The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH Tureano Johnson on the slate this weekend, CEO and Chairman of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, heralds the undercard of the Francisco Vargas-Miguel Berchelt card.

Johnson will be featured in the top bout on the undercard when he squares off against 22-year-old Antonio Guitierrez of Mexico on Saturday (January 28) at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California and live streamed by Ring TV.

“This undercard has the makings of everything the SoCal boxing fans are looking for in an exciting fight from a world title on the line to some of the desert’s fan favourites,” De La Hoya said. “We also have some intense Mexico vs. California matchups, which I am confident will give the fans a night of knockouts.”

When he faces Gutierrez (21-2-1, 9KOs), it will be the first time the 31-year-old Johnson (19-1, 13 KOs) returns to the ring for the first time since his October 2015 win over Eamonn O’Kane which made him the mandatory number one contender for the International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) middleweight title.

“Gutierrez is a decorated fighter. He is from a very strong heritage of the Mexican background. Mexican fighters have a tendency to be very tough and very good. This fight is no pushover at all. He poses a great threat in the front of me but I’m sure I’m capable of overcoming this match.”

The remainder of the undercard promises a series of keenly contested bouts to supplement the main event.

Welterweight contender Sadam “World Kid” Ali (23-1, 13 KOs) of the United States will face Jorge “Pantera” Silva (21-12-2, 17 KOs) of Mexico in a 10 round bout.

Local Indio, California product Luis Coria (2-0, 2 KOs) will fight under the Golden Boy banner for the third time in a four round featherweight bout against Chihuahua, Mexican fighter Gerardo Molina (1-3, 1 KO).

Out of Washington, D.C,Lamont Roach, Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) will fight a scheduled eight round bout for the vacant WBC Youth Super Featherweight title against seasoned fighter Alex Valdez (26-8-2, 20 KOs) of Obregon, Mexico.

From Dalls, Texas, rising prospect and highly decorated amateur all-star Vergil Ortiz, Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) will face Israel Villela (5-3, 2 KOs) of Mexico City in a four round super lightweight fight.

Vicente “Suavecito” Portillo (5-0, 3 KOs) of Tiajuana, Mexico will make his U.S. debut when he takes on Los Angeles local Mike Melikyan (1-1) for a four round lightweight fight.

Opening up the night and live stream, Palmdale, CA’s Cesar Diaz (3-0, 3 KOs) will take on Joel Cano (1-4) of Sonora, Mexico in a super bantamweight bout scheduled for four rounds.

Vargas vs. Berchelt, a 12-round fight for the WBC Super Featherweight World Championship, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions.

The RingTV live stream begins at 6pm local time and the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 10pm.

Johnson joined the Golden Boy Promotions stable in September 2015 and at the time, said the move was necessary if he wished his career to progress at the pace he desired.

“At this point in my career, it is important for me to stay focused on my goals which are to fight, to provide for my family, to make my country proud, but ultimately to do what I was born to do – to become a world champion,” he said, “With a new team, manager and promoter in Golden Boy, I would say I have made a golden decision. The legacy lives on.”