Philippines, 16 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


High School senior & celebrated California amateur Paolo “Pow” Barredo To make pro boxing debut Sept. 28

PhilBoxing.com





“Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series to launch at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, CA

LOS ANGELES (September 3, 2024) – Two days after his 18th birthday, Walnut High senior Paolo “Pow” Barredo will make his long-awaited pro debut in a four-round featherweight bout on the inaugural event of “Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series, presented by Toro Promotions, on September 28th at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, California.

Barredo was a celebrated U.S. amateur boxer who won 90 of 106 matches, highlighted by his 2021 Junior Olympics title-winning performance. He has been matched in the four-round, co-main event for his pro debut versus Mychaquell Shields (2-5, 0 KOs), of Alpine (CA).

“Pow” started boxing at the tender age of five because his father wanted him to stay in shape, away from gangs, and prevent him from being bullied.

“I probably would have been bullied because I was easy to push around back then,” Barredo remembered. “He really got me in boxing for self-defense, but I got really good at it fast. I thought about turning pro two years ago, at 16, but I wanted to continue developing. Now, I’m ready and I think competing as an amateur in California against some of the best competition in the country has prepared me.”

Waiting four years to turn pro in hopes of making the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team was never a consideration for Barredo, who did think about turning pro two years in Mexico at the age of 16, like Devin Haney did. One of the contemporary boxers he studies, two-division world champion Haney’s first four pro fights were in Mexico until he was old enough to be licensed in Nevada.

“I was never really interested in being an Olympian,” Barredo remarked. “My dream has always been to turn pro when I turn 18.”

Because he’s still In high school Barredo has an incredibly busy daily schedule, especially now when he’s training hard for his first professional fight.

On an average weekday, Barredo wakes up at 6 a.m. and has his first class at 7:15. He brings healthy snacks to maintain his weight and then runs between 3 and 4 ½ miles. Then he goes to Riverside Gym to train for three hours, starting at 3 or 4, routinely shadow boxing in the ring, jumping rope, hitting the speed bag, followed by pounding the heavy bag for 15 rounds, unless, of course, he’s sparring six rounds. “Pow” arrives home between 8 and 8:30 to eat dinner and complete his homework. By 10, he goes to sleep, and starts all over again the next morning.

“I never have free time,” he noted.

Barreda said that after he graduates from high school, he will likely take off at least a year to fully focus on being a prizefighter, although he indicated he may eventually work in real estate or the trades. For now, though, he’s all in on boxing.

“He’s (Barredo) a good kid,” Barredo’s trainer/manager Henry Ramirez commented. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s a hard worker who has been with me since he was nine. He’s a great student of the game; he is a natural learner with a great ring IQ.

“’Pow’ has a real shot at not only being a world champion, but developing into a super star, and I’ve never put a label on a fighter like that before.”

The other co-main event is between powerhouse heavyweights Tsotne Rogava (9-0, 7 KOs) and Alexander “The Great” Flores (19-4-1, 17 KOs), who clash in a much anticipated 10-round fight for the vacant WBC U.S. heavyweight crown.

2020 Ukraine Olympian Rogava, who is trained by Hall of Famer Joe Goossen, was born in Georgia and he now lives in Marina del Rey (CA). The 6’ 5”, 270-pound Rogava will take on the 6’ 4”, 260-pound Flores, fighting out of Rowland Heights (CA). Three of Michael Love-trained Flores’ career losses have been to world champions Charles Martin, Joseph Parker and Luis Ortiz.

_________________________________________________________________

TORO PROMOTIONS TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE THIS THURSDAY

Toro Promotions is hosting its “Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series press conference this Thursday (Sept. 5), starting at 5 p.m. PT, at Walnut City Hall (Senior Community Center) in Walnut, California. Special guests will include Paolo “Pow” Barredo, Tsotne Rogava, Alexander Flores, Henry Ramirez (Barredo’s trainer/manager), Hall of Famer Joe Goossen (Rogava’s trainer), Michael Love (Flores’ trainer), Dorian Mendez, Alejandro Alvarado, promoter Azat Torosyan (Toro Promotions) and matchmaker Whit Haydon.
_________________________________________________________________

World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 14-rated cruiserweight Craig “Pressure” Parker (16-0, 16 KOs) – 16-0 with 16 knockouts – faces veteran Nick “Slick” Kisner (23-7-1, 7 KOs), the former Maryland State and NABA USA cruiserweight champion out of Baltimore, in an eight-round bout.

Santa Ana (CA) junior lightweight meets Bakersfield’s (CA), Matt Gaver (3-9-2, 1 KO), and Santa Ana (CA) junior lightweight Michael “El Chamuco” Bracamontes (9-2-1, 5 KOs) fights Arsen Poghosyan (3-2-1, 2 KOs), who fights out of Los Angeles, in a pair of six-round matches.

A four-round fight between Dorian Mendez (4-0, 2 KOs) and crosstown Los Angeles rival David Romero (5-0-2, 1 KO) embodies the spirit of the “Heartbeat of LA Boxing” series in a very rare match-up showcasing a pair of unbeaten junior middleweight prospects.

Five additional local fighters will make their pro debuts: La Puente (CA) lightweight Alejandro Alvarado, a 2021 California State Silver Mittens Champion, vs. San Diego’s Eduardo Mondragon, Fontana welterweight Jesse Zuniga vs. Riverside’s Oscar Trujillo, and Riverside (CA) bantamweight Hector Oros vs. TBA.

Card Subject to change.

Tickets prices range between $500.00 and $100.00 and are available to purchase by going on Instagram @ToroPromotionsInc and follow the link in its bio, or go directly to www.EventBrite.com.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT, first bout at 6:30 p.m. PT.

INFORMATION:

Instagram: @ToroPromotionsInc, @PacificPalmsResort, @PowBarredo
Facebook: /ToroPromotionsInc, /PacificPalmsResort, /PowPowBarredo
You Tube: @ToroPromotionsINC,
X (formerly Twitter): @ToroPromotions, @PacificPalms, @PowBarredo
TikTok: @ToroPromo




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.