PHARR, TX – Two highly anticipated comebacks are set to begin Saturday night, May 19, at the Pharr (Texas) Convention Center, when Jerry Belmontes and Odlanier Solis return to the ring in separate spotlight bouts on a full card promoted by Main Events, Cavazos Boxing Promotions and Arena Promotions.
Lightweight Jerry Belmontes, 15-0, 5 KOs, returns after nearly one year out of the ring. The Corpus Christi native had a vast amateur career that included national titles in 2003 and 2007. He also made it to the semi-finals of the USA Olympic Trials in 2008. As a professional, Belmontes has beaten everyone put in his path, including his most recent opponent Justo Vallecillo, whom he defeated by unanimous decision in his last start on June 24, 2011. After the layoff, Belmontes is anxious to get back in action.
“What I’m looking for is getting my name out there as one of the top prospects,” Belmontes said. “I want to get as many fights as I can this year.”
The first of those fights comes Saturday night against Dominican Ramesis Gil, 7-3-5, 5 KOs, in the main event to be televised by TeleFutura on their Solo Boxeo Tecate series. Rising prospects like Belmontes are familiar territory for Gil, who has faced undefeated boxers in his last five starts. Gil upset Luis Joel Gonzalez in his last bout, and will be looking to do the same against Belmontes in their 8-round match.
Heavyweight Odlanier Solis, 17-1, 12 KOs, also looks forward to getting back to business on Saturday. The six-time national Cuban amateur champion and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist last fought fourteen months ago, in a challenge of WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, on March 19, 2011. That frustrating affair ended abruptly in the first round when a sudden knee injury forced Solis out of the fight almost before it began. Up to that point, “La Sombra” was boxing comfortably and staying on his game plan against the champ. However, the end came at 2:59 of the first round.
After some time off and a lengthy rehab, Solis is ready to fight again. He’ll face Konstantin Airich, 23-5-2, 17 KOs, in a 12-round fight for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Airich, a former European and Intercontinental champion, is riding a six-bout winning streak that includes knockouts in his last three. Solis will have advantages in age, height and weight – not to mention his world class amateur pedigree – but Airich has stayed busy and has never looked better than in his most recent outings. This title fight will be broadcast internationally, and highlights of the fight will be shown on TeleFutura’s Solo Boxeo Tecate.
Although the focus will be on these two major comeback stories, the remainder of the card is a Texas-heavy lineup that should thrill the Pharr fans, as well as TeleFutura viewers.
Super featherweight Oscar Tovar of Alton, TX takes on Gilberto Cancino of Brownsville, TX in the televised 4-round opener. Mission, Texan Raul Tovar faces Juan Ovalle of Mercedes, TX, in a 4-round welterweight bout.
In the non-televised portion of the show, lightweight Angel Hernandez, McAllen, TX, fights Ramiro Torres, San Antonio, in a 4-rounder, and Felix Piedra of Mercedes, TX, and Juan Ruiz, of San Juan, TX clash in a 6-round light heavyweight bout.