The Pride Of Pittsburgh III Features Welterweight Boxer Sammy Vasquez, Jr.
By Larry Snyder
The Sweet Science will be in the spotlight Friday, Feb. 20 at Consol Energy Center with unbeaten welterweight Sammy Vasquez, Jr. at the top of the card. The “Pride of Pittsburgh 3” gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
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The final three bouts will be broadcast on ShoBox: The New Generation live on the SHOWTIME cable channel at 10 p.m. ET.
The 5-foot-10 Monessen native (17-0, 13 KOs) returns to the ring pursuing his 10th consecutive win by knockout when he laces up the gloves against fellow southpaw Emmanuel Lartey (17-2, 8 KOs, 1 NC), of Brooklyn, N.Y. in the eagerly awaited 10-round main event. The welterweight class is over 140 to 147 pounds.
Goossen Promotions’ co-feature has former Cuban amateur fighter and current third-ranked WBC light heavyweight Humberto Savigne (12-1, 9 KOs, 1 NC) of Miami against undefeated Craig Baker (15-0, 11 KOs), of Baytown, Texas. The light heavyweight class is over 168 to 175 pounds.
The eight-round opening match of the telecast is slated to be World Boxing Association No. 7 ranked featherweight Claudio Marrero (17-1, 13 KOs) of Miami taking on Orlando Rizo (18-5) from Managua, Nicaragua. The featherweight class is over 122 to 126 pounds.
Vasquez, 28, is the current International Boxing Federation, United States Boxing Association, and WBC/FECARBOX welterweight champion. He will be making his second ShoBox start and third straight appearance at Consol Energy Center.
In his last match, Vasquez recorded a 2:35, first-round knockout Friday, Nov. 14 over Alberto Mosquera. He put up a ninth-round TKO Friday, Aug. 8 over then-unbeaten James Stevenson. He took down Jay Krupp Friday, June 6 with a third-round TKO. He has a 71 inch reach
His accomplished amateur career includes 2011 National PAL Championships and 2010 All-Army Championships gold medalist at 152 pounds. Vasquez has been a favorite of Steel City fight fans since turning pro in Aug. 2012. All but three of his bouts have taken place in the Pittsburgh area.
Vasquez, who is also known as “The Who Can Mexican,” is a U.S. Army veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq from 2005-2006 and 2008-2009. He protected his country over a nine-year stint as a member of the National Guard.
Lartey, 32, secured a unanimous 10-round decision win Saturday, June 7, 2014 against former world champion Steve Forbes in Tacoma, Wash. The 5-foot-8 pugilist, originally from Accra, Ghana, turned pro in April 2005 in his home country, and fought there through 2009. He was 11-0 with 1 NC, claiming the African and Ghanaian super lightweight championships. He moved to the United States and made his American debut in Feb. 2011. He has a 70 inch reach.
Among the Tale of the Tape notes is that Vasquez has fought one time past the sixth round. He has never gone more than nine. Meanwhile, Lartey has gone 10 or more rounds five times. He has never been knocked down or knocked out in his career.
Here are the remaining bouts for the evening:
Super Lightweight (Over 135 to 140 lbs.) – Eight Rounds – Paul Spadafora (49-1-1, 19 KO’s) from Pittsburgh Vs. Jake Giuriceo (17-2-1, 4 KO’s) from Youngstown, Ohio.
Super Featherweight (Over 126 to 130 lbs.) – 10 Rounds – Argenis Mendez (21-3-1, 11 KO’s) from San Juan, Dominican Republic Vs. Daniel Evangelista (17-4-1, 13 KO’s) from Mexico City, Mexico.
Super Welterweight (Over 147 to 154 lbs.) – Eight Rounds – Yudel Jhonson (16-1, 9 KO’s) from Havana, Cuba Vs. Pablo Munguia (20-5, 11 KO’s) from Mexico City, Mexico.
Welterweight Bout – Six Rounds – Bryant Perella (7-0, 6 KO’s) from Fort Myers, Florida Vs. Juan Rodriguez (6-2-1, 5 KO’s) from Washington, D.C.
Super Lightweight Bout – Six Rounds – Milton Santiago (8-0, 3 KO’s) from Warminister, Penna. Vs. Jose Valderrama (4-8, 3 KO’s) from Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Featherweight Bout – Eight Rounds – Gervonta Davis (9-0, 8 KO’s) from Baltimore, Maryland Vs. Pablo Batres (6-11-1, 2 KO’s) Sonora, Mexico.
Super Lightweight Bout – Four Rounds – Sammy Figueroa (6-0, 4 KO’s) from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Vs. James Robinson (3-2-2, 1 KO) from York, Penna.
Welterweight Bout – Four Rounds – Kareem Martin (3-0-1, 2 KO’s) from Washington, D.C. Vs. Moises Rios (5-2, 4 KO’s) from Areclbo, Puerto Rico.
UPDATE: Paul Spadafora pulled out of his bout with Jake Giuriceo due to severe flu/illness. A replacement fighter was not found in time to take his place.