Cebuano boxer to fight in Cache Creek matches

CAPAY VALLEY, California—Filipino boxer Bruno “Aloha Kid” Escalante (9-1-1, 5 KOs), who hails from San Carlos, California, by way of Cebu, is among the boxers who will fight in Cache Creek Casino’s world-class championship matches featuring the state’s promising boxers.

The bouts represent the casino’s first-time partnership with Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents Boxing. The weigh-in will take place at the Cache Creek Casino Resort on Friday, Sept. 27. The official weigh-in time is 3 p.m.

Escalante is aiming to continue his winning streak against his strongest opponent yet, Joseph Rios (13-8-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Texas.  Fresh off his sensational first-round TKO in his last fight against Manuel Galaviz, Escalante is determined to add another KO to his record.

A fifth straight victory could position Escalante for an IBA junior bantamweight title fight. Rios hopes to replicate the feat he pulled in September last year, when he shocked undefeated prospect Miguel Diaz.

Headlining the event is Paul “El Gallo Negro” Mendez (13-2-1, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California, who will make his second IBA Middleweight title defense against Rahman Yusubov (9-11, 7 KOs).

After a tough but successful title defense in a unanimous decision over Dashon Johnson on July 26, the exciting Mendez will aim to prove why he is still a champion as he attempts to extend his unbeaten streak to nine. Yusubov, who fights out of Dallas, Texas, by way of Azerbaijan, is a rugged power-puncher with upset on his mind.

The card will also feature four more unbeaten fighters from the region: middleweight Ricardo Pinell (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of San Francisco, lightweight Andy Vences (3-0, 2 KOs) of San Jose, and junior welterweight Darwin Price of Salinas (1-0, 1 KO).

Mendez vs. Yusubov headlines a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents Boxing. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the first bell rings at 6 p.m. at the Cache Creek Casino Resort.

Tickets, priced at $65, $95 and $125, are on sale now and at cachecreek.com, tickets.com and online at PacoPresentsBoxing.com.

For more information on Paco Presents Boxing, visit pacopresentsboxing.com or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/pacopresentsboxing.