Francisco Palacios Added To Greene-Salmon ESPN2 S

Francisco Palacios has stepped up to the challenge against Louis Azille, participating in his first eight-round assignment this Wednesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL.

Palacios, answered the call to duty on five days notice, replacing O’Neill Bell.

Nonetheless, Palacios enters the ring with a composed mindset. "It’s always a challenge," says Palacios of his chosen trade, "whoever it is. I never underestimate anybody. He’s prepared to fight. For me to become world champion, this is my first step."

Palacios 11-0 (5 KOs) was born in the Bronx, NY, but was raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where he grew up idolizing Hector Camacho. An articulate man, "Wizard" attended North Carolina Central University and Marquette University on scholarships. Palacios had a distinguished amateur career, consisting of over 70 bouts and a Florida Golden Gloves title.

Azille, 19-3-2 (15 KO), has fought world-caliber competition in Wayne Braithwaite, Imamu Mayfield, and Kelvin Davis, but has only had one fight in the last three years. Palacios lauds Azille, saying that "he’s fought good opposition" and that "he wasn’t brought up protected."

Palacios says of this event, "It’s important because it gives the people a chance to see me who haven’t seen me fight before. After this win, the doors should be open for me to take on the best in the division."

"I want to express my gratitude to Warrior’s Boxing for giving me this opportunity. I appreciate it. I want to shine. It will be an exciting fight. I’ve never been in a boring fight."

In the main event, rising middleweight star Joe Greene (15-0, 11 KOs), one of the best prospects to come out of New York City in years, will face his biggest test to date when he looks to win his first professional title in a 12 round NABA championship bout against Daryl Salmon (16-1, 4 KOs).

Also scheduled is a middleweight bout between former world champion Raul Marquez (39-3, 28 KOs) and Massachusetts’ Harry Jay Pina (15-2, 11 KOs).

In undercard action, six highly-touted prospects will make an appearance, as San Juan lightweight Jesus Pabon (10-0, 7 KOs) takes on Luis Hernandez (7-0, 6 KOs) of Fort Worth, Texas, in a battle of unbeatens; Barranquilla, Colombian knockout artist Raul Pinzon (13-0, 12 KOs) battles Nasser Athumani of Kenya in a six round welterweight bout; Fort Lauderdale’s own Sammy Payne (3-0, 3 KOs) puts his unbeaten record on the line in a lightweight bout against Burthin Rousseau (1-5-1, 1 KO); Tijuana featherweight Noe Bolanos (11-1, 6 KOs) squares off with Texan Jose Hernandez (6-1, 2 KOs), and in the four round junior welterweight opener, Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico’s Kenny Galarza (1-0, 1 KO) locks horns with debuting Carlos Oyola of Cristal River, Florida.

The show is presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing and televised on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights.