July 23, 1999
World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Bantamweight Champion Erik Morales, of Tijuana will return home to make his seventh title defense when he meets his mandatory challenger, WBC No. 1 contender Reynante Jamili of the Philippines, in a night of championship boxing Saturday, July 31.
In addition to Morales vs. Jamili, four other fights will be part of the show, which takes place at the Toreo de Tijuana:
Four-time world champion Michael Carbajal will make a bid to regain his world Boxing Organization (WBO) title by taking on WBO Junior Flyweight Champion Jorge Arce.
WBO Junior Bantamweight Champion Diego Morales, the younger brother of Erik Morales, will defend his title against Ysiais Zamudio.
International Boxing Association (IBA) Super Heavyweight champion and "King of the Four Rounders" Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. an opponent to be announced.
IBA Junior Welterweight Champion Antonio Diaz vs. an opponent to be announced.
Local hero Erik Morales (33-0, 27 KOs) was quickly established as one of boxing's rising superstars, earning the 22-year old comparisons with Mexico's "Gran Campeon" Julio Cesar Chavez. Morales won the WBC Super Bantamweight crown with an 11th round knockout over boxing ironman Daniel Zaragoza September 6, 1997 in El Paso and has since then make quick work of his challengers, winning all six of his title defenses by knockout, most recently posting a 9th round TKO over Juan Ramirez in Las Vegas on May 8, 1999.
The July 31st fight in Tijuana will be first Mexico appearance for Reynante Jamili (39-4-0, 30 KOs), from Paranaque, Philippines. The hard-hitting Jamili has terrorized opponents in Southeast Asia since his pro debut in May of 1992 with 30 of his 39 victories coming via knockouts. In his last bout, Jamili recorded an explosive 4th round TKO victory over Kris Wuritimur in Honolulu. It was his first fighting appearance in the USA. As a mandatory challenger to Morales, Jamili is riding a 21-fight winning streak with only two of his opponents making it as far as the final bell.
Jorge Arce (20-2-1, 15 KOs), from Los Mochis, Mexico is coming off his first title defense of April 17, 1999, when he stopped Salvatore Fanni with a 6th round TKO. The WBO Junior Flyweight title went to Arce in his previous fight, which took place in Tijuana, with a hard-fought 12-round decision against Juan Cordoba. A powerful puncher, Arce is riding a six-fight winning streak. His opponent, Michael Carbajal (47-4-0, 31 KOs), will be fighting for his fifth title. Carbajal, from Phoenix, has used his "Little Hands of Stone" to gain titles in the International Boxing Federation (IBF), the WBC, WBO, and IBA.
Tijuana's Diego Morales (18-0, 14 KOs), Erik's younger brother, has proven that champion spirit runs in the family. His last bout, June 7, 1999 in Tijuana against Victor Godoi, was an 11th round TKO victory that earned him a reputation as well as the WBO Junior Bantamweight title. The July 31st fight, again in Tijuana, is his first title defense and a cross-state rivalry of sorts: opponent Ysiais Zamudio (45-8-1, 17 KOs) is from Mexicali. Zamudio has contended for the WBC flyweight title three times, most recently against Alejandro Montiel. On each occasion he has fought the champion to the final bell, only to lose by decision in heartbreaking fashion. On July 31st, Zamudio will bring a wealth of fighting experience and a hunger for his first world title.
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