The Irish Boxing Club has a long tradition of training Scranton area boxers at its Weston Field location. Many Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants would head to the gym as an escape to their days spent laboring in the coal mines or railyards.

An immigrant from Mexico City via the Bronx is looking to continue that tradition.

Emmanuel “El Carnicero” (The Butcher) Lucero relocated to Scranton about three years ago. The 28 year old landscaper has compiled 23-4-1 record. However, after starting out 20-0, he has only won 2 of his last 7 fights. Lucero’s falloff appears to be partly due to a step up in competition — he has lost to Manny Pacquiao, Daniel Ponce de Leon and Rocky Juarez — and partly due to lack of an adequate trainer since his move to Scranton.

For this fight, Lucero has teamed up with former Scranton professional boxer and trainer Gene Reed and found a new home at the Irish Boxing Club.

Lucero takes on the brash, young gun Jason Litzau (21-1) at ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights being held August 17th at Harrah’s Rincon Casino in Valley Center, CA.

Despite being nearly an 8-1 underdog, Lucero believes he’ll be able to oubox Litzau and have enough head movement to avoid Litzau’s haymakers. Lucero has enough ring experience to make it hard for Litzau in the ring. Litzau promises to be more disciplined in the ring and not leave himself open as much as he has in the past.

Litzau promises this before most every fight.

If Litzau allows himself to do a little too much showboating and and gets too reckless, Lucero just may be able to pull the big upset and continue Scranton’s Boxing Renaissance.