SAN ANTONIO, TX - As Armando Cardenas Jr. (2-0,2 KO’s) made his way to the ring for the July 27th card “Knockout Kings 2” he felt a rush go through him. That rush was the result of 8,811 fans cheering for the hometown boxer who was wearing former Spurs center David Robinson’s jersey.
“I can’t really explain how that felt, but I just felt the Adrenaline. Coming out and getting that kind of response from the AT&T Center was crazy. I’m born and raised in San Antonio, hearing that response and everyone showing me love, words can’t explain how that felt.”
The 23 year old Cardenas defeated Stephen Salazar by way of technical knockout one minute and twenty-one seconds into the first round to pick up his second professional win.
Although Cardenas’s professional career did not begin until May of 2013, he has been training and competing since 2000.
“I started boxing when I was nine; I had the same body structure back then, tall and skinny. Instead of the two weeks everyone else has to wait to spar, I had to wait two months. Once I got in the ring it seemed like boxing came naturally. I was able to overpower the first kid I got in there so they ended up putting the best kid in the gym at the time in there with me. I was able to hold my own.”
Cardenas has an estimated 85 amateur fights under his belt with a record of 70-15. He says he doesn't quite remember all 70 wins but he sure does remember all 15 losses.
“Usually when you make it to the end (of big tournaments), you fight the better guys and that’s where you get your losses. Those are the fights that you usually remember because you want revenge.”
In his pro debut, Cardenas’s defeated Shelton Richardson in Floresville, Texas by way of knockout only 30 seconds into the first round. Then came his fight on the Knockout Kings 2 undercard against Stephen Salazar, who was making his pro debut, which fight lasted only one minute and twenty-one seconds. Between the two professional fights, Cardenas has fought only one minute and fifty-one seconds.
Cardenas does admit he was both anxious and nervous for his professional debut in May of 2013.
“I knew I had to be ready. I was a little nervous about doing it without headgear. I was scared of getting hit in the head, especially with the smaller gloves the punches were going to hurt more.”
He also admits that he shared the same feelings going into fight number two.
“There were a little less butterflies. You’re nervous every single fight, if someone says there not, they’re lying. I had 85 amateur fights and every fight I feel the same way.”
Cardenas is a walking postman by day and a boxer by night. After his ten hour work day he heads over to Angel’s Boxing Gym for another two hour workout.
Jesse James Leija and Mike Battah of Leija-Battah Promotions announced they signed a contract with Golden Boy Promotions to host some of Fox Sports 1’s Monday night fights in San Antonio. The network debuts on August 16th. The first installment of Golden Boy on Fox will be August 19th and the first fight from San Antonio will be September 2nd.
“We’re training hard and if I can I’d like to be on the September 2nd card. If I could, I’d like to be on every single card they offered me. I’s not my place to say who’d I’d like to fight. I’m still coming up so I can’t really call anyone out yet. I still got to pay my dues.”
Author: Stephen Sanchez
Follow: Twitter@StephenSanchez_
Website:http://www.saprosports.com
“I can’t really explain how that felt, but I just felt the Adrenaline. Coming out and getting that kind of response from the AT&T Center was crazy. I’m born and raised in San Antonio, hearing that response and everyone showing me love, words can’t explain how that felt.”
The 23 year old Cardenas defeated Stephen Salazar by way of technical knockout one minute and twenty-one seconds into the first round to pick up his second professional win.
Although Cardenas’s professional career did not begin until May of 2013, he has been training and competing since 2000.
“I started boxing when I was nine; I had the same body structure back then, tall and skinny. Instead of the two weeks everyone else has to wait to spar, I had to wait two months. Once I got in the ring it seemed like boxing came naturally. I was able to overpower the first kid I got in there so they ended up putting the best kid in the gym at the time in there with me. I was able to hold my own.”
Cardenas has an estimated 85 amateur fights under his belt with a record of 70-15. He says he doesn't quite remember all 70 wins but he sure does remember all 15 losses.
“Usually when you make it to the end (of big tournaments), you fight the better guys and that’s where you get your losses. Those are the fights that you usually remember because you want revenge.”
In his pro debut, Cardenas’s defeated Shelton Richardson in Floresville, Texas by way of knockout only 30 seconds into the first round. Then came his fight on the Knockout Kings 2 undercard against Stephen Salazar, who was making his pro debut, which fight lasted only one minute and twenty-one seconds. Between the two professional fights, Cardenas has fought only one minute and fifty-one seconds.
Cardenas does admit he was both anxious and nervous for his professional debut in May of 2013.
“I knew I had to be ready. I was a little nervous about doing it without headgear. I was scared of getting hit in the head, especially with the smaller gloves the punches were going to hurt more.”
He also admits that he shared the same feelings going into fight number two.
“There were a little less butterflies. You’re nervous every single fight, if someone says there not, they’re lying. I had 85 amateur fights and every fight I feel the same way.”
Cardenas is a walking postman by day and a boxer by night. After his ten hour work day he heads over to Angel’s Boxing Gym for another two hour workout.
Jesse James Leija and Mike Battah of Leija-Battah Promotions announced they signed a contract with Golden Boy Promotions to host some of Fox Sports 1’s Monday night fights in San Antonio. The network debuts on August 16th. The first installment of Golden Boy on Fox will be August 19th and the first fight from San Antonio will be September 2nd.
“We’re training hard and if I can I’d like to be on the September 2nd card. If I could, I’d like to be on every single card they offered me. I’s not my place to say who’d I’d like to fight. I’m still coming up so I can’t really call anyone out yet. I still got to pay my dues.”
Author: Stephen Sanchez
Follow: Twitter@StephenSanchez_
Website:http://www.saprosports.com