Salido-Martinez: Arroyo To Now Face Ismael Garnica

By Jake Donovan

While Orlando Salido and Roman “Rocky” Martinez remain on course for their April 11 showdown in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the undercard continues to undergo a facelift.

It was reported earlier in the month that Jose “Chelo” Gonzalez now has a new opponent, facing Marvin Quintero after originally scheduled Sharif Bogere pulled out of the fight.

Another change now comes, this one in which a flag was raised two weeks ago by BoxingScene.com . Flyweight contender McWilliams Arroyo will remain on the show, but will now face Mexico’s Ismael Garnica in a scheduled 10-round regional flyweight title fight.

Garnica (13-6-1, 5KOs) replaces Ramon Garcia, who is inked for a junior flyweight elimination bout with Jonathan Taconing this weekend in Mexico. 

 

"We had to find another opponent for McWilliams, since García Hirales decided to fight in Mexico and not come to Puerto Rico,” claims Peter Rivera, vice president of Puerto Rico Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP). “It's a problem we are facing that many fighters do not want to come to Puerto Rico after the things that have happened here, but we hope everything is fixed and to continue bringing quality opposition.

“Garnica is another Mexican and a fighter who comes to fight, so it will be another war between Puerto Rico and Mexico."

Garlic comes in having won just one bout in his last five starts. The 24-year old from Mexico is coming off of a 7th round knockout loss to Aston Palliate earlier this month on the undercard of Amnat Ruenroeng’s win over local hero Zou Shiming in Macao, China.

Ruenroeng has now made three successful title defenses of his flyweight belt, including a narrow split decision win over Arroyo (15-2, 13KOs) last fall at home in Thailand. Arroyo hasn’t fought since, and was anxious for a showdown against a fighter of Garcia’s ilk to get right back in the mix. While no fight is a given, the upcoming showdown versus late replacement Garnica is a huge leap backwards from the level of competition recently enjoyed by the 29-year old Boricua, who along with his twin brother McJoe Arroyo represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

All three bouts will serve as part of an independent Pay-Per-View broadcast.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox