By Carlos Boogs
BoxingScene.com has been advised by multiple sources that 2016 United States Olympian Carlos Balderas is going to become the first promotional signing of Richard Schaefer's newly formed Ringstar Promotions.
Schaefer, co-founder and former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, started Ringstar a few months ago and stages the first company event on December 10 USC Galen Center, Los Angeles, California. Balderas is being positioned to make his pro debut on that card, which is headlined by Abner Mares challenging Jesus Cuellar for the WBA 'regular' featherweight title.
Balderas, 20-years-old, is coached by his father Xenon and his uncle David.
Balderas represented the USA Knockouts in the World Series of Boxing (WSB). In 2015 he took part in five bouts, defeating Fabio Introvaia of Italy, Dawid Michelus of Poland, Brian Nunez of Argentina and Adrian Javier Martinez Morales of Puerto Rico but losing to Azerbaijan's Albert Selimov. In 2016 he won his first two bouts against Lindolfo Delgado and Moroccan Hamza Rabii.
He qualified for the men's lightweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Brazil via his results in the WSB where he won the gold medal in his elite division and was named Outstanding Boxer of the event. Balderas was given his Olympic allocation by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
He breezed through the first two fights of the Olympics, beating Berik Abdrakmanov in the first bout and then Japan's Daisuke Narimatsu in the following fight. He lost a decision to two-time Olympic bronze medal winner and three time amateur champion Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba in the quarter-finals.
