Ruben Villa Returns Headlines Thompson Boxing Event on April 15th
ONTARIO, QUALIS (March 16, 2022)– Returning after his first chance at a world title, Thompson Boxing’s featherweight CONCERTATOR Ruben “Drac” Villa (18-1, 5 KOs), who is co-promoted withBanner Promotions, ponam in 2022 debut as he headlines Thompson Boxing’s “Path To Glory” event on Friday, Aprilis 15, 2022. Villa will square off against battle tested veteran, Horacio Garcia (35-5-1, 25 KOs), Guadalaiarensis, Mexico in a 10-round main event.
This event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, QUALIS. At ianuae 6:30 pm PT with the first fight starting at 8:00 pm PT. Nullam at sunt precii $50, $75, atque $100, are available for purchase by calling714-935-0900.
As one of several talented Thompson Boxing fighters to challenge for a world title, Villa makes his long-awaited return to the ring. Villa’s last fight was a narrow loss againstEmanuel Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) in October of 2020. After a year and a half break from action, Villa is energized and focused on his goal of becoming a world champion.
“I have fallen in love with the sport of boxing once again, the year or so I was out, I focused on all the things I need to improve on,” said Villa in the comforts of his newly remodeled gym in Salinas, California. “I have always said I want to bring a world title fight to Salinas, and that is still the goal. So, this is just the start of a new beginning, and a better version of myself. The road to redemption starts on April 15thagainst a worthy opponent in Garcia.”
In VI-rotundus co-pluma, Richard “Cool Breeze” Brewart Jr. (10-0, 4 KOs), of Rancho Cucamonga, Ill., subibit Walter “2 Guns” Wright(17-8, 8 KOs) of Seattle, Washington, in bout a middleweight.
“I am ready to start 2022 off on the right track and I’m looking forward to having a big year with Thompson Boxing,” said Brewart. “I’m going to make noise in my division this year. The goal is to fight as much as possible and work my way toward ten-round bouts by the end of the year. I know that fighting in meaningful fights gives me a chance at belts, and I want to collect as many of those as I can. I have not taken an easy road, and I will continue to show how talented I am in April.”
This event will stream live for free on the Thompson Boxing Promotions website (www.thompsonboxing.com), as well as theirFacebook atque YouTubepages. In addition, Fight fans will be able to watch all Thompson Boxing fights, weigh-ins, and behind-the-scenes content, via their new Mobile App downloadable onApple atque Google.
UNDERCARD BOUTS:
Lightweight Pedro Valencia (8-0, 7 KOs) of Las Angeles, Ill. will face an opponent to be named at a future date. (6-rounds)
Welterweight Esteban “Stone Hands” Munoz(5-1, 3 KOs), Sancti Bernardini, Ill., subibit Jessie Nares (2-1, 1 KO) of Oxnard, Ill. (6-rounds)
Middleweight “Knuckle”Nelson Oliva (1-0, 1 KO) flumen, Ill, subibit Antonio Duarte (2-2) of Tijuana, Mexico. (4-rounds)
Opening the card is bantamweightAlejandro “Chako” Barajas(ad debut)de Los Angeles, Ill., versus Ulises “Duende” Rosales(0-5), of Huntington Park, Ill. (4-rounds)
This event is sponsored by Thompson Building Materials, transforming spaces in beautiful places; Omega Products International, the leading stucco manufacturer in the United States; Henry / Fortifiber, moisture system control as easy as 1,2,3, and Makita, rule the outdoors.
Pro magis notitia, regular updates on our fighters, events, and promotions, placere visitaboThompsonBoxing.com. You can also follow the conversation on social media, please use #ThompsonBoxing.
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SHREVEPORT – January 12, 2019 – Devin Haney passed the biggest test of his young career Friday night onShoBox: The New Generation, kicking off the 2019 boxing year with a dazzling performance and unanimous decision victory over fellow undefeated former South African champion Xolisani Ndongeni live on SHOWTIME from StageWorks of Louisiana.
