OMAHA, Neb. (September 1, 2021) —Professional boxing returns to Omaha Saturday, Sept. 4, at CHI Health Center Parking Lot D. Edel Gomez (4-0) of Omaha headlines the eight-bout card in a light-heavyweight clash against hard-hitting Rico “The Hurricane” Cato (pro boxing debut; 3-4 MMA).
Gomez trains at famed B&B Boxing Academy, home to WBO Welterweight World Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (37-0). Gomez spars with Crawford and Steven “So Cold” Nelson (17-0), and he is trained by Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, who also trains Crawford and Nelson.
“Edel has the look, and he can really fight, too. We are going to move him along similar to Steven Nelson,” McIntyre said.
Gomez boasts a decorated amateur career as a five-time Midwest Golden Gloves Champion, 2014 Miller Lite Boxing Champion, and 2011 Junior Olympics National Champion. He could be the next big name to rise up the boxing ranks out of Omaha.
Rouj “The Hitman” Talat of Lincoln, Neb., will make his much-anticipated pro debut against Quincy Means (0-1) of Pine Bluff, Ark. Talat is an all-action fighter with a crowd-pleasing style. Boxing fans from Lincoln may remember Talat’s vicious first-round knockout for an amateur light-welterweight title in the 2019 Dillon’s Auto Boxing Championships at The Royal Grove.
Other notable bouts include:
- Sarah Liegmann (pro debut) of New York, by way of Reinbek, Germany, versus Kendra Bradley (1-2) of Greensboro, N.C. Liegmann, a 17-time amateur kickboxing world champion, is managed by former HBO Sports Executive Mark Taffet.
- “Big” Rob Mitchell (pro debut) of North Platte, Neb., versus David Becker (1-3) of St. Joseph, Mo. Mitchell, who stands 6’6”, 300 pounds, amassed a 6-4 MMA record and power-punching reputation before transitioning to boxing. He is trained by Omaha boxing legend Grover Wiley.
- Jose Camacho (3-0) of Omaha versus Anel Dudo (pro debut) of Denver, Colo. Camacho also trains at B&B Boxing Academy with Crawford.
- Jack “Lawless” Freriks (3-0) of Lincoln versus Tre’ Dobbins (0-1) of Topeka, Kan.
Crawford is expected to be in attendance, along with world champion Jamel Herring and former world champion Maurice Hooker.
Fights begin at 7 p.m., presented by Carden Combat Sports, BG Sports Entertainment, and Never Surrender MMA. Tickets can be purchased for just $32 at www.cardencombatsports.com. Tickets also grant admission to SeptemberFest, one of Omaha’s largest music, entertainment, and food festivals.
