Key matchup this Saturday night at Cache Creek Casino

Don Chargin Productions and Paco Presents Boxing is returning on October 29th to light things up at the Cache Creek Casino Resort Event Center in Brooks, California.  

In the main event, welterweight Alan Sanchez (21-5-1, 10 KOs) of Fairfield, California, will see what he can do to upset the undefeated Saul Bustos (15-0-1, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles, California.

The two will meet for the WBA Fedecentro title. Bustos is a hot prospect who trains out of Hollywood’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club and is making his northern California debut. If he can capture the win, he could put himself in a spot to get a crack at a world title shot down the line.

Bustos certainly has some of boxing’s very best in his corner in the trio of head trainer Freddie Roach, along with trainers Pepe Reilly and Marvin Somodio. 

Reilly, a former pro-plus, former National Golden Gloves Champion and member of the United States’ 1992 Barcelona Olympics boxing team, caught up with MaxBoxing to chat about Bustos, a fighter who continues to develop and impress.

"Saul is a very solid fighter. If he can get busy, fight more often and continue learning along the way, he can do well at the high level. "He has good hand speed and good power, and we are continually working with him on his defense, which is improving all the time," Reilly said. 

The Wild Card, which has seen its share of legends in sports training there with Roach, is an excellent spot for a prospect like Bustos. 

"He has been getting great sparring at Wild Card, something that is as important as anything in the sport," "Like I said, as he gets bigger fights and keeps learning and making the adjustments necessary, he will do very well."

Being an underdog is nothing new for welterweight Alex Sanchez. Though victorious in 21 of 25 professional fights, Sanchez is used to being underrated.

Sanchez’s career started slowly. He lost two of his first eight fights. Opposing managers likely figured that matching their fighters against Sanchez would result in a win. 

Undefeated fighters Jesse Isais, Alberto Morales, Luis Grajeda, and John Ryan Grimlado tested this theory.

Sanchez defeated them all. The Fairfield, CA, resident always brings it.

While the main event looks to be a can’t-miss matchup, the undercard also features some very strong and intriguing bouts.

Popular cruiserweight Blake "The Beast" McKernan, from just down the road in Sacramento, comes in at 13-1, 6 KO’s, and tangles with 14-fight veteran Roberto Silva (11-3).

McKernon was last seen in the ring two years ago, swapping hands with former world champion Badou Jack.

McKernon showed a huge heart and a cement chin as he mixed it up with Jack. Quitting is not in his makeup.

Super bantamweight Ivan Vergara (8-1, 2 KOs), of Fairfield, California, gets a tough assignment in unbeaten Juan Pedro Miranda (6-0, 2 KOs), of San Diego. Vergara returns to the ring after an absence of three years.

Also, Sacramento State University graduate and featherweight prospect Kevin "No Mas" Montano (3-0, 2 KO’s) will face fellow-undefeated fighter Kevin Perez (1-0-1) of Corona, California, over four rounds. Finally, amidst a lot of anticipation, we’ll see the debut of heavyweight Frederico Pacheco Jr, the brother of Diego Pacheco, in a four-rounder.

These club shows, which highlight prospects on a local and regional stage, are the lifeblood of boxing. This show, run by Paco Damien, who has been doing shows in the area for a decade, will feature some hot California prospects worth keeping an eye on. However, there are no gimmes here as Damien has looked to put the fighters through their toughest test. Every fighter on the card is going to earn their money that night-which translates to a great night at the fights for fans.

"I am so grateful to be back at Cache Creek Casino Resort and for the opportunity to do our show in the new Event Center. "We are thrilled to be able to give local fighters opportunities at a world-class venue like Cache Creek and entertain Northern California fight fans," said Damien. "The main event is something special. We have a great fight that has a WBA title on the line. I am excited to bring this type of fight to the Northern California area," he said.

Additional words by John J. Raspanti.