Figueroa ready to shine in Vegas

For a boxer, fighting in Las Vegas is a rite of passage. Sooner or later, the best boxers all get a chance to display their ring skills there.

Weslaco light welterweight Omar “Panterita” Figueroa (8-0, eight knockouts), who in September 2009 signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, fights in Las Vegas for the first time Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Figueroa, a 2008 Weslaco East graduate, was scheduled to fight in a Golden Boy show Feb. 26 at El Paso, but an illness kept him off the card.

Now he’s ready to show his talent and represent the Rio Grande Valley in the city that has hosted some of boxing’s biggest fights.

“Omar just has to stay focused and do his best,” said Omar Figueroa Sr., the fighter’s father and manager. “I don’t think he’ll be nervous even though Oscar De La Hoya should be there. It’s Omar’s first time to fight in Vegas, and he wants to make the most out of it.”

The Figueroas went into the weekend not knowing exactly who the Weslaco fighter would face. Figueroa Sr. said his son’s initial opponent backed out and a replacement was being sought. They planned to leave for Las Vegas on Wednesday, he said.

“Omar is hoping to give the Valley a good name by coming home with a win,” Figueroa Sr. said.

UPDATES

Harlingen welterweight “King” James De La Rosa (20-0, 12 KOs) will challenge IBF super welterweight champ Cory Spinx (37-5, 11 KOs) in June on a Don King fight card at a site to be determined.

Harlingen middleweight J.P. “El Gallo Negro” De La Rosa (20-3-1, 15 KOs), James’ older brother, is scheduled to fight May 7 in either McAllen or San Benito.

Texas featherweight champion Casey “The Wizard” Ramos (10-0, four KOs) of Austin is set to fight April 28 at Texas Motor Speedway north of Fort Worth. Four of Ramos’ previous 10 fights have taken place in the Valley.

A Recon Garza Promotions fight show is scheduled April 17 at San Benito’s South Texas Events Center.

YOUNG TALENT

Brownsville’s Sergio “Time To Shine” Perales and Jerry “El Chicanito” Guevara aren’t the only fighters who are trained by Robert Campos. He also works with a group of young amateur boxers from Brownsville who recently tested their skills at the Brownsville Golden Gloves Tournament. The group includes Chris Vasquez, 9, at 66 pounds; Ruben Saenz, 15, at 138 pounds; Phillip Lopez, 17, at 152 pounds; Mario Moreno, 17, at 178 pounds; and Edward Vallejo, 17, at 200 pounds.

All of them are fairly new to boxing. Still, they’re showing some talent. At the Golden Gloves Tournament, Lopez knocked out one of his opponents during the first round, while Saenz was named the outstanding boxer in the junior division.

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.