Luis Ortiz Will Fight Monte Barrett

FORMER WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER MONTE BARRETT STEPS UP TO FACE UNBEATEN LUIS ORTIZ IN “NIGHT OF THE HEAVYWEIGHTS” MAIN EVENT ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3 FROM FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO & LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 1 AND FOX DEPORTES

PLUS! FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER GERRY COONEY TO MEET FANS ON FIGHT NIGHT

INDIO, CALIF. (Mar. 21) – The April 3 FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes tripleheader is now complete, as former heavyweight world title challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett returns to the ring to face unbeaten Cuban contender Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz in the main event of the highly anticipated “Night of the Heavyweights” Golden Boy Live! event at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

In previously announced televised heavyweight bouts, Vallejo, California’s Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington risks his perfect professional record in the 10-round co-main event against Houston’ Skipp “Strictly Business” Scott and 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale goes for 10 straight wins when he takes on veteran standout Nagy Aguilera.

Plus, unbeaten rising star Diego “The Golden Kid” De La Hoya will appear in a six-round junior featherweight bout and exciting prospects Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara, Neeco “The Rooster” Macias,Michael Hunter and Stephan Shaw will also be seeing action on this stacked card.

Fight fans in attendance at Fantasy Springs are in for a special treat as former heavyweight contender Gerry “Gentleman” Cooney will be on hand as a special VIP guest to meet and greet those at the event. One of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history, Cooney is best remembered for his knockout wins over Ken Norton, Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young, as well as his epic 1982 challenge for Larry Holmes’ title.

Currently ranked number two in the world by the WBA, 34-year-old southpaw Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (20-0, 17 KOs) graduated from the legendary Cuban amateur boxing program with nearly 350 wins and numerous titles. When he turned professional in his adopted home state of Florida in 2010, he set his sights on gold of a different sort; a heavyweight world championship. Thus far, Ortiz has been unstoppable with five-of-his-last-six wins coming by way of knockout, making it clear that he will take out anyone in the way of his pursuit of a title.

Equipped with top-level heavyweight experience few can match on the current landscape, Queens, New York’s Monte Barrett (35-10-2, 20 KOs) has been in the ring with the best of the best over the course of his career, including Wladimir Klitschko, Tim Witherspoon, Hasim Rahman, David Haye and David Tua. Eager to get back in the heavyweight race, Barrett has specialized in spoiling the rise of the highly-touted, handing Dominick Guinn, Owen Beck, Eric Kirkland and Tye Fields crushing losses. He hopes to add Ortiz to that list on April 3.

An elite level prospect that has made an impression in each of his fights to date, Mexicali’s Diego “The Golden Kid” De La Hoya (3-0, 3 KOs) has shown remarkable skills and power in his knockout wins over Luis Cosme, Abraham Rubio and Sergio Najera. On April 3, the 19-year-old will meet an opponent to be named in a six-round junior featherweight bout.

One of the newest members of the Golden Boy Promotions team, Mexico-born junior lightweight Santiago “El Lobito” Guevara (6-0, 3 KOs) is a talented fighter with a bright future in the fight game. Scheduled for a six round bout on April 3, the Los Angeles resident is ready to impress fans at Fantasy Springs.

Palm Desert’s Neeco “The Rooster” Macias (3-0, 1 KO) is an action fighter who loves to scrap when the bell rings. In February, the southpaw won his third professional fight, decisioning Victor Altamirano in four rounds, the same length of his junior middleweight bout this April.

“Night of the Heavyweights” will live up to its name as the night will with two more heavyweight showdowns. In a heavyweight bout scheduled for six rounds, Van Nuys’ Michael Hunter (3-0, 3 KOs) will be seeking yet another knockout when he faces Jackson, Tennessee’s Rodrigo Ray (5-6-1, 2 KOs), and in the opener scheduled for four rounds in the heavyweight division, St. Louis’ Stephan Shaw (2-0, 2 KOs) will look for victory number three.

Opponents for De La Hoya, Guevara, Macias and Hunter will be announced shortly.

“Night Of The Heavyweights” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The Fantasy Springs Event Center doors open at 4:00 p.m. PT and the first fight starts at 5:00 p.m. PT. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes broadcast airs live at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.

Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV