Tag Archives: Juan Jose Velasco
Silva confident ahead of Saturday bout with Lopez
New Orleans, LA (July 12, 2018) – When lightweight William “Baby Face” Silva arrived in New Orleans yesterday afternoon, he stepped off the plane and raised both hands in the air.
Every time a plane lands in New Orleans, happy travelers throw their hands up in a pre-celebratory fashion of what’s to come during their time in the Big Easy. Silva’s pose however is one he expects to replicate Saturday evening after he defeats hot prospect Teofimo Lopez when the two face off at New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena.
Silva, 25-1 (14 KO’s), completed an intense training camp under head trainer Jose Rodriguez in Plant City, FL. Originally from Brazil and now fighting out of Florida, Silva is cool, calm and confident heading into his bout with the highly touted 9-0 Lopez, who many consider one of boxing’s future stars.
“Everything was perfect in camp and this is the kind of opportunity I need to show everybody the fighter I truly am. Lopez is a talented boxer but I’ve got a big edge in experience and know what it’s like to be in a big fight. I’m ready or Saturday night and will do whatever is necessary to have my hand raised at the end of the fight.”
Silva’s promoter, Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions, immediately jumped at the opportunity for his fighter to challenge Lopez and anxiously awaits Saturday night.
“William needed a fight like this to get him to the level we know he’s capable of. Team Silva has respect for Teofimo Lopez and know he’s rated as one of the top young boxers but William is going to show the world that he’s among the best 135 pound fighters Saturday night.”
Promoted by Top Rank Inc. in association with DiBella Entertainment, Silva-Lopez fight is scheduled for 10 rounds and is for the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight title. It airs live ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 pm E.T. It precedes the WBC interim 140 pound championship matchup between champion Regis Prograis and Juan Jose Velasco.
Fans can follow Silva on Instagram @Willian_Baby_Face and for more information on Fire Fist Boxing Promotions, visit www.firefistboxing.net.
Silva ready to shine against Lopez
Plant City, FL (June 26, 2018) – Lightweight William “Baby Face” Silva has an outstanding professional record of 25-1 with 14 wins by knockout. The Plant City, FL based Brazilian won most of his bouts comfortably and has been top 15 rated.
Teofimo Lopez is considered a blue chip prospect though he’s yet to face a stiff challenge as a professional.
The talented 20-year-old represented Honduras at the 2016 Olympics and is 9-0 with 7 wins by knockout. Following a recent ESPN televised first round KO, Lopez received much attention for a victory dance he did honoring the popular game Fortnite.
On July 14, Silva and Lopez square off over ten rounds for the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title. The bout will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA. A large crowd is expected.
With just over two weeks until the opening bell sounds, Silva’s sharpening his tools in an intense camp with head trainer Jose Rodriguez at Plant City Boxing Gym. Between extra time in the gym, world class sparring and an added motivation from the public viewing him as an underdog, Silva is confident July 14 will elevate his career, not Lopez’.
“I feel great and our preparations have gone exactly as planned so far,” Silva said following a training session at Plant City Boxing Gym. “Lopez is a good fighter but this is a great opportunity to show that I’m also a top talent. My team and I will be prepared for victory July 14.”
Silva’s promoter, Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing, has seen a significant improvement in his fighter in the last six months and believes that Lopez is in for a surprise.
“I believe some people are probably expecting to see the William Silva they did against Felix Verdejo but they’re in for a major surprise. He’s a totally different fighter now and improvements have been made across the board that I’ve seen firsthand in the gym. If Lopez and his supporters are viewing Silva as a stepping stone with a good record it’s not only motivation for our side but a major mistake on theirs.”
The card is headlined by a battle of unbeatens between New Orleans’ very own Regis Prograis and Argentina’s Juan Jose Velasco for the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim super lightweight title.
Promoted by Top Rank in Association with DiBella Entertainment, tickets from $40 are on sale now at the Lakefront Arena box office, Ticketmaster.com and by calling 1-800-745-8000. Military, student and New Orleans Police Department members can receive discounted seats with a valid ID at the box office.
