(PRESS RELEASE) -- Local boxing fans were looking forward to the return of Shawn Estrada and mixed martial arts fans were looking forward to the Palace Fighting Championship debut of Bobby Lashley.
Junction City, Kan.’s Lashley (1-0) was scheduled to headline the show in a heavyweight bout against Tacoma, Wash.’s Scott Hayes (4-0) on Friday at the Palace. Hayes will stay on and fight Santa Rosa, Calif.’s Rick Cheek (4-3).
Meanwhile, Estrada, who is a 2008 U.S. Olympic Team member from the neighboring city of Hanford, Calif., is scheduled to make his Palace debut later this year. The young middleweight is 2-0.
Goossen Tutor promotions and the Palace will host a night of championship boxing, which features Olympic Gold Medalist and current NABO Super Middleweight Champion Andre Ward (17-0) of Oakland, Calif. in a 12-round title bout against Capitol Heights, Md.’s Henry Buchanan (17-1).
The main card of the boxing show will be part of ShoBox and can be seen live on Showtime and also feature a bout between Covina, Calif. lightweight John Molina (14-0) vs. Washington, D.C.’s Joshua Allotey (16-6).
Also in action on the boxing portion of the 17-bout show is an 8-round heavyweight bout featuring Wasco, Calif.’s Manuel Quezada (25-4) and Puyallup, Wash.’s Eric Boose (14-3-1).
Arguably the best women’s boxer in the world, Watsonville, Calif.’s Carina Moreno (20-1) will take on Las Vegas, Nev.’s Sharon Gaines (11-11-1) in an 8-round flyweight bout.
Highlighting the MMA action is a women’s lightweight bout between American Gladiator’s “Steel”, as Chicago, Ill.’s Erin Toughill (8-2-1) takes on Milwaukee, Wis.’s Karen Williams (3-1).
Las Vegas, Nev. flyweight Ulysses Gomez (2-1) will take on Sacramento, Calif. David Suarez (2-1).
Hanford, Calif. featherweight Chad Mendes (1-0) will tangle with Reno, Nev.’s Leland Gridley (3-4) and flyweights Williamston, Mich.’s Alexis Vila (3-0) takes on Sioux Falls, S.D.’s Ben Nguyen (10-2).
Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and fights start at 5.