[Previous entry: "Skeets Back with the Mike"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Estrada leads Team USA against France"]
10/23/2003 Archived Entry: "JOSE LUIS VALBUENA"
Golden Boy Promotions Signs Jose Luis Valbuena
LOS ANGELES, October 22 – Continuing on its quest to bring boxing’s best to the fans with each fight, Oscar De La Hoya is pleased to announce the signing of highly ranked super bantamweight contender Jose Luis Valbuena to a promotional contract.
“Jose Luis Valbuena is the type of fighter I love to sign for this company,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya. “He’s hungry, he’s skilled, and he has been overlooked by a lot of people in this business. We are going to change that impression by getting Jose big fights against the best fighters in the world so the fans can see what he can do.”
Valbuena, a native of Tumero, Venezuela, sports an impressive record of 23-2-1 with 13 knockouts. Ranked number three in the world by the IBF and number two by the WBO, Valbuena is the current IBF Latin American super bantamweight champion and a former 122-pound Venezuelan titlist.
For almost three years, Valbuena has been undefeated, with his last loss coming via decision to featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in September of 2000. In his last bout, on March 26, Valbuena defended his title with a 12 round decision win over former world title challenger Julio Gamboa.
On Thursday, Valbuena opens up the HBO Latino telecast of Oscar De La Hoya Presents Boxeo De Oro with a ten rounder against highly regarded David Donis.
As one of the sport’s most active promoters, Golden Boy Promotions has over 40 shows scheduled in 2003, with many to be televised on networks such as HBO Latino, Telefutura, and ESPN.
Valbuena joins featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios, former world champion and current junior welterweight contender Jesse James Leija, WBC #1 ranked lightweight Juan Lazcano, WBC and WBO #4 ranked super bantamweight Israel Vazquez, and WBO #2 ranked super lightweight sensation Kelson Pinto, as well as up and coming prospects such as WBC youth lightweight champ ‘Mighty’ Mike Anchondo (world ranked by the WBC, WBA, and WBO), NABO super flyweight champion Jose Navarro (ranked #5 by the WBO, #7 by the WBA, and #11 by the WBC), #15 WBC ranked junior welterweight Juan Valenzuela, WBO #10 ranked bantamweight Carlos Madrigal, WBC youth super middleweight champ Enrique Andrade (ranked #14 by the WBO), unbeaten Librado Andrade, and two-time Argentine Olympian Guillermo Saputo, on the Golden Boy Promotions’ team of fighters