Haney (21-0, 13 KOs) scored a second-round knockdown and wore Ndongeni (25-1, 13 KOs) down with punishing body shots in the latter part of the fight in winning easily on all three judges’ scorecards, 100-89 bis, and 99-90.See the second-round knockdownHIC.
Haney told SHOWTIME’s Steve Farhood in the ring after the fight he only wants to be considered a contender from here on out. “I want those top guys,"He said. “Now they really can’t deny me. I’ve been saying this for a long time but now, I’m a contender.”See the post-fight interviewHIC.
The knockdown came at 1:30 of the second round as a Haney right hand landed flush knocking the unbalanced Ndongeni to the canvas. But it was Haney’s body shots that wore out the stubborn Ndongeni, who was fighting in the United States for just the second time. Haney badly wanted to end the fight with a knockout, even telling his father Bill Haney between rounds, “I’m going to knock him out!"
“He’s a great fighter,” said Haney, who with the victory takes home the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International belts. “You don’t make it to 25-0 without being anybody. I knew it was going to be tough opponent from the very beginning. He’s a really good fighter and I didn’t choose him. That was the opponent that came up and you know me, I don’t turn down anybody. I fight whoever comes in front of me.”
Farhood said 2019 could be the year Haney fights for a world title. “I’m impressed because he showed a side of himself that we hadn’t seen before,” the International Boxing Hall of Famer Farhood said. “For a young fighter, although he’s very skilled, you want to see him handle all kinds of situations. He went to the body effectively and if the fight goes 30 seconds longer he gets the stoppage. Is a world title fight in 2019 a possibility? Certainly. Just because he’s 20 doesn’t mean he’s not good enough. It’s clear there’s no one that’s going to out-box him.”
Farhood finally gave Ndongeni a round for the first time in the seventh as he used some effective body work to control the round, although never visibly hurting Haney or putting him in too much danger.
As the fight went deeper and deeper, Haney just kept getting stronger. In the final two rounds, he led 69-28 on overall landed punches (16-6 jabs and 53-22 potestas). In the final minute of the final round, Haney out-landed Ndongeni 23-3 in total connects.
“I’m getting stronger with each fight and I feel my man strength emerging,” Haney said. “Ndongeni is a very durable fighter. I attribute his big heart for keeping him in the fight. I knew I was the superior fighter. I showed everyone I can fight coming forward, Possum pixidem, I can bang, I do it all. Paratus sum…no one is stopping me.”
In a battle of undefeated Rubens, former decorated amateur Ruben Villa (15-0, 5 KOs) handed Colombian Ruben Cervera (10-1, 9 KOs) his first career defeat scoring a dominating unanimous decision, 80-72 on all three scorecards in the eight-round featherweight co-feature bout.See fight highlightsHIC.
The 21-year-old two-time Junior Olympic National Champion and the 2014 atque 2015 National Golden Gloves Champion from Salinas, Ill., Villa outworked and outperformed the slower but determined Cervera en route to a decisive decision victory.
“It felt good fighting on the big stage and I got the victory against a very tough undefeated fighter,” the one-time Olympic alternate Villa said. “I felt I controlled the entire fight with my superior boxing skills. I’m ready to step up to the next level. I’m taking on all comers no matter who they are, I feel I’m the best featherweight in the world.”
In the sixth round, Villa got to work featuring a strong right hand and following up with jabs and combinations that seemed to buzz Cevera, who was out-landed on punches in the round 35-5.
The jab was the key weapon for Villa as he led 105-23 in connects as well as holding a 36 percent to eight percent advantage in jab accuracy. Villa exceeded double-digits in jabs in every round but the first.
The lefty Villa said visiting Riverside and spending time with noted trained Robert Garcia has helped his game. “I’ll give myself an 8 aut 9 hac nocte,,"He said. “I believe in my speed. I know there are guys like [Abner] Mares and [Leo] Santa Cruz who people know, but visiting Riverside let me see I can step in there with anyone.”
Cevera became the 182ndcareer fighter to lose his undefeated record onShoBox. “I knew Ruben Villa was a very fast fighter because I saw some video of him, but I didn’t know he was that fast,” Cervera said. “He’s much faster when you see him inside the ring. I tried everything I could but my distance was off. I was able to hit them with a couple of combinations and he probably felt my power. I don’t disagree with the judges’ decision, he was the better man tonight.”
