Fight Night coming to Scottish Rite

Local boxers looking at last few fights of 2018

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – While the eyes of the boxing world focus on the rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez in two weeks in Las Vegas, many other boxers are entering the ring to improve their records before the end of 2018.

Below is a list of fights coming up featuring local boxers:

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'Fight Night at the Scottish Rite 2'

Boxing returns downtown to the Scottish Rite Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 8. The main event will feature one of San Antonio's own, Armando Cardenas (9-1, 5 KOs). Cardenas is entering the ring for the first time since July of 2016. He'll face undefeated super welterweight Gilbert Venegas Jr. (9-0, 6 KOs) out of Illinois.

Making his professional debut will be another Alamo City local. Richard "El Castigo" Medina, a 5-time national amateur champion, will take on Jonathan Ewer in a 4-round super featherweight bout. Ewer has never won a professional fight in six matches. He's also lost twice in San Antonio already.

Medina decided to turn pro back in the summer as he prepared to begin his senior year at Lanier High School.

”I think it's the perfect time to go pro," said 17-year-old Medina to KSAT 12 Sports. "It makes me a little nervous that the fight is here in San Antonio but I'm glad it's here so my whole family can see what I love to do. I hope everyone can come out to see my first pro fight.”

Tickets range from $25 for general admission to $75 for ringside seats.

'Heavyweight Boxing Showdown'

Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi is a unique ballpark on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. For the first time since 2009, boxing will return to the stadium.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, San Antonio's own Selina "Aztec Queen" Barrios (4-0, 2 KOs) will face Patricia Juarez (4-0) in the main event of a scheduled 10-round bout. The Southwest High School grad will be defending her NABF Lightweight title belt.

Tickets range from $10 for general admission to $25 for reserved field seating.

'Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN'

It's an honor to work with an esteemed trainer such as Robert Garcia.  San Antonio's Joshua Franco has been able to do just that as he prepares for a nationwide fight in early October.

Franco (14-1, 7 KOs) will face Oscar Negrete (18-1, 7 KOs) on Thursday, October 4th in Costa Mesa, California. Both men will go head-to-head in a 10-round main event with the NABF Bantamweight title belt on the line.

“My next opponent is a tough guy who has fought for a world title already," explained Franco to KSAT 12 Sports last week. "Me and my team know that it is a tough fight we have in front of us but I am confident in my skills and abilities. I will come out on top with my hand raised.”

Franco attended Brandeis High School for two years before being home schooled due to a hectic boxing schedule that sent him traveling to compete in tournaments.

“Fighting on ESPN for a title is all that I’m focused on right now," added Franco. "It means everything to me because I’ve come a long way in the sport and have had many struggles to get where I’m at. Winning this fight and belt can change my life.”

Franco has been working with other boxers out in California such as Josesito Lopez, Brandon Rios and undefeated and four-division champion Mikey Garcia.

Daniel P. Villanueva has worked with KSAT 12 Sports for over 15 years and is an award-winning sports producer. To submit story ideas, email sports@ksat.com.