Opponents selected for Mendoza, