Modesto boxer Gaxiola to fight at Fresno’s Selland Arena

Modesto boxer Michael Gaxiola will try to stay unbeaten in his young career when he takes on Julian Lopez on Saturday night at Fresno’s Selland Arena.

This will be the biggest fight of the 21-year-old’s professional career, which began last summer.

The four-round bantamwight fight is part of the Top Rank event featuring former U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez (13-0, 10 knockouts).

Gaxiola made his pro debut last summer at a fight card at Modesto’s SOS Club. He last fought in January, defeating Adrian Rodriguez of Oakland at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Yolo County.

Gaxiola was added to the card two weeks ago, according to his coach, Tony Avila, owner of Modesto’s Bad To The Bonz boxing gym.

“He’s been working hard and staying ready,” Avila said.

Lopez, a southpaw, is 1-0, having last fought in July 2012.

“He’s tough and durable,” Avila said of Lopez.

He said Gaxiola’s strategy will be to stay on the attack, create angles and keep his opponent busy.

Meanwhile, Ramirez, from Avenal, will be defending his North American Boxing Federation junior welterweight title when he faces Denver’s Rob Frankel (33-15-1, 6 KOs).

The fight card starts at 6 p.m.

Baseball

All-CCAA team – Cal State Stanislaus senior catcher Marcus Mastrobuoni, who batted .357 and led the Warriors with 30 runs batted in, made the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association second team. Mastrobuoni also had 15 doubles for a .522 slugging percentage.

Also on the second team were juniors Michael Chavarria (.299, 21 RBIs) and Scott Stetson (.335, 14 stolen bases). The Warriors’ Aaron Godinez and Nick Molina made honorable mention.

Tennis

Postponement – Rain forced the postponement of Thursday’s opening matches of the Sac-Joaquin Section Individual Tennis Championships in both divisions I and II. Action is rescheduled for today at the Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville.

Golf

NorCals – Modesto Junior College’s Tim Baker (161 over two rounds), Kyle Head (165) , Riley Pizl (167) and Christian Mullins (170) did not advance from the Northern California Championships at Merced Country Club. Reedley, the NorCal champion, will join Santa Rosa, Monterey Peninsula, Folsom Lake and individual qualifiers at the State Championships – expanded this year to eight teams – on Monday at Kings River CC in Kingsburg.

This story was originally published May 7, 2015 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Modesto boxer Gaxiola to fight at Fresno’s Selland Arena."