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Later tonight, the term "Mexican warrior" will be tested on the highest scale in the sport. Javier Mora (20-2-1, 18 KOs), known to fans in California as "The Monster," takes a serious step up in class when he clashes with two-time world title challenger, Fres "The Big O" Oquendo (25-3, 16 KOs). The bout will be broadcast live on the popular Fox Sports program the “Best Damn Sports Show Period," from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.
Mora, coming off the biggest win of his career, looks to once again prove the experts wrong by beating Oquendo.
When most fans think of Mexican fighters, they think of the lower weight classes. Fighters like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, the Marquez brothers, and many other well-known fighters from Mexico are based below the middleweight level.
"There are a lot of big Mexicans, they just don't know how to box," Mora said.
Growing up in a rough neighborhood within southern California, Mora was surrounded by violence, crime and friends who were gang members. In an effort to escape the streets, he took up boxing.
"Most of the people in my family were gang oriented. I was always fighting and things started to get hectic once I became 10, 11-years-old. One of my gang counselors turned me to the sport of boxing. A lot of us tried it out, but I was the only one who kept up with it. I fell in love with it."
After being hit with the boxing itch, Mora spent most of his time in the boxing gym, and stayed away from the gang life. He obtained his amateur license at 12-years-old. There problems with finding amateur opponents his own age, because even though he was only 12-years-old, Mora was physically much bigger than most kids in his age group. [details]
Mora, coming off the biggest win of his career, looks to once again prove the experts wrong by beating Oquendo.
When most fans think of Mexican fighters, they think of the lower weight classes. Fighters like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, the Marquez brothers, and many other well-known fighters from Mexico are based below the middleweight level.
"There are a lot of big Mexicans, they just don't know how to box," Mora said.
Growing up in a rough neighborhood within southern California, Mora was surrounded by violence, crime and friends who were gang members. In an effort to escape the streets, he took up boxing.
"Most of the people in my family were gang oriented. I was always fighting and things started to get hectic once I became 10, 11-years-old. One of my gang counselors turned me to the sport of boxing. A lot of us tried it out, but I was the only one who kept up with it. I fell in love with it."
After being hit with the boxing itch, Mora spent most of his time in the boxing gym, and stayed away from the gang life. He obtained his amateur license at 12-years-old. There problems with finding amateur opponents his own age, because even though he was only 12-years-old, Mora was physically much bigger than most kids in his age group. [details]