Velasco Looking Forward to War with Prograis
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Upcoming world super-lightweight challenger Juan Jose “El Pitbull” Velasco says he’s happy to be facing a fighter being labeled a potential new star in boxing on Saturday, July 14.
Velasco (20-0, 12 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, will challenge interim WBC World Super Lightweight Champion Regis Prograis at the Lakefront Arena in Prograis’ birthplace of New Orleans, Louisiana.
The southpaw Prograis became champion last March with a head-turning TKO 2 over capable former champion Julius Indongo.
“I am glad he is being called a new star,” said Velasco. “I only want to fight the best, so I can become the best myself. He’s a very good fighter and I know it will be a true war.”
31-year-old Velasco says he’s in great shape, training in Miami, and looks forward to making his dream of a world title come true.
How is training going?
Training is going fantastic! I am in Miami at Caicedo Sports Training Camp, working with Herman Caicedo. Herman is relentless. As soon as he picked me up, traveling from Argentina to Miami. He took me straight to the track and ran drills for an hour.
Talk to me about the opportunity to fight for world championship?
It’s a dream come true. My whole pro career it has been my dream. I found out I was fighting for the championship immediately after my last fight. My promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, informed me of the opportunity and told me I would be training in Miami with Herman.
You haven’t left your home country to fight much, are you going to be your usual self fighting basically in his hometown in the US?
No, I haven’t been out much and it’s an honor to be fighting in the USA. I don’t know any other way than to be myself in a fight. Herman is improving on my skills and adding some details to it. Herman and I have gelled immediately. I am sure, due to his experience with champions, that he knows how to adapt to individuals. Fighting in his hometown is on him. I have zero pressure and can only gain fans fighting there.
Why will you win this fight?
I will win this fight because I am hungry to be a champion. I’m hungry to be where he is at and hungry to better my family.
Describe yourself as a fighter for American fans who haven’t seen you yet.
I am a boxer puncher who can adapt to what is in front of me. Are you doing anything different in training for this fight? Answer: yes, the major difference is training with Herman Caicedo in Miami. He has had great success with lots of fighters and one of the few coaches to develop a fighter into a champion from pro debuts. He is a teacher. I look forward to much success with him.
Silva to face Lopez July 14 on ESPN
Plant City, FL (May 16, 2018) – Fire Fist Boxing Promotions’ William “Baby Face” Silva will challenge undefeated Olympian Teofimo Lopez in a ten round lightweight contest Saturday, July 14 at the Lakefront Arena at the University of New Orleans.
Silva-Lopez opens a Top Rank promoted ESPN telecast headlined by New Orleans’ own Regis Prograis, 21-0 (18 KO’s), against Argentina’s Juan Jose Velasco, 20-0 (12 KO’s), for the WBC interim junior welterweight championship.
Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil and fighting out of Plant City, FL, Silva has an outstanding professional ledger of 25-1 with 14 knockouts. In his most recent bout, Silva shutout Rogelio Casarez to capture the IBO Continental and NBA World lightweight championships. The 31-year-old Silva trains under Jose Rodriguez at the Plant City Boxing Gym and made significant strides since his lone setback against Felix Verdejo in 2016.
Widely regarded among America’s best young fighters, Lopez is a perfect 9-0 with 7 wins by knockout. On May 12, Lopez demolished once-beaten Vitor Jones Freitas in 64 seconds. Born in Brooklyn, NY and based in Davie, FL, the highly-touted Lopez represented his parents’ home country of Honduras in the 2016 Olympics but lost in the opening round eventual silver medalist Sofiane Oumiha of France.
The Silva-Lopez bout is for the NBA World and IBO Continental lightweight titles.
“We’re extremely excited for the opportunity to get William back on a major platform,” said Jody Caliguire of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions. “Lopez is a very talented fighter and we respect his ability but William has a major edge in experience. He’s improved tremendously since his last big fight against Verdejo and I think the boxing world is in for a surprise July 14.”
More information on the card will be available shortly.