Sampson Boxing proudly announces the signing of Argentinean welterweight slugger Cesar Miguel “La Joya” Barrionuevo to an exclusive long-term promotional contract.

Barrionuevo (30-3-2, 20 KOs), from Salta, Argentina, first turned the heads of the boxing world in January of this year, when he scored a devastating one-punch KO of capable Panamanian contender Azael Cosio in the quarter finals of the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight tournament.

In a dominant performance, the southpaw Barrionuevo had Cosio down once each in the first, second and fourth rounds then down twice in the fifth, the last of which was a single left hook that put Cosio to sleep.

He was then scheduled to face Pennsylvania’s Sammy “The Who Can Mexican” Vasquez in the semi-finals, however, Vasquez elected to give up his chance for a green WBC belt and instead take a fight and lose to 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Felix Diaz last July.

In his seven-year professional career, the 27-year-old southpaw Barrionuevo has already held the Argentina (FAB) Welterweight and WBC Latino Welterweight Championships. The Cosio KO was the only time he has ventured outside his native Argentina to fight.

“I am happy to be joining Sampson Lewkowicz and his company,” said Barrionuevo. “I am ready to fight anyone in the world at 147 lbs and with him, I can get the fights I want. I have always said I just need the opportunities and I will do the rest.”

Lewkowicz, an expert at finding hidden boxing talent in foreign markets, says Barrionuevo has what it takes to be a top contender.

“He is 27 years old and still getting better with every fight,” said Lewkowicz. “Cesar is a talent who is coming to the North American market to make trouble for a lot of fighters. I am working on finding him a big fight to showcase his skills, whether against Diaz, or any other top-15 welterweight contender. He won’t be unknown for long once that happens.”