A “Battle In The Ballroom” Triple Threat Closes Out the Summer

Featherweight Contender Marcos Licona, a World Title Bout, and Local Hero Edgar Vargas All Featured on August 28

LOS ANGELES, July XX – It’s the longest running club show in America, having treated fans to world champions, rising stars, and top contenders over the last 19 years. So fittingly, the Irvine Marriott’s “Battle in The Ballroom” card on Thursday, August 28, presented by Golden Boy Promotions, will feature a world title bout, a star in the making, and a main event struggle featuring a highly regarded contender.

Super bantamweight standout Marcos Licona (20-3-1, 7 KOs) headlines the August 28 show with a ten round bout against Saul “El Guapo” Briceno (16-22-2, 14 KOs).

Licona, who is fresh off a nationally televised unanimous decision victory over Cesar Figueroa on May 9, is not sitting on his laurels as he awaits a shot at WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios. In January the two Mexican warriors waged an exciting battle in a non-title bout won by Larios via decision.

He will have his work cut out for him with Briceno though, who, despite his record, is known for his rugged competitiveness and willingness to fight. “El Guapo”, who has been in the ring twice with Larios, is coming off a decision win over former world champion Victor Rabanales in July that earned him the WBC Fecarbox Super Bantamweight Title.

In a special featured bout on August 28, the Irvine Marriott is pleased to host only the third world title bout in its history when Los Angeles’ own Wendy Rodriguez (10-2-3, 1 KO) battles Moscow’s Anastasia Toktaulova (9-7, 1 KO) for the vacant IFBA Mini Flyweight Championship.

This 10 round championship contest is a rematch of a bitterly contested war between the two 105-pounders on May 22 in San Jose, where Rodriguez eked out a close split decision victory over six rounds.

Also back to “Battle In The Ballroom” will be Santa Ana’s Edgar Vargas. An unbeaten (1-0) featherweight prospect with quite a local following (the Century High School graduate promises to bring 150 fans to the show), Vargas is coming off an impressive four round decision victory over Juan Velasquez in his pro debut on June 26.

Doors open at 6:30pm, with the first bell going off at 7:30pm. Two more quality undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

Tickets, priced at $25 and $35, can be purchased online at www.battleintheballroom.com, or by calling Cecy De La Hoya at Golden Boy Promotions at 213-489-5631.