By Miguel Maravilla
Super lightweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. (9-0, 9 KOs) of Dallas, Texas, held a media day workout Tuesday afternoon at the Westside Boxing Club in West Los Angeles as he goes up against former world champion Juan Carlos Salgado (27-8-1, 16 KOs) in the LA Fight Club main event Saturday June 23 live on Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Vergil Ortiz: “This is the first of many. It’s good to be recognized and being in the main event for the first time. This is a good feeling. I’m looking forward to this experience. Training has been great working with Robert Garcia, I have been sparring with Mikey Garcia and Jose Ramirez. Sparring with them has been great I have learned a lot. I plan on giving my best fight to date. Explosiveness and excitement.”
In the co-feature bout, Hector “Finito” Tanajara Jr. (13-0, 5 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas takes on previously undefeated Roger Gutierrez (18-1-1, 15 KOs) of Maracaibo, Venezuela in an eight-round lightweight bout.
Hector Tanajara: “This is my first televised fight on ESPN, so I’m very excited about that. I know my opponent Roger Gutierrez is coming to win, so he’s going to bring the best of me. I saw his fight against Rene Alvarado, and I know what I have to do.”
Ferdinand Kerobyan (8-0, 4 KOs), of North Hollywood, California will take on Israel Villela (6-10, 2 KOs) of Cancun, Mexico in a scheduled six round super welterweight bout.
Ferdinand Kerobyan: “This is my first official fight with Golden Boy Promotions. I am so excited. Training for this fight has been great. I plan on giving exciting fight and I am looking to get this guy out early.”
* * *
Fighters from the July 6 edition of LA Fight Club participated in the same workout. NABF bantamweight champion Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (17-1, 7 KOs) will return in an eight-round bantamweight fight against Dhiul Olguin (13-9-3, 9 KOs) in the main event.
Oscar Negrete: “I’m excited to be back fighting in LA and being the main event. I am a natural 118 pounder. The opportunity was given to fight Rey Vargas at 122. I took the fight but it was a good fight, he is the best 122 pound fighter in the world. I’m just happy to be back. I have a tough opponent. His record don’t speak for who he is, this guy comes to fight. If all goes well in this fight, hopefully I can enter the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series).
Also at the workout were Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada (13-0, 3 KOs) and former Olympian Raul “Cougar” Curiel (3-0, 2 KOs). Estrada will return in the co-main event in an eight-round flyweight fight against a soon-to-be announced opponent.
Senisia Estrada: “It feels great to be active and staying busy this year. I fought March 16 and May 4th. I was out 2 weeks, then back in the gym, off and then back in the gym. Women’s boxing has come a long way. I think it’s on the rise. Expect another great performance.”
Raul Curiel: “Training is well. I am working with Freddie Roach and it has just been a good experience. I feel good, it’s been two weeks, sparring has been tough. We’re on track and ready to fight.”
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla