UNDEFEATED RIO GRANDE VALLEY RIVALS MANUEL “MANNYPAC” HERNANDEZ AND ANGEL SERRATO COLLIDE IN A MUCH-ANTICIPATED 130-POUND FIGHT
A TOTAL OF FIVE RED OWL BOXING
UNDERCARD MATCHUPS ANNOUNCED TODAY
TICKETS FOR “RED OWL BOXING PRESENTS: BOXFEST XX” ARE ON SALE AT TICKETMASTER.COM AND PAYNE ARENA
Pictured above: Undefeated rising star Angel Serrato is preparing for his toughest fight to date at “Red Owl Boxing Presents Boxfest XX” in Hidalgo, Texas on Friday, Sept. 11.
Houston, Texas – Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Red Owl Boxing today announced five preliminary card bouts, including a highly-anticipated showdown between two undefeated, young Rio Grande Valley rivals – Manuel “MannyPac” Hernandez (5-0) and Angel Serrato (4-0, 1 KO) - for its ‘Boxfest XX’ championship event at Payne Arena in Hidalgo, Texas on Friday, Sept. 11.
The junior lightweight (130 pounds) matchup between the 19-year-old Hernandez of Mission and the 20-year-old Serrato of Weslaco represents a rare meeting between two highly touted, unbeaten fighters at such an early stage in their respective careers.
“What we have put together for fans is an exceptional matchup that the world of boxing is hardly ever treated to, between two young trailblazers at this early juncture of their careers. It’s a look at the future and is bound to be an incredible fight,” said Red Owl Boxing CEO Greg Bloom.
Hernandez, a student of the sweet science since the age of 12, is a protégé of Coach Sal Gonzalez, and was a decorated amateur competitor and four-time Golden Gloves Champion
His opponent, Serrato, also a former Golden Gloves champion, is trained by Omar Figueroa, the father and mentor of reigning world champion Brandon Figueroa.
Above: Manuel “MannyPac” Hernandez (right) is a former, four-time Golden Gloves champion
Also announced today were four other Red Owl Boxing preliminary card bouts, including a welterweight (147 pounds) battle between two knockout artists in Johnny Soto (6-2, 4 KO’s) of Mission and Ramon Duarte Marquez (5-8, 5 KO’s) of Duarte, Ariz.
A women’s junior lightweight bout will pit two professional debut competitors – Mercedes Castanon (0-0) of San Antonio, Texas and Katelyn Marks (0-0) of Louisville, Kentucky – against one another.
Making a quick return to the ring after earning her second professional victory at the Red Owl Boxing event in El Paso, Texas last month, Ariana Carrasco (2-0, 1 KO) of Las Cruces, N.M. will face off with professional debut competitor, Jodeci Chadwick (0-0) of Atlanta, Georgia at super welterweight (154 pounds).
In lightweight (135 pounds) action, Nelson Hampton (12-12-1, 7 KO’s) of McAllen, Texas will square off with Andres Rey (5-1, 1 KO) of Albuquerque, N.M.
The previously announced, 10-round main event will feature fast rising contender Giovanni Marquez (15-1, 8 KO’s) of Houston battle it out against hard-hitting Rowin Javier Sanchez (7-2-3, 5 KO’s), a native of San Felipe, Venezuela and resident of Prichard, Ala. with the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) North American Boxing Association (NABA) junior welterweight (140 pounds) silver championship on the line.
In co-main event action, 2020 Olympian Shakilya Ellis (1-0) of Lynn, Mass. will look for her second professional win against undefeated rising star Karen Chacon (3-0, 1 KO) of Bogotá, Colombia in a six-round featured featherweight (126 pounds) bout.
Priced from $35, tickets for “Red Owl Boxing Presents: Boxfest XX” are on sale at Ticketmaster.com and the Payne Arena box office.
The event’s main card will stream live on DAZN, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on September 11, and the preliminary fight card will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Red Owl Boxing’s YouTube channel.
ABOUT RED OWL BOXING:
Red Owl Boxing is a North America-based media and live event promotional company that is dedicated to providing the next generation of boxing champions with a platform and pathway to achieve greatness in the ring.
Founded in 2021 by Canadian entrepreneur and longtime boxing enthusiast Gabriel Fanous, the company takes a holistic view of delivering world-class events by operating its own arena venues – one in Houston and the other in Brampton, Canada - dedicated solely to producing live events that offer best-in-class fan experiences, on a regular basis.
Contact:
Mike Afromowitz
Fajador Media Group for Red Owl Boxing
Phone: 917-566-8754
Email: MikeA@FajadorMedia.com