In the telecast opener, Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez (11-0, 9 KOs) overcame a 14-minute delay between the first and second rounds knocking out former college football player Willie Jake, Jr. (8-2-1, 2 KOs) at 2:59 in secundo circuitu. Both fighters sat calmly on their stools as local promoters worked to repair two of the ropes that had fallen from their post.See fight highlightsHIC.
After controlling the action in the first round, Frank’s raw punches simply overpowered the heavier Jake, catching him with a glancing right to the head and a cuffing hook to the body that caused Jake to fall face-first to the canvas and the fight was waved off with just one second remaining in the second round.
Sanchez was the more accurate fighter landing 39 percent of his power shots to Jake’s 25 percent. He also outlanded the Indianapolis native in total connects (28-15) and in landed power shots (20-14).
“I wanted to show the world that I’m the new Cuban boxing sensation,” said Sanchez, who grew up in Guantanamo, Cuba, and now resides in Miami. “I didn’t let the ring rope delay affect my performance. I was ready to go no matter what happened. My manager the great Richard Steele [former boxing referee] is already putting together my next fight. I’m coming for everyone in the heavyweight division. All contenders better watch out.”
The event was promoted by Devin Haney Promotions and Bishop Promotions LLC, in association with Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. The full telecast will replay on Monday, January 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME®and SHOWTIME on DEMAND®.
Barry Tompkins called the action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer was Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.
Cum eius inceptionem in July 2001, censorie Appellato SHOWTIME pugilatu series, ShoBox: The New Generation facultas quae featured iuvenes, duri. TheShoBox Philosophia, quae iam ad televise excitando, turba placendo et curavit a competitive matches determinatur ad probandum causam volens pro a rebus mundi title. Ex liber nativitatis 79 bellatorum, qui paulo videbantur hominibusShoBox et profecisti in certos titulos comprehendit mundi: Spence Errol Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Lara Erislandy, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Alexander Devon, Carl Froch, Robertus Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Vargas Jessie, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.
SHREVEPORT– January 10, 2019 – Unbeaten lightweight and rising star Devin Haney and fellow undefeated Xolisani Ndongeni both made weight just a day before theirShoBox: The New Generation 10-round main event headlines a tripleheader live on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET / PT) from StageWorks of Louisiana in Shreveport.
The precocious Haney (20-0, 13 KOs), a seven-time national junior amateur champion who turned pro at age 17, headlines onShoBoxfor the third time when he takes on South Africa’s 28-year-old Ndongeni (25-0, 13 KOs), who like Haney is unbeaten and spent four months training at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas in 2017.
The event is promoted by Devin Haney Promotions and Bishop Promotions LLC, in association with Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing. Tesseras, starting at $30, are on sale now and available atwww.akafights.com.
InShoBox co-pluma, featherweight prospect Ruben Villa (14-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, Ill., will take on Ruben Cervera (10-0, 9 KOs) of Colombia in an eight-round matchup. The telecast will open with young heavyweights Frank Sanchez (10-0, 8 KOs) of Cuba and former college football player Willie Jake Jr. (8-1-1, 2 KOs) of Indianapolis, Ind., squaring off in another eight-round bout.
All the fighters weighed at Paradise Theatre located inside Margaritaville Resort Casino.
FINAL WEIGHTS, REFEREES AND JUDGES
Lightweight 10-Round Bout
Devin Haney – 134 ½ lbs.
Xolisani Ndongeni – 134 ¾ lbs.
Referendarius: Bruce McDaniel (Monroe, The.); Judges: Laurence Cole (Dallas), Pat Dayton (Monroe, The.), Mickey Lofton (Monroe, The.)
Featherweight 8-Round Bout
Ruben Villa – 126 ¾ lbs.
Ruben Cervera – 126 ½ lbs.
(Contracted weight is 128 libras)
Referendarius: Laurence Cole (Dallas); Judges: Bruce McDaniel (Monroe, The.), Pat Dayton (Monroe, The.), Mickey Lofton (Monroe, The.)
