News from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino:
Andrew “El Chango” Cancio (18-4-2, 14 KOs) will return to the ring in a 10-round super featherweight fight against hard-hitting contender Dardan Zenunaj (14-4, 11 KOs) in the main event of Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN on Friday,Aug. 17at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will live stream the fights beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT.
Cancio is a 29-year-old contender who recently re-signed with Golden Boy Promotions. Cancio is coming off a sensational technical knockout victory against then-undefeated prospect Aida Sharibayev. The native of Blythe, Calif. also has victories against former world title challengers Rocky Juarez and Jerry “The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes and againstthe rugged and experienced Rene “Gemelo” Alvarado. Cancio has also been in tough fights against Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. and Ronny Rios in a professional career that start over 12 years ago. Cancio is ready to face tougher tests in 130-pound division.
“I’m very excited to be fighting at Fantasy Springs Casino again,” said Andrew Cancio.
“It’s not far from my hometown in Blythe, California, and it’s great to know
that my family and friends will be able to attend and support me. Fighting on ESPN again is a huge advantage for my career and a terrific opportunity to showcase my skills which I’m very grateful to my manager Ray Chaparro and Golden Boy Promotions for. I know how tough Dardan Zenunaj is and it’s another big challenge for me, but I’ll be very well prepared for victory on Aug. 17.”
Zenunaj is a former NABO Super Featherweight champion, a title he captured via dominant third-round technical knockout victory against Recky “The Terror” Dulayin September 2017. The 30-year-old native of Pec, Kosovo then challenged Carlos “The Solution” Moralesfor the vacant NABA 130-pound title in December 2017. The fight went to the scorecards after a cut above Morales’s eye, which was caused by a clash of heads, forced the ringside doctor to stop the fight. The early stoppage cost Zenunaj the win, though he promises to vindicate himself when he returns on Aug. 17.
“I’m happy for this opportunity,” said Dardan Zenunaj.”Cancio is a warrior and I’m a warrior, so everyone knows this will be a war. They know this will be bloody. My goal, other than to be world champion, is to be in a Gatti-Ward kind of fight. This will be the epic war that will propel my career to the big stage.”
Japanese slugger Yoshihiro “Corazon de Acero” Kamegai (27-4-2, 24 KOs) will return after his impressive first shot at a world title in the 10-round co-main event in the 154-pound division.Kamegai will return after his impressive outing against former six-time, four-division world champion Miguel Cotto, which was for the WBO Junior Middleweight World Title in an HBO-televised main event in August 2017 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. Before that fight, Kamegai took part in two consecutive Fight of the Year candidates against Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass in June and Sept. of 2016. Kamegai will look to earn another shot at a 154-pound title, but he has to begin to shake off some ring rust after not fighting for a year.
Rommel Caballero (1-0-1) of Coachella, Calif. will return in a four-round or six-round super featherweight clash in the night’s swing bout against Jahaziel Vazquez(2-7, 1 KO) of Monterrey, Mexico. Anthony Reyes(2-0, 2 KOs), who is also from Coachella, Calif., will return in a four-round bantamweight fight against a soon-to-be announced opponent.
Cancio vs. Zenunaj is a 10-round super featherweight fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The event is sponsored by Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING” and Hennessy, “Never Stop, Never Settle.” The fights will take place on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the fights beginning at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT. ESPN3 will live stream the fights beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT.
Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, June 29, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. PT and start at $25. Tickets will be available at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino box office, by calling 1-800-827-2946, or by purchasing online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
Media interested in attending Golden Boy Boxing: Cancio vs. Zenunaj must request credentials by emailing [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. PT on Friday, Aug. 10.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and http://www.espn.com/boxing/; follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing, @OscarDeLaHoya, @ESPN, and @ESPNBoxeo; become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing; and follow on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @OscarDeLaHoya. Follow the conversation using #GBPonESPN and #CancioZenunaj.
Photos and videos are available to download by clicking herecopying and pasting link: http://bit.ly/CancioZenunajinto a browser. Credit must be given to Golden Boy Promotions for photos and videos used.
CONTACTS:
Ramiro Gonzalez/Gabriel Rivas, Golden Boy Promotions: (213) 489-5631
Stefan Friedman/Jane Murcia, Mercury: (310) 871-7525
Bernie Bahrmasel, Double B Publicity (Cancio): (773) 592-2986 Ardi Dwornik, ESPN, [email protected], 646-547-5612, @ESPN_Ardi
Chris Lavoie, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino: (760) 238-5873 Credentials: [email protected]