UNBEATEN FEATHERWEIGHT ROCKY JUAREZ OUTPOINTS HECTOR VELAZQUEZ

(Courtesy of Showtime boxing)

HOUSTON (Nov. 23, 2003) On a night that SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING reached a milestone by televising its 500^th fight on SHOWTIME, featherweight Rocky Juarez and lightweight Juan Diaz remained unbeaten by defeating Hector Velazquez and Joel Perez, respectively, and Francisco Bojado avenged his only pro loss by defeating Juan Carlos Rubio in the networkas historic 500^th fight.  Juarez recorded a unanimous 12-round decision to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas 126-pound crown, Diaz won by sixth-round TKO and Bojado took a unanimous 12-round decision to earn the WBC Continental Americas junior welterweight belt. Saturdayâs bouts, which aired at 9 p.m. ET/PT from Reliant Park, were promoted by Main Events Inc.

SHOWTIME began broadcasting prizefights on March 15, 1986. Among the fighters who have appeared on the network reads like a boxing’s Whos Who. Julio Cesar Chavez has appeared on the network the most times (19), followed by Evander Holyfield (18); Mike Tyson (14); Felix Trinidad (12); Terry Norris (11); Michael Nunn (10); Thomas Hearns and Johnny Tapia (9).  In addition, a host of fighters are tied with eight appearances, including Kostya Tszyu, Ricardo Lopez, Sharmba Mitchell, Julian Jackson, Francois Botha and Frankie Liles.

Others who have showcased their vast talents on the network include: Acelino Freitas, Pernell Whitaker, George Foreman, Prince Naseem Hamed, Mike McCallum, Simon Brown, Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer, Andrew Golota, Zab Judah, David Tua, Bernard Hopkins, Frankie Randall, William Joppy, Keith Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hector Camacho, Christy Martin, Laila Ali, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Tim Austin, Tony Tucker, Larry Holmes, Virgil Hill, Meldrick Taylor, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Frank Bruno, Jeff Fenech, Roberto Duran, Diego Corrales, Gerald McClellan, Marvin Hagler, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Azumah Nelson, Jesse James Leija, Mark Breland, Iran Barkley, Donald Curry, Gerry Cooney, Bobby Czyz, Buddy McGirt, Hector Camacho, Shannon Briggs, Wayne McCullough, Jeff Lacy, Juan Lazcano, Chris Byrd, Vivian Harris, Antonio Margarito and Joel Casamayor. 

Juarez (19-0, 14 KOs), of the north side of Houston, won by the scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113. The 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist was unable to register a knockdown as his five-fight knockout streak ended. During an outstanding amateur career, Juarez compiled a 145-17 record. A controversial decision in the championship bout cost the U.S. Olympian a gold medal and ended his 68-fight winning streak.

Velazquez (36-10-1, 1 NC, 27 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico, had won four consecutive bouts and seven of his past eight. He performed well in a bout in which many of the rounds were close and many felt the fight was a lot closer than the judge’s scores indicated. Velazquez most noteworthy victory during the winning streak was a 10-round split decision over former WBC featherweight champion Guty Espadas on June 25, 2002, in Baraboo, Wis.

Bojado (14-1, 11 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Guadalajara, Mexico, turned the tables on Rubio by the scores of 119-108 and 118-109 twice. Bojado dropped Rubio in the 11^th with a right to the chin, but was content to box for the most part. The victory was the fifth straight for the talented youngster since he lost a shocking 10-round unanimous decision to Rubio on SHOWTIME Feb. 16, 2002. The   youngest member of the 2000 Mexican Olympic team, Bojado compiled an outstanding 168-15 amateur record with 85 knockouts.

Rubio (29-7-2, 10 KOs), of Lakeside, Calif. by way of Colima, Mexico, had won four consecutive outings, including two straight since defeating Bojado in what Ring Magazine dubbed the “2002 Upset of the Year.

Diaz (23-0, 11 KOs), of Houston, dominated the crowd-pleasing scheduled 10-round bout. Getting stronger as the bout progressed, the two-fisted boxer-puncher had cut and battered the game Perez by the time the bout was stopped at 1:27 in the sixth. Diaz is the youngest boxer (17 years old) to ever fight on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Perez (34-7-2, 19 KOs), of Houston, gave his best but did not have the firepower to keep Diaz off him. Perez, who turned pro at age 20 on Aug. 10, 1992, won his initial 23 starts.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called Saturday’s action from ringside, with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.