As you can tell by the comprehensive coverage on our website, MMA has been reigning supreme here in North Texas for the past couple of months. While this is indicative of the sports massive popularity both here and globally, the simple fact remains that professional boxing in the DFW Metroplex has been absent for some time now. Of course, the downturn in the economy put a damper on our once robust boxing scene as local promoters such as Texas Slugfest, Galvan Promotions, and others have been forced to exit the business based on lack of local support from both fans and sponsors. The fact remains that there are only two local players here in North Texas who can be counted on to put on a local professional boxing show, Black Gloves Promotions, and Paulie Ayala Productions.
With the North Texas boxing circuit being all but forgotten it comes as no surprise that fight fans here in the DFW have found reason to rejoice upon hearing the news that professional boxing will return to the area. On April 30, Paulie Ayala Productions will host the “Battle of DFW” from the friendly confines of the Fort Worth Convention Center. In the terms of a local card, the “Battle of DFW” may be one of the most enticing cards to ever take place here in North Texas as it features a “who’s who” of local pugilistic talent.
The evening’s main event will feature a highly anticipated grudge match between 2008 US Olympian Luis Yanez and respected local boxer Rafael Casias for the Texas State Super Flyweight Title. In the last couple of months a war of words has erupted between both Casias and Yanez and this fight will be the climax between two fighters who have no love lost for one and other.
While Casias has downplayed the reported animosity between Yanez and himself, citing that Yanez may have gotten some bad information.
“He came to one of my weigh-ins talking smack,” explained Casias in the press release. “Someone said I was talking smack about him. I don’t talk smack; I let my boxing in the ring do the talking. Paulie saw all the back and forth between me and Luis and got the fight done.”
Of course, Yanez recounts the events a bit differently.
“Well, to tell you the truth I had no idea who he was, until I started hearing that he didn’t like the way I boxed or acted at my weigh-ins and he wanted to get in the ring with me, be careful what you wish for, ‘cause you just might get it,” explained Yanez in the same press release.
Yanez continued, “That was about a year and a half ago. So I was told he would be fighting on a show and I decided to pay him a visit at his weigh-in, but first I had to ask which one he was because I didn’t have a clue on who he was. And once I locked on him I knew it wouldn’t be long before we met in the ring. And things just grew from there, what made him think there wasn’t a price to pay for talking smack especially to me the king of smack talking. Now he’s got to pay with pain. Come April 30th at the Fort Worth Convention Center I will separate his mind from reality,”
The one thing both fighters seem to agree on is that they are more than ready to mix it up in front of their hometown fans.
“I’m ready to fight now,” stated Casias. “Fighting for Paulie is always great and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You always want to be the main attraction and this being Dallas versus Fort Worth makes it even better. I’m really excited.”
“It’s always an honor to be in the main event, but to be on Mr. Ayala’s show right here in Fort Worth in front of the DFW fans, my family and friends is a blessing,” stated Yanez. “I’m really looking forward to this show. The fight card line up is great with a lot of home town talent from the Dallas, Ft Worth area.”
While all the publicity around the card will undoubtedly focus in on the anticipated Casias-Yanez battle, one should not overlook the plethora of local talent that will be featured on the night’s undercard. The co-featured bout of the night will pit Fort Worth’s Miguel Buendia (4-1, 2 KOs) against Dallas’ Fernando Rodriguez (6-2, 3 KOs) in what has potential to be “Fight of the Year” here in North Texas. Also featured on the undercard will be a lightweight battle between Arthur Trevino and Sammy Sanchez, a welterweight bout between Gilbert Vera and Julio Cesar Rangel, and Dallas’ white-hot prospect Ray Ximenez Jr taking on an opponent to be named later.
Battle of DFW Ticket Info
Tickets for the event will be priced as follows:
VIP Ringside First Row – $110
VIP Ringside Rows 2-5 – $82.50
Floor Reserve Rows 6-10 – $33.00
General Admission $11.00
Tickets are available at Central Ticket Office:
2901 West Bolt Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
Or charge by phone at 800-462-7979 or at www.centralticketoffice.com
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
First Fight at 7:30 p.m.
Bouts Subject to Change
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