro record of 56-9-2 (41 KOs). “I am happy and proud,” he said about his son. We will make history February 27. No pressure, I trust Tuto Zabala, Jr. like nobody else. We will win. My son fights like me. He inherited my punching power and he punches like a junior welterweight. He does his own thing but I feel he fights like me or even better. Fighting was easier, no doubt, than watching my son fight.”

The spotlight will then shift to El Polyforim Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico, where former WBA light heavyweight champion Hugo Hernan “Pigu” Garay takes on highly world rated “Hard Hittin’” Chris Henry for the WBA Interim light heavyweight title. Former WBA & WBC super flyweight title-holder Cristian Mijares drops back down to his natural weight class versus TBA.

Garay (32-4, 17 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBA, is a popular Argentinean who defeated Yuri Barashian by decision for the WBA light heavyweight title in 2008, successfully defended against present WBO Interim champion Juergen Braehmer by decision, and then lost his belt by decision last June to Gabriel Campillo.

WBA No. 4-ranked Henry, fighting out of Houston, is coming off of an explosive win by sixth-round technical knockout of Shaun George last July on ESPN. Henry has been the NABF, NABA, IBA Inter-Continental and USNBC light heavyweight champion during the past four years.

Mexican boxer Mijares, rated No. 5 by the WBA and No. 14 by the IBF, was one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers after winning a decision against Alexander Munoz in their 2008 WBC/WBA super flyweight unification match.

Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.