by Eric ‘Sugar Foot’ Duran/RockyMountainBoxing.com
Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith and matchmaker Steve ‘Match Makin’ Mestas have put together a stellar card for March 10th in Denver, CO. The action packed event will take place at the Denver Athletic Club and will feature not one but TWO RMB title fights!
In the main event, Hugo Arceo will battle arch rival Rudy Zapata for the Rocky Mountain Boxing Colorado’s Heavyweight Championship aka the ‘Blue Belt;. Rocky Mountain Boxing Belt Series president Chris Morris personally went out of his way and pocket to make this fight, a title fight.
“This type of fight is exactly what the RMB Belt Series is all about! We just couldn’t let this one go without a title on the line so, we are sponsoring the title fight ourselves! Arceo is ranked #2 in the region and Zapata is #3, it’s perfect!”
In 2013, Arceo, ranked and Zapata fought twice. A draw in their first encounter in June led to a rematch in October, a fight that saw Arceo win a close, split decision.
After the rematch Arceo continued fighting on, compiling of a record of 6-2-2.
Zapata, however, disappeared from the ring for nearly 3 years. In September, Zapata stamped his comeback with a unanimous decision over Shane Grant. Arceo is coming off of a victory over Terrence Perro in November.
“I’m excited to get back in the ring against a good formidable opponent. I have however grown so much more since our last encounter and anticipate an even better performance on my part and to win by a definitive unanimous decision. His head might still be too big and hard to finish early, it’ll be a great show,” stated Arceo.
Zapata emphasized his excitement about his upcoming with Arceo, “It’s going to be a banger. Speed kills and may the best man win and dont forget “IM BACK”!!!”.
In the first ever Rocky Mountain Boxing Female Championship, Brittany Cruz will face Alma Garcia.
Garcia (2-4) will enter the ring as RMB’S Upset of the Year winner for 2016 as well as the Knockout of the Year winner. In November, she starched Tania Cosme with a single right hand, notching her second win in a row. She’ll look to make it 3 in a row when she faces the ultra slick, Brittany Cruz.
Cruz (10-8-2) is also coming off of an upset type fight, a loss to the unheralded Elizabeth Anderson. For Cruz, it was her second loss in a row. Cruz will look to rebound with a much needed victory to get her career back on track. The RMB title should provide the needed motivation.
“We are beyond proud to put on a women’s title fight. I don’t know that there has ever been a women’s title fight in Colorado, outside of some bouts in Ignacio many years ago? With Claressa Shields and Katie Taylor making a name for women’s boxing, we think it’s a natural.” Said Chris Morris
Current RMB super middleweight Colorado Champ, LT ‘Smash’ Nelson will face Shane Moore in a 4 round bout. Nelson (2-1) is a multiple combat sport athlete, holding a 7-5 record in the MMA world. In January, Nelson defeated Brandon Buchanon to win the RMB Colorado’s Championship. In Moore, who is ranked #2 by RMB, Nelson will possibly be fighting Colorado’s most underrated and unknown, fighter.
At 7-1, Moore is surprisingly an unknown commodity in the Denver boxing community. However, he holds one of the biggest upsets in recent years. In 2015, he defeated USA Mid American champion, George Carter Jr. Carter was 12-0-1 at the time.
The style match up should produce a good, quality fight as Nelson is a high volume fighter and Moore has fight ending power in both hands.
Nelson’s title will not be on the line as this is only a four rounder.
In an interesting match up, Ryan Silva (1-1) will return to Colorado, the scene of his first professional defeat. In June of 2016, Silva engaged in one of Colorado’s best fights of 2016. He was stopped by heavy handed Manuel Medrano in a back and forth slugfest. He’ll welcome Seville Hasan to the paid ranks.
Seville is a skillful boxer that posses both speed and power. Seville looked sharp in his last amateur bout against William Thalley. Although an underrated fight on paper, look for this fight to possibly steal the show.
Antonio Flores (1-0), ranked #13 at lightweight, will face Martin Quezada (5-9), #15 at lightweight, in the opening fight of the night. Flores got a soft touch in his debut, but will be tested by Quezada. Quezada has quietly won 3 out of his last 4 fights including an upset of Isaac Johnson.
True prospect Marquise Moore, (4-0), will face Florida’s Benjamin Jordan, (2-3), in a special attraction bout. Jordan is coming in on the heels of knockout win. Moore, ranked #5 in the RMB Region, who comes from the World Class Athlete Program in Colorado Springs, had a great amateur career and has done well so far as a pro.
Rocky Mountain Boxing Colorado’s Champion Daniel Calzada was unable to find a dance partner, but, he will get officially ‘belted’ in a ceremony by RMB.
Special thanks to Jim ‘Smitty’ Smith and Poorboys Pro Boxing for putting on the title fights!