Colorado's Power Punching Cardona Aims To Close Strong

by Chris 'Polish Hitman' Morris
Photo by Michael V. Ornelas

Rick Lopez and his sons Devin and Ricky have their final show of the year lined up for this Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza DIA Hotel, which has become their 'home base'.  Their company 'New Generation Fight Promotions' has a good card lined up with plenty of boxing including a female bout and an eight round main event featuring heavy
hitter Izaak Cardona.

Super middleweight prospect Izaak Cardona, 9-2, 9KOs, will look to get back on track after dropping a pair of split decisions in a row after opening his career with 9 wins all by knockout.  He will be taking on Oklahoma's Zachariah Kelley, 3-6, 3KOs.  All of Kelley's wins have come by knock out, just like Cardona so this will probably not be going to the judges scorecards.

In the co-main event undefeated up and comer Donovan 'Slick' Estrella, 6-0, 2KOs, will face Antoine Knight, 3-13, 1KO from Merrillville, Indiana.  Estrella fought at welterweight last fight, which is about 4 weight classes heavier than his optimum fighting weight.  Estrella is a stylist with very fast hands and good footwork.  This bout will be a chance for 'one upping' his stablemate Ricky Lopez who stopped Knight in two rounds back in August.  Estrella will look to improve on that performance if possible.

Headlining the undercard are several of Colorado's young undefeated prospects.  Light heavyweight Donald Cobb, 3-0, 2KOs will take on Jordan Smith who will be making his professional debut.  Fast handed featherweight Chris Galvadon, 4-0, 1KO, will fight Vic Chambers, 0-2, fighting out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Rounding out the card is a female bout between Maureen Riordan, 0-1, and Alma Garcia, 0-3, in a fight where someone is sure to get their first win.  Tough as nails journeyman Juan 'Chago' Santiago, 14-12-1, 8KOs, will test the mettle of New Mexico's Jose Salinas, 6-1, 3KOs in a sixer at super lightweight.  Colorado Springs 'Beast' aka Joey Montoya, 7-2-3, 3KOs, fights Dennis Morris, 6-1, 5KOs who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  This one is scheduled for 6 rounds at cruiserweight.  Antonio Diaz, 4-1, 2KOs, will go 4 rounds with Antonio Solarzano, 1-2, who recently moved to Colorado from Kansas.  He is training with Terry Buterbaugh at the Old School Boxing Gym.  Eddie Moreno makes his welterweight pro debut against Oklahoma's Emanuel Llanos, 0-1.  There is also an exhibition bout scheduled between Grudge Training Center's Andrew Scripture and Greeley, Colorado's Adam Zebulon at a 180 pound catch weight.

There will also be a toy drive for the Children's Hospital.  Any toy donations will be gladly accepted at the door and forwarded to the hospital.

Doors open at 5:30 with the first bell scheduled for 6:30.  Tickets will be available at the door or you can call for reserved seating, 303-659-0192.  The Crowne Plaza DIA is located at 15500 E. 40th Ave, right off of I-70.