Esquivias-Hirales NABF Title Bout Set for 8/19 in Corona

By Ryan Maquiñana

Efrain Esquivias Jr. will meet Raul Hirales for the NABF super bantamweight title Aug. 19 at the Omega Products International Building in Corona, Calif., according to Esquivias’s manager, Eddie Gonzales.

“We’re very excited,” Gonzales said.  “Efrain’s had a great camp where he’s been sparring Abner Mares, and it’s a really good test to see where he is at the moment.”

Esquivias (13-0, 9 KOs), from Carson, Calif., is coming off a March third-round stoppage of veteran John Alberto Molina that netted him the WBA Fedelatin 122-pound crown.

“The fans can expect a great fight,” Esquivias said.  “I’ll be dictating the pace and using my speed and power.  In my last fight I fought in an eight-rounder, but this one is a 10-round fight and there’s more on the line.  I’m even more excited this time because it can earn me a world ranking and get me closer to a title shot.”

“We would like to win the belt, defend it two or three times, then go after Rico Ramos,” Gonzales added, referring to the newly minted WBA super bantamweight champion from the South L.A. neighborhood of Watts.

Hirales (14-0-1, 8 KOs) scored a technical knockout last night over Luis Zambrano in Chiapas, Mex.  The dangerous prospect from La Paz, Baja California, Mex., notched a split decision win over Charles Huerta in January.

“Originally, Francisco Camacho was the opponent,” Gonzales said, “but [Thompson Boxing matchmaker] Alex Camponovo informed me that he went down with a fever, so Raul Hirales would be replacing him.”

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, contact him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rmaq28 or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.