Namauu headlines local show at Rio

Preview & photo by Chris Cozzone

Moving their home from the Orleans Casino to the Rio’s Crown Night Club, Crown Boxing has regrouped with a five-card set for Friday night headlining local UNLV light-heavyweight Henry Namauu.

In the scheduled eight-round main event, Namauu, 6-3, 4 KOs, on a three-bout win streak, is out to rack up a fourth win when he takes on Chad Davis, 2-5, of Phoenix, who’s dropped four of his last five bouts.

Davis will be making his debut at cruiserweight, after a career fighting at heavyweight. He will also be looking to avenge a 2008 decision loss to Namauu.

Namauu was a man of few words at today’s press conference, held at fight site, saying, “I’m coming to fight so I hope he’s ready.”

Promoter Frank Luca assured those in attendance that Namauu “speaks louder with his fists than his statements,” and that, by the end of the year, the nine-out veteran would be fighting for “the light-heavyweight championship.”

Namauu and Davis will go eight rounds, or less.

In the four-round co-main, Las Vegas featherweight Rocco Santomauro (4-0) will take on Phoenix bantam Walter Santibanes (1-0), who debuted in July.

In a four-rounder at junior featherweight, Brian Battease (6-2-2, 1 KO) vs. Alexis Santiago (3-0-1, 1 KO), of Phoenix. Battease is hoping to bounce back from a TKO loss in March against the undefeated Santiago.

In a four-round female bout between Las Vegas featherweights, hard-hitting Filipino Crystal Hoy (3-2-2, 2 KOs) takes on Mandy LaPointe (2-1-1). The 30-year-old LaPointe is making her comeback after an eight-year layoff while Hoy is hoping to rebound from a loss in her last outing. If successful, Hoy will fight on the Sept. 17 card in Primm.

In the opening bout, between Vegas welterweights, Juan Alcolea (2-2) takes on Daniel Reece (1-1).

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Tickets are now on sale at the Rio box office at 702.777.7776, from $25.