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08/27/2008 Archived Entry: "Julio Zarate in IBF Title Eliminator This Friday"
Julio Zarate in IBF Title Eliminator This Friday
Faces Jeffrey Mathebula in South Africa
Press Release
LOS ANGELES, August 27, 2008 -- Julio “LA SOMBRA” Zarate is in South Africa this week to face Jeffrey “THE MONGOOSE” Mathebula in an IBF Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator bout this Friday night, August 29th. The Zarate/Mathebula twelve round bout headlines the Branco Sports Productions card at the Carousel Casino just outside of Pretoria in Hammanskraal.
Zarate brings a record of 26-4-1 (16KO’s) into battle, while Mathebula sports a record of 21-1-2 (12KO’s). Zarate is ranked #3 by the IBF and #6 by the WBA, while Mathebula is ranked # 9 by the IBF. Mathebula is also world ranked #9 at featherweight by the WBC and WBA.
Said manager Frank Espinoza, President of the Espinoza Boxing Club, “It’s a great opportunity for Julio. We’ve talked about it and it’s really a “do or die” situation as he’s not getting any younger. But he’s trained hard in Mexico, he’s in terrific shape and very confident of victory.”
Riding a five bout winning streak, the 33 year old Zarate is keenly aware of the importance of this fight. “I’m grateful for the opportunity. It was a long flight over here from Mexico but I feel terrific. We had a great camp in Mexico, training and sparring with Juan Carlos Salgado,” said Zarate.
A win over Mathebula on Friday night will ensure a title shot at Canada ’s Steve Molitor, the IBF Super Bantamweight Champion who is defending his world title against Ceferino Dario Labarda on the same day in Ontario, Canada.
Continued Zarate, “It’s convenient that he’s fighting on the same day, hopefully we’ll both win and square off in the near future for the title. No problem for me to fight in Canada, just like coming here to South Africa —the ring is the same size and the task is still the same.”
About Mathebula, Zarate said, “He’s a tough fighter who has not lost in about five years, but he’s fought all of his fights here in South Africa . I’m sure he’ll have a lot of fans on his side, but it’s just me and him in the ring when the bell sounds.”
Mathebula will be coming down in weight having fought his last five fights at the featherweight limit while Zarate is staying at super bantamweight, the highest division he has fought at in his eleven year career.
Zarate has won his last five bouts, the last three by knockout, most recently stopping Vernie Torres in the fourth round at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California on November 2, 2007.
In his last bout Mathebula stopped Yoshinori Miyata in the eighth round on February 22nd for the WBC International Featherweight Title at the Carousel Casino.
The ESPINOZA BOXING CLUB was started in 1991 by Los Angeles area businessman Frank Espinoza. Espinoza has earned numerous accolades for his management skills from many boxing newspaper and internet writers. In the September 2008 issue of Ring Magazine, Espinoza is praised for his outstanding handling of the career of junior featherweight world champion and “Pound for Pound” superstar Israel “EL MAGNIFICO” Vazquez.
Espinoza also has managed retired former world champion Martin “EL GALLITO” Castillo and currently manages former world champion Julio “LA SOMBRA” Zarate along with world ranked Alex Valdez and Miguel “EL ANESTESISTA” Huerta in addition to undefeated prospects Manuel “SUAVECITO” Roman, Jesus “POLLO” Hernandez, Luis Ramos, Carlos Molina and Abraham Lopez.
For more information on The Espinoza Boxing Club, please visit their newly remodeled website at www.espinozaboxingclub.com
