Casal to Head Nearly Full Card at
Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
Expects a brawl from Fernandez
By Miguel Rodriguez / News Sports Reporter
Photo by Mark Mulville / Buffalo News
 A professional boxing card's matchups are never set in stone until the scheduled fighters show up for the official weigh-in the day before the event, but almost all seven matches for the Nov. 6 card at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center have been set.
The main event features Nick Casal (19-4-1, 15 knockouts) against Christopher Fernandez (18-7-1, 11 KOs) in a junior welterweight showdown that might be a tad dangerous for the 23-year-old Niagara Falls native and his new promoter, Nick Garone.
Fernandez has beaten mostly journeymen and up-and-comers but he has stepped into the ring against two decorated junior welterweights within the past year. Fernandez, of Salt Lake City, was KO'd in three rounds by current WBC light welterweight champ Devon Alexander on Dec. 11 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. In April, Fernandez, 33, lost a unanimous eight-round decision to former IBF junior welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi at Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut.
"There's got to be a progression with Nick to fight these fights," Garone said. "I don't look at it as a risk. I look at it as a graduation into the next phase, which will translate into another phase where we're trying to go in the rankings."
"This is going to be a good fight because this is one of those fighters who's a brawler," Casal's trainer and father Ray Casal said of Fernandez. "He's going to take it to you. ... It's a good stepping stone for Nick to get to the next level."
Meacher Major (16-3-1, 14 KOs) and veteran Dorin Spivey (35-6, 28 KOs) battle for the NABA lightweight belt in the co-main event. The title fight is a second chance for Major, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is from the Bahamas. He had an opportunity to capture that title and a spot in the top 15 of the world rankings in June at the Convention Center but his bout against Michael Clark was ruled a no-contest after he drilled Clark in the back of the head during a first-round break.
While Casal and Spivey are the two featured bouts, all eyes will be on unbeaten Buffalo light featherweight and former Empire State Games gold medalist Guillermo Sanchez (10-0, 5 KOs), who will fight for his first professional title — the New York State Championship — against Jose Guzman (8-5-1, 5 KOs) of Queens.
Buffalo's Lionell Thompson (1-0) and Excell Holmes (1-0) also know who their opponents will be for their four-rounders. Thompson faces Michael Montoya (2-0) of Denver in a light heavyweight bout. Holmes draws Joe Montoya (1-0), who is Michael's brother, in a heavyweight bout.
Buffalo cruiserweight Greg Brady is expected to make his debut provided an opponent can be found, and there will be a junior welterweight bout between Geoffrey Spruiell (8-7) of Pueblo, Colo., and Broderick Antoine (7-8) of New York City.
Tickets can be purchased online at championsofboxing.com or by calling (877) 772-5425.
mrodriguez@buffnews.com |
