Eddie Gomez to face Francisco Santana on June 6 ShoBox

Photo courtesy of Hogan Photos

Eddie Gomez to face Francisco Santana on June 6 ShoBox

The day before Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto tangle at Madison Square Garden in perhaps the year’s most anticipated fight, an enticing doubleheader will take place a few hours upstate at Turning Stone Casino that will be televised on ShoBox. The fight takes place near where the International Boxing Hall of Fame will induct their latest class of inductees that same weekend.

The main event featured unbeaten young welterweight phenom Eddie Gomez against battle tested Francisco Santana in a ten round bout, Santana confirmed Monday on Twitter.

The 21-year old Gomez (16-0, 10 knockouts) is one of the sport’s fastest risers. In January, he outpointed unbeaten Daquan Arnett in his hometown of Brooklyn, proving he’s ready and willing to take on all comers.

Santana (19-3-1, 9 KOs) of Santa Barbara, Calif., has shown he has matured as a fighter in compiling a seven bout win streak dating back to a October 2011 defeat to unbeaten Jermell Charlo, a bout that also took place on ShoBox. Most of Santana’s recent bouts have hovered near the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

“It’s gonna be a helluva fight for sure, “said Santana. “I like to come forward and Eddie is an explosive fighter.”

The 27-year old Santana has the edge in experience, having fought as a pro since 2005. Once a top prospect in the Goossen-Tutor Promotions stable, Santana’s career hit a dip when he lost twice to current junior welterweight contender Karim Mayfield. Their first encounter was a crazy six-round war that saw Mayfield nab a split decision. A year and a half later, Mayfield handed Santana his only stoppage defeat, though Santana maintains he wasn’t in the right place for that fight.

Six of Santana’s last seven fights have been at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, just a short drive from his Santa Barbara stomping grounds. Santana will fight east of Las Vegas for the first time in his career when the two meet.

Also on the card, middleweights Nick Brinson (16-1-2, 6 KOs) and Hugo Centeno Jr. (20-0, 1 NC, 11 KOs) meet in a ten-round bout. Both guys are familiar to ShoBox audiences and the bout is another extremely well-matched one.

-Mark E. Ortega / @MarkEOrtega

-Managing editor at www.BehindTheGloves.com