By Ricardo Ibarra
Taking his first crack at a significant title belt, undefeated cruiserweight prospect Mike “White Delight” Wilson (18-0, 8 KOs) will take on Mexico’s Mario Aguilar (18-3, 16 KOs) for the vacant NABA 200-pound championship on Saturday night at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point, Oregon. Fighting in his hometown for the ninth consecutive time, Wilson will battle Aguilar over ten rounds in the main event of White Delight Promotions’ ‘Rogue Valley Rumble 9’ card.
Wilson, who as an amateur claimed two national titles and participated in world amateur competition for the US, is currently ranked #4 by the NABA and #9 by the USBA. He’s made steady strides up the ranks over the past three years after coming back from a lengthy lay-off in 2015, facing increasingly tougher opposition and building a strong following in the Southern Oregon region. The popular local, who draws large crowds every time he fights, last fought in September, pounding out a workman-like ten round performance to claim a unanimous decision win over Melvin Russell. This will mark the biggest opportunity for Wilson to date as he looks to crack the world rankings with a win on Saturday.
“Winning this belt will be big for us,” said Wilson from his training camp in Central Point. “It’s going to lead to some good things. It’s going to get us world rated and hopefully it’s going to fast-track us to where we need to go.”
“One week away and I’m feeling great,” continued Wilson. “I’m hitting my peak. This will be a tough fight, but I feel like this has been one of our better camps. Mario’s a typical tough Mexican warrior. He comes straight forward, and he brings it, but I like those type of guys. You’re not going to have to find him, he’s going to find you… He’s coming in to upset me and shoot himself up that ladder and I just can’t let that happen. I have to take care of the task at hand.”
The heavy-handed Aguilar, of San Luis Rio Colorado, is veteran of twenty-one professional fights and has scored sixteen of his eighteen wins inside the distance. He’s held the Sonora State cruiserweight title and the Mexican Pacific Coast light heavyweight strap. In his most recent fight last November, he scored a second round knockout of Ricardo Enrique Arce.
“This should be a good, tough fight,” said promoter Jenifer Wilson “I expect a lot of back and forth action. Aguilar’s a tough competitor and has a good record, but Mike’s in great shape and he’s coming to take that title. This is a big opportunity for Mike. We’ve been working towards getting him to that next level for the last few years and really put everything into this… He’s ready for the opportunity.”
In addition to the ten round title fight, Jenifer Wilson and matchmaker Tony Rodriguez, Jr. have lined up a six-fight undercard, showcasing fighters from around the region.
In a heavyweight fight between two aggressive-minded journeymen, Tampa, Florida’s Mike Bissett (14-10, 8 KOs) will meet Sylvester “Doc” Barron (9-10, 3 KOs), of Anacortes, Washington, in a six rounder. Bissett is coming off an unsuccessful bid for the NABF Junior heavyweight title against California’s LaRon Mitchell in August, losing to him in three. Barron, meanwhile, is hoping to break a three-fight losing streak.
In a promising battle between two undefeated bangers, Medford’s Abraham Martin (2-0, 2 KOs) will take on Bend, Oregon’s Alberto Rivas (3-0, 1 KO) in a four round cruiserweight match-up. Martin has scored knockouts in both of his pro fights, with his last win coming in September against Jose Rico, whom he knocked out in one round. Rivas hasn’t fought since May when he scored a four round unanimous decision win over the durable Carlos Villanueva.
In other four round bouts, undefeated Tacoma amateur stand-out Nicholas Jefferson (3-0, 3 KOs) will look for his fourth consecutive knockout win against Brennon Crow (0-1), of Redding, California in a welterweight match-up; Bend’s Chris Johnson and Somethonit Phoumychack will both make their pro debuts against each other in a welterweight fight; and in a cruiserweight tilt, Las Vegas’ Frank Sanchez Fauer (2-0, 2 KOs) meets Brian Green (1-1) of Ohio.
Local favorite Troy Wohosky (3-2-1, 1 KO) is also expected to be in action, although an opponent has not been announced yet.
“We’ve got a good, solid card,” said Jenifer Wilson. “Lots of local guys and a lot of Oregon fighters in good match-ups. Our goal from the start was to bring pro boxing back to Oregon and we did that…Now our goal is to continue to give fans great events and we’ve got one with this next show.”
Doors to the Jackson County Expo will open at 6 p.m. with the first fight set to start at 7 p.m. Tickets to the event are available at all Lil Pantry locations and Hawaiian Hut. Weigh-ins will be open to the public and take place at Chadwick’s Sports Bar in Medford on Friday at 7 p.m. For more information visit the White Delight Promotions Facebook page.