By David Finger
Hobbs New Mexico may not seem like a boxing Mecca at first glance, but thanks to Isidro Castillo and School of Hard Knocks Boxing it has emerged as one of New Mexico’s hottest boxing towns. And it is set for a triumphant return this Saturday (October 27) as undefeated Desmond “Dez” Hill (2-0, 2 KOs) of Odessa looks to make a statement against the durable Hobbs native Omar Acosta (1-3, 1 KO) in a four round cruiserweight fight.
Hill last fought as a boxer in February of 2017, where he impressed local fans with a brutal KO over Joe Reyes. Since then there have been whispers in the Permian Basin that the talented MMA fighter turned boxer may be one of the better prospects in the region. But although Hill is the favorite over Acosta, the Hobbs brawler has shown flashes of power in the past and may catch the Texan off guard if Hill is coming in with any ring rust from his long layoff. Acosta turned pro in 2016, dropping a decision to then undefeated Clovis heavyweight Elijio Sena, before bouncing back in July of 2017 with a first round knockout over Israel Huerta. Although Acosta has dropped his last two fights (a close decision to Ricardo Urquizo and a first round blowout at the hands of undefeated Nigerian bomber Ethasor Akpejiori) he is nonetheless seen as a solid and durable opponent for Hill.
In the co-main event 34-year old light heavyweight Maurice Jackson (1-0, 1 KO) takes on debuting Gabriel Rodriguez of El Paso in an intriguing regional fight that could establish the winner as a potential prospect. Little is known of Rodriguez but Jackson did impress fans in his professional debut, stopping Mark Jimenez in three rounds back in May.
Rounding off the card are four fights featuring Lea County and West Texas fighters. Debuting Luis Santos-Rodriguez of Hobbs is set to make his professional debut against Michael Petersen (0-1) of Clovis in a four round junior featherweight fight.
Clovis New Mexico’s most popular boxer, the gritty Richard “Rico” Urquizo (3-5-2, 1 KO), takes on Midland’s Michael Sanchez in a four round cruiserweight fight. Urquizo is coming in off a first round blowout loss in a fight for the NABF Junior Cruiserweight title and he is keen on proving that despite his record he deserves consideration for future title fights. Sanchez, who now fights out of Hobbs, scored a third round TKO over Kelly Westby in his last fight and has many fans wondering if he might emerge as a solid regional fighter in his own right. Sanchez was crushed by world class prospect Joey Alday in his professional debut but despite the loss he impressed a lot of fans with his courage in taking the fight on such short notice (the original opponent pulled out on less than a day’s notice) and for giving it his all against a fighter many regard as a future world champion. A win over Urquizo would show that he is a fighter who could in make some noise in the Southwest, something not lost on Sanchez or the fight fans in Hobbs.
In a junior middleweight fight debuting Carlos Villalva of Seminole, Texas will take on debuting Isaac Sifuentez of Dimmit, Texas in a four round affair. And winless Ricky Reyes (0-2) of Hobbs will take on a fellow winless fighter in Levi Lucero (0-2) of Albuquerque in a four round lightweight fight.
The fights will take place at Club La Sierra in Hobbs, New Mexico (located at 300 W. Marland) with doors opening at 6pm and fights kicking off at 7PM. Former world champion Austin Trout will be in attendance at the event. Tickets start at $40 for General Admission.