Toro Promotions has been signing heavyweights over the last year, and now it is preapred to match two of them against each other. Tsotne Rogava (9-0, 7 KOs) and Alexander “The Great” Flores (19-4-1, 17 KOs), will square off in a ten rounder on September 28th to launch Toro’s inaugural “Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, California. In the other featured bout, Walnut High senior Paolo “Pow” Barredo will make his pro debut in a four-round featherweight bout against Mychaquell Shields (2-5, 0 KOs), of Alpine (CA).
Rogava is 6’ 5”, 270 pounds, while Flores is 6’ 4” and 260. Trained by Hall of Famer Joe Goossen, Rogava was a 2020 Ukraine Olympian who was born in Georgia and raised in Ukraine. The former world-class kickboxing and Muay Thai fighter now lives in Marina del Rey, California.
Flores is one of the toughest opponents I’ve faced,” Rogava said. “He’s experienced and knows how to fight, so this is definitely not going to be an easy fight. But I don’t want easy fights. It’s important for me to grow and prove that I’m ready for serious challenges. Facing Flores is a great opportunity to show what I’m capable of. It’s going to be a tough, intense fight. I’m ready for any outcome, but I’m confident in myself, and hope to finish with a win, maybe, even early.”
Three of the more experienced Flores’ four career losses have been to champions: Charles Martin, Joseph Parker and Luis Ortiz.
“Tsotne has a lot of experience, maybe not as much as the three world champions I’ve faced, but he’s a hungry prospect trying to get to the top,” Flores commented. “Beating Tsonte gets me a step closer to a title shot, so it’s a must win for me. I think it’ll be boxing from the outside and inside fighting, but it will definitely end with my hands rained in the air in victory.”
Toro also promotes heavyweights Kinsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh (12-2-1, 10 KOs) and Jay “The Outlaw” May (10-0, 9 KOs), who are slated to throwdown October 19th over ten rounds at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington. Another Toro heavyweight, Dante Stone (17-1, 11 KOs) extended his win streak to 17 with an eight-round unanimous decision over Terrell Jamal Woods last week in Phoenix.
Barredo was a celebrated U.S. amateur boxer who won 90 of 106 matches, highlighted by his 2021 Junior Olympics title-winning performance. He turns 18 two days prior to making his pro debut.
In a pair of six-round matches, Santa Ana (CA) junior lightweight Michael “El Chamuco” Bracamontes (9-2-1, 5 KOs) faces Arsen Poghosyan (3-2-1, 2 KOs), who fights out of Los Angeles, and Mission Hills (CA) junior welterweight Ricardo Sonny Robledo (9-0, 3 KOs) meets Matt Gaver (3-9-2, 1 KO), of Bakersfield (CA). Six additional local fighters will make their pro debuts in four rounders: La Puente (CA) lightweight Alejandro Alvarado, a 2021 California State Silver Mittens Champion, vs. San Diego’s Eduardo Mondragon, Fontana welterweight Jesse Zuniga vs. Riverside’s Oscar Trujillo, and Riverside (CA) bantamweight Hector Oros vs. Alexander Robles, of Modesto (CA).
Card is subject to change. Tickets can be purchased at www.EventBrite.com.