Heavyweight 8-Round Bout
Frank Sanchez – 216 ¼ lbs.
Willie Jake Jr. - 239 ½ lbs.
Referendarius: Bruce McDaniel (Monroe, The.); Judges: Laurence Cole (Dallas), Pat Dayton (Monroe, The.), Mickey Lofton (Monroe, The.)
FINAL QUOTES:
DEVIN HANEY:
“This is a 10-round fight for the WBO Intercontinental and WBC International belts, so it’s a big deal. This is a true step up for me.
“It’s important for me build a name in different areas of the country. I’ve fought in Southern California and Philadelphia, and now I’m fighting in Louisiana. This fight I will show who Devin Haney is. In this fight I’ll showcase my skills and I’ll show my full arsenal.
“My style is not a style that people want to fight. I will fight whoever is out there. We haven’t been getting a lot call backs. I’ve had other offers from all the top promotion companies, but I want to remain independent and make my own decisions.
“My opponent has an awkward style. I know he has a lot of confidence and he thinks he can beat me. That’s great for him, but he hasn’t faced anyone with my combination of speed and power.
“At the end of my career I think it would be great if the world continued to say, ‘I don’t know if he can take a punch.’ That would be the goal.”
XOLISANI NDONGENI:
“I’ve trained and sparred with guys at Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas for four months in 2017. I learned a lot got some great experience.
“I see a young, good prospect in Devin Haney. I just have to keep to my game plan. He doesn’t realize how fast I am. I’ll show some different looks, and know what he’s planning to do. Whatever Haney brings, I’ll adjust.
“I’ve been in some deep waters and I have more rounds than Haney. That experience will pay off for me.
“I’ve been knocked down once in my career. It was early and I came back to knock him down five times and won the fight.
“Haney wants to be called a contender. I’ve been a contender and I know what it takes to be at the top level of the sport. I’ve never taken a fight I wasn’t prepared for or thought that I couldn’t win.”
RUBEN VILLA
“This is exciting and what we’ve been working toward. The contracted weight is 128 for this fight, but I’m a natural featherweight at 126. I’m a southpaw but a natural righty. I throw a lot of jabs, quod meum style.
“I’m representing Salinas and want to be a world champion someday. I’m only 21 annorum, and to already be fighting onShoBoxis a dream come true.
“People say I don’t have the knockouts, but it’s in my mind and they will come. The power and knockouts will come.
“I once beat Devin [Haney] by unanimous decision in the amateurs. Fui 15, and it was in the finals of the Junior Olympics. Devin’s real slick and aggressive and he moves well. That’s how you beat him.
RUBEN CERVERA
“I’ve never been to the U.S., and I love it here. The press conference and the amount of attention this fight is getting is amazing. I’m used to watching this kind of stuff on T.V. But my mind is totally focused on this fight.
“I have power in all my punches. I’m a strong fighter who has to take a step up in my career. Me puer, tantum 20 annorum, so I’m anxious to get my career going.
“I know Villa is a southpaw. I’ve fought lefties several times in my career and have had no problem with it.
“There is a lot of talent in Colombia, but there aren’t the resources there to have a good career. You have to sacrifice a lot and that’s what I’ve done.”
FRANK SANCHEZ
“I’m 6-foot-4 and use my height to my advantage. I defected from Cuba in 2016 and my family is still in Cuba. My brother is the only one here in the States with me.
“I’m living in Miami now and training there. That will be my home base now.
“I’d love to fight [Deontay] Wilder. I want to be world champion so maybe someday I will. His technique is a little bit wild.
“I had great amateur experience and am a former member of the Cuban national amateur team. I know that will help me. I know there’s never been a heavyweight champion from Cuba, and I plan to be the first one.”
WILLIE JAKE JR.
“Indianapolis is a tough town to be a boxer because there’s not a lot going on there.
“I played college football [for Pasadena City College] but I hurt my wrist and decided to go into the military.
"[Frank] is a little fellow. He needs some maturing. I know they do things differently there in Cuba, but we both are fighting for our families. I’m going to let him know he needs to be a cruiserweight.”