“BOXEO TELEMUNDO FORD” KICKS OFF THE 2014 BOXING SEASON

Miami –March 12, 2014 – “Boxeo Telemundo Ford” launches its 2014 boxing season on Friday, March 14 at Florida’s Kissimmee Civic Center (11:35PM/10:35 C), where Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo of Puerto Rico will fight Mexico’s Guillermo “El Borrego” Ávila for the vacant WBO Latin Super Bantamweight title.  René Giraldo and Jessi Losada, the longest-running team of boxing commentators on US Spanish-language television, will call the action. Boxing aficionados will have access to the weigh-in and exclusive behind the scenes footage on Deportestelemundo.com and a blow-by-blow account of the match on Twitter via @TelemundoSports.

In his only match last year, Oquendo (23-3, 16 KO’s) defeated Mexico’s Migue “Yaqui” Tamayo TK0-4.  Oquendo made his professional boxing debut on “Boxeo Telemundo Ford” in 2004 with a win over Yuniel Ramos of Cuba.  In February 2012, he was sentenced to community service following an ATV accident that killed his girlfriend. The Puerto Rican fighter says his trainers are the best psychologists, and boxing is the best therapy, as he overcomes a tragedy that affected both his life inside and outside the ring.

Ávila (14-1, 11 KOs) saw his undefeated record come to an end last year when he lost a disputed 12 round decision against former world champion Wilfredo Vázquez of Puerto Rico. It was Ávila’s first fight outside of his native Mexico. Ávila, who is married with two children, now returns to the same venue, in the same city, where he lost that night looking to return home with a victory, and the high hopes of providing a better life for his family.

“Boxeo Telemundo Ford” is setting a historic milestone in 2014 by becoming the first show of its type to celebrate 25 consecutive years on the air. Its first season this year the show will feature high-caliber headliner matches including the following:

Matt Villanueva of California will defend his World Boxing Organization Latino Super Flyweight title against David “Severo” Carmona on Friday, March 21 (11:35PM/10:35 C). The action moves to Mexico City’s Foro Polanco the following week, March 28 (11:35PM/10:35 C), when Filipino Marvin “Chavacano Disaster” Mabait will try to hold onto his title as the WBO’s Intercontinental Bantamweight champion against a challenge from hometown favorite Alejandro “Payasito” Hernández. Mexico’s Julián “Chicano” Rivera and Joebert “Little Pacman” Álvarez of the Philippines will close the season on April 4(11:35PM/10:35 C), also at Foro Polanco.

Deportes Telemundo, Telemundo Media’s sports division, is one of the leading providers of Spanish-language sports content in the United States. The “U.S. Home of the Olympics in Spanish,” and the “U.S. home of the Barclays Premier League in Spanish” as well, Deportes Telemundo also offers World Cup Qualifying away matches played by the Mexican National Team; all Liga MX matches played at home by Club León; the leading boxing show in U.S. Spanish-language television, “Boxeo Telemundo,” and the U.S. broadcast and online rights in Spanish language to the biggest soccer tournament in the world, the FIFA World Cup®, across all platforms (except radio), 2015 through 2022.

In addition to its biggest sporting events, Deportes Telemundo produces two leading sports entertainment shows, “Titulares y Más” and “Titulares Telemundo,” offering the latest sports news and analysis combined with entertainment and lifestyle segments. Deportes Telemundo’s award-winning broadcast team is led by internationally acclaimed sportscaster Andrés Cantor and also includes Jessi Losada, Sammy Sadovnik, Manuel Sol, Leti Coo, Edgar López, Karim Mendiburu, Mirella Grisales, Ana Jurka, Rene Giraldo and Kaziro Aoyama.