LaRon Mitchell Back in Action
LaRon Mitchell is not your average boxing prospect. The fact is LaRon is a 36 year old School teacher. Mitchell is in his third year as a teacher at St. Elizabeth’s in the Oakland area, teaching physical education for grades K-8. Mitchell is also currently is undefeated and looking to shake up boxing’s heavyweight division. Mitchell 12-0, 12 KO’s will be back in the ring Friday night at Thompson Promotions Locked N Loaded event at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario, California.
At 36 Mitchell’s time is now as this will be his 3rd of 6 scheduled fights in 2016. LaRon had a stellar amateur career and made it the finals of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. Along the way he defeated current undefeated heavyweight contender Dominic Breazeale. Mitchell also won a silver medal at the U.S. National Championships. The Bay Area heavyweight LaRon Mitchell will take on Colombian veteran Epifanio Mendoza, 42-22-1, 36 KO’s. Mendoza is known for his tough bouts with Amir Monsour, Chad Dawson, Luis Ortiz and Beibut Shumenov to name a few. Mitchell vs. Mendoza is scheduled for 8 rounds, and is the co-main event in what should be an exciting night in Ontario.
In the main event Garden Groves, Jose “El Gato” Roman, 22-1-1, 15 KO’s takes on Mexico’s Bernardo Gomez Uribe, 16-6, 11 KO’s in a lightweight battle. Jose whose lone defeat came off a split decision in 2012 is looking to get to the top of the division. For Jose this fight will be like no other fight he’s been in as this a tough time for Jose and his family. Jose lost his father’s due to surgical complications with a broken leg just a few weeks ago. Jose will definitely be entering the ring with a heavy heart in Friday night’s main event. Roman who works as mechanic, is now taking care of a towing business his father left behind, as well as personally dealing with sudden death of his dad. Then Jose has his main job he’s professional boxer. It’s beyond tough,” said Roman in a recent interview. “He loved boxing. He’s the one who got me started in the sport. My dad taught me the basics at age five and put me in the gym at nine years old. I thought about not fighting, but this is what my father would want. He’d want me in the ring.” To prepare Roman sparred with the once-beaten Jose Zepeda for three weeks, as well as being among the rotation of sparring partners for former world champion Ruslan Provodnikov.
Other bouts include Lightweight Manuel Mendez, 11-1-1, 7 KO’s of Indio, California as he takes on Ricardo Maldonado, 6-5 of Seattle in a bout scheduled for 6-rounds. Mendez has come into his own as of late producing his 7 knockout wins in his last 8 fights. Mendez is trained by the well-respected Joel Diaz.
Also on the card is welterweight prospect Eridanni Leon, 2-2 of Los Angeles will fight an opponent to be named later in a bout scheduled for 4-rounds.
Opening the “Locked N Loaded” show are bantamweights Rudy Garcia,1-0 of Los Angeles and Damon Simon,0-3-1 of Houston in a scheduled 4 round bout.
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