Normally fireworks are synonymous with the Fourth of July. But, on Friday night, Feb. 11, 2011, Goossen Tutor Promotions will present a night of fistic fireworks at Bally’s Atlantic City that just might rival any summer evening of pyrotechnical entertainment.
In the SHOWTIME® main event of the evening on SHOBOX: The New Generation the undefeated WBA #1 Jr. Featherweight World contender, Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (18-0, 10 KOs), of Los Angeles, will look to take his next step toward a World Championship challenge in a scheduled 10-round contest against tough IBF #15 ranked, former world title challenger Alejandro Valdez (23-4-3, 17 KOs), of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The telecast will air live at a special time of 11:30 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
“Come Feb. 11, y’all will see an even better Rico “Suavecito” Ramos,” said the flashy Jr. Featherweight who is world rated across the board in all the organizations.
In Ramos’ last fight, he registered a “Knockout of the Year” candidate performance by his second-round one-punch obliteration of Heriberto Ruiz in an ESPN2 main event last month. “I’m not looking for a knockout. I just want to win every round and look good at the same time. I will box like I was taught to do and if the knockout comes I guess I make the fans a lot happier.
“I’m fighting Alejandro Valdez,” Ramos, age 23, continued. “I know he’s very tough and experienced, but I’m sure I will come out with a victory. I’m too hungry for this and I want to be the best at what I do, so training camp will be harder than it has ever been I’m sure. Just check me out Feb. 11 on SHOWTIME.”
The 27-year old Valdez, a hard-hitting world championship experienced southpaw lost a title fight to WBC Bantamweight Champion Hozumi Hasegawa in October 2008 and in September 2009 took on current WBO Bantamweight king Fernando Montiel in a non-title bout. The bout was originally declared a technical draw, then changed to a TKO victory for Valdez, and later changed back by the WBO to a technical draw. Though Montiel dropped Valdez in round one after suffering a cut over his left eye seemingly by a punch, Valdez came back furiously to floor Montiel in round two of this wild fight. The cut apparently later caused the bout to be stopped before the beginning of the fourth round.
In December of 2009, Valdez again showed his grit, going toe-to-toe with interim WBA Bantamweight Champion Nehomar Cermeno, eventually being stopped in the 11th round.
Valdez came back nicely and heavier in 2010 with a pair of stoppages in his first two fights as a Jr. Featherweight, setting the stage for his opportunity to challenge a young hot prospect like Ramos and putting himself back into a world title opportunity.
“I have seen Ramos fight a few times and he is very talented, but young,” Valdez observed. “I feel that my southpaw style and edge in experience against quality opponents will be more than he is ready to handle.”
The scheduled eight-round co-feature pits two of the biggest punching prospects in the deep super middleweight division boasting some of the highest percentages of knockouts among active boxers with at least 15 fights – Cornelius “Da Beast” White versus Don “Da Bomb” George.
The 29-year old White (16-0, 15 KOs) is a native of Houston, Texas and has knocked out 94 percent of his opponents to date. Recently signed to a promotional deal by Goossen Tutor and TNT Productions, “Da Beast” stopped Demetrius Davis in the first round in his most recent outing last month.
Chicago’s George (20-1-1, 17 KOs), on the other hand, has stopped 77 percent of his opposition, with knockouts accounting for 85 percent of his victories. In his last bout in July, George sustained an upset loss, his first, by technical decision to Francisco Sierra in a battle for the vacant WBO NABO Super Middleweight title. Prior to that, George won a barnburner over Osumanu Adama via 8-round unanimous decision on ShoBox.
“Besides having a world-class solid boxing event for the SHOWTIME viewers, it’s always exciting bringing events like this to the East Coast fans especially at Bally’s Atlantic City,” promoter Dan Goossen exclaimed. “Rico Ramos continues to take on all comers and Valdez is certainly another barometer to where Rico stands with the best in the division. His willingness to fight anyone combined with his lighting hand and foot speed will make Ramos a fan favorite if he keeps improving the way he has.”
“We’re equally enthused to see the power of Cornelius White against a man that certainly has the experience and exposure factor over him in George. I’m anxious to see the development of White and if he is someone that will make an impression on all those watching.”
Bally’s sports consultant and boxing expert, Ken Condon, added “this great boxing double header with national television exposure will reinforce Bally’s Atlantic City’s commitment to providing boxing fans the very best in Championship Boxing.”