Pavlik Comeback Bout on March 31 in Texas

TOP RANK LIVE HITS ALAMODOME ON

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST

FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP

KELLY PAVLIK RETURNS TO ACTION

SA PROSPECTS IVAN NAJERA AND ADAM LOPEZ ON UNDERCARD

SAN ANTONIO, TX (March 12, 2012) Advance tickets are now on sale for TOP RANK LIVE, an evening of world class professional boxing, set for Saturday, March 31st in the Illusions Theater at the Alamodome.

Presented by the newly formed Jesse James Leija/Mike Battah Promotions in association with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated, advance tickets priced at $100 VIP, $50 and $25 are available through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone, 1-800-745-5000.

“We’re are absolutely thrilled to present our first event to the terrific fans here in San Antonio. My boxing career was always blessed with the outstanding support of the fans and media and I’m excited to get my promotional career kicked off with this action packed card” said former world champion and Texas boxing legend Leija who defeated Azumah Nelson for the world title in July 1998 at the Alamodome.

Featured at TOP RANK LIVE is the return to action of former middleweight champion, Kelly Pavlik. The Youngstown, Ohio native, now being guided by acclaimed trainer Robert Garcia, will take his record of 37-2-0 (32KO’s) into battle against Sarasota, Florida’s Aaron Jaco, 15-2-0 (5KO’s) in a scheduled ten round tilt.

The TOP RANK LIVE telecast on the Azteca America network will feature Tijuana, Mexico’s Alejandro Lopez, 23-3-0 (7KO’s) in a ten round featherweight clash with undefeated Russian prospect Evegeny Gradovich, 12-0-0 (6KO’s).

The 24-year-old Lopez has won eight of his last nine, including a career best victory over then unbeaten Philadelphia prospect Teon Kennedy on August 13, 2011 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The win earned Lopez the NABF Super Featherweight Title.

Only a professional for two years, the 25-year-old Gradovich has looked impressive over his short stint in the paid ranks, most recently winning a decision over Robert Osiobe on February 3rd in Las Vegas.

The opening televised bout will feature junior lightweight Casey Ramos of Austin, Texas facing off against Kansas City’s Gerardo Robles.

In a battle of undefeated prospects, Ramos dominated Joselito Collado, earning a unanimous decision on October 29th in Thackerville, Oklahoma, improving to 15-0-0 (4KO’s) with the win.

Robles, 15-10-0 (7KO’s), has won six of his last seven, the only loss being a hard fought, close decision to unbeaten Cuban prospect Rances Barthelemy on July 29, 2011.

Headlining the undercard at TOP RANK LIVE in separate bouts will be popular San Antonio prospects junior welterweight Ivan Najera, 6-0-0 (5KO’s) and bantamweight Adam Lopez, 1-0-0 (1KO).

Also featured in separate bouts will be Oklahoma’s hard hitting welterweight newcomer Alex Saucedo, 2-0-0 (2KO’s), hotly tipped middleweight prospect Eduardo Alicea, 2-0-0 (2KO’s) from Cleveland along with Los Angeles based junior lightweight Saul Rodriguez, 3-0-0 (3KO’s).

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