Card Takes Shape as Fight Night Approaches

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Hall of Fame Fight Night takes place this Saturday evening at Whataburger Field, complete with eight bouts and the second induction ceremony for Corpus Christi's Boxing Hall of Fame.

Headlining Saturday's card is super featherweight Brandon Rios of Oxnard, California. Rios, ranked 10th in the world in his division with 21 wins, 1 draw and 14 knockouts, is set to battle Denver's Manuel Perez (14-4-1) in a 10-round bout.

The feature fights leading up to the Rios-Perez matchup include two boxers with local ties - Jerry Belmontes and Alfonso Lopez. Belmontes, also known as "The Corpus Christi Kid," has won all nine of his pro bouts, three by knockout. He's fighting in his hometown for the first time since July 11, 2008, when he defeated Martin Armenta in a unanimous decision. Belmontes tangles with Aduato Gonzalez (11-7) of Mexico in a featherweight tilt slated for six rounds.

Lopez, a former football and baseball player at Moody High School, puts his 16-0 record on the line against James Johnson (23-35-3) of Shreveport in a scheduled 6-round light heavyweight bout. Lopez, aka "El Tigre," has registered 13 knockouts and is coming off a fourth-round technical knockout of Aaron Norwood last month at the Civic Center in Humble.

Fights on the undercard include San Antonio's Raul Martinez (24-1, 14 KOs) against Jhonathan Perez (15-6, 12 KOs) of Colombia in a 10-round super flyweight matchup; Mario Santiago (20-1-1, 14 KOs) of Puerto Rico and Morris Chule (7-6-1, 7 KOs) of Kenya in a super featherweight scrap set for eight rounds; Roberto Marroquin (9-0, 7 KOs) of Dallas taking on Jose Garcia Bernal (26-17-1, 17 KOs) of Miami in a super bantamweight bout scheduled for six rounds; and unbeaten Omar Henry (5-0, 5 KOs) of Houston pitted against another Miami product, Carlos Aballe (5-9, 3 KOs), in a 4-round super welterweight tussle.

Shortly before 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Corpus Christi's Boxing Hall of Fame will induct three new members. Former world title contender Harold Ray Warren joins trainer Bobby Garza and trainer and coach Emilio Sanchez in the 2009 class of inductees.

Warren won five titles and 43 matches during his 16-year career in pro boxing that ended in 2000. Warren, whose brother Frankie Warren is one of five charter members of the Hall, registered 21 knockouts and reached the pinnacle of his career in 1993 when he fought Genaro Hernandez for the WBA World Super Featherweight Title. Hernandez defeated Warren in a 12-round decision that was showcased at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.

General admission to Saturday's event is FREE with a promotional ticket from the Hooks, which may be printed by clicking here. Promotional tickets are also available at Stripes convenience stores throughout the Coastal Bend.

Fans with these promotional tickets may upgrade to Reserved Seats for just $5 or $10 or Field VIP seats for $25. Upgraded purchases can be made at cchooks.com, on the phone at 361-561-HOOK or in person at the Whataburger Field Box Office. Fans can also upgrade either at the box office or inside the ballpark on Saturday night.

Whataburger Field gates open at 6:00 p.m. for Hall of Fame Fight Night. The first fight is tentatively scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.