Sacramento has been home to many champions and junior-welterweight Cain Sandoval hopes to be the next one.
On February 23, Sandoval faces 2008 US Olympian Javier Molina in the co-main event of a 360 Boxing Promotions card at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California.
Sandoval, a boxer with over 100 amateur fights, has hit the pro ranks running.
The 21-year-old has a perfect record of 11-0, with all of his wins coming by way of knockout and his impressive run caught the eye of Tom Loeffler’s promotion that signed him. Now, Sandoval wants to bring a world title back to the city.
Sandoval told the following to ProBox TV.
“I feel like he thinks I am still a little kid, and I am going to show him that I am the future,” Sandoval said of his opponent.
“He is proud to have given world champions hard fights. For me, that isn’t good enough. I think he looks at having close fights with good fighters as an accomplishment.”
Sandoval is referencing Molina’s decision loss to Jose Pedraza, a two-division world champion. Molina also lost to Jesus Ramos Jr., a top-tier prospect, and Jamal James.
Sacramento has had Tony ‘The Tiger’ Lopez, Loreto Garza, and Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales in recent memory who held titles. Sandoval is well aware of the city’s lineage and history. He wants to be the fighter that inspires the next generation of fighters who pick the gloves in Sacramento.
“I am looking to bring boxing back to Sacramento,” he added. “This is yet another step in that direction. I look at all the legends before me, and hope to have my name mentioned amongst the greats from my city.”
Sandoval’s last fight was a November fifth-round stoppage of Wesley Ferrer. Molina is coming off a nearly two-year lay-off after a split-decision loss to Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr and Molina is currently riding a career-worst three-fight losing streak.
Sandoval sees this as the launching point for his own career. This is the fight that, he believes, takes him into main event fights for 360 Boxing Promotions. The 34-year-old, LA veteran Molina has other ideas, of course.
“I am going to bring an exciting performance that makes the fans want to watch me again,” Sandoval stated. “This is the start of a big year for me.”
