Local fighters on the rise will mingle with world-class champions and contenders on the May 11 boxing card at the Tucson Arena.
The ESPN-televised event, dubbed “Twice as Nice,” is topped by a world championship doubleheader.
The main event features the long-awaited rematch between Miguel Berchelt (35-1, 31 KOs) and Francisco Vargas (25-1-2, 18 KOs) for the WBC World Super Featherweight Title.
The Mexican fighters met in January 2017, in an 11-round war that saw Berchelt win by knockout, relieving Vargas of his world title belt.
In the co-feature, Emanuel Navarrete (26-1, 22 KOs) goes against Isaac Dogboe (20-1, 14KOs) again, this time in defense of the WBO World Super Bantamweight title he took from Dogboe via unanimous 12-round decision in a spectacular upset in Glendale, AZ, last August.
Though the card is topped by two championship rematches, it is a local return bout of last November’s Christopher Gonzalez vs. Judas Estrada battle that Tucson boxing fans are lining up to see.
Tucson’s Gonzalez (3-0-1), put his undefeated record on the line against Nogales’ Judas Estrada (1-1-1) at last November’s Guerra De Gallos event and their welterweight bout ended in a four-round draw.
Gonzalez was busier, pressuring his opponent, while Estrada landed heavier punches, cutting Gonzalez early in the bout. The two fighters were still bloody and standing in the ring when they accepted the rematch.
Under-the-radar middleweight prospect Emmanuel Guajardo (4-0) will look to impress in a four-round bout. Guajardo, 28, earned a unanimous decision over New Mexico’s Daniel Garcia Flores in his last fight in November.
Rising Phoenix star Carlos Castro (22-0, 9 KOs) will face Philippines’ Ernesto Saulong (22-4-2, 9KO) in an 8-round super bantamweight bout. Castro is coming off an upset win over Genesis Servania (32-2, 15 KOs) in February, where Castro captured the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super Bantamweight title in a unanimous decision on ESPN.
The May 11 card is promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. Tickets are priced at $102, $77, $52 and $27. They can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000, or at the Tucson Convention Center ticket office. Doors to the Tucson Arena open at 2:30, and first bell is at 3:30.
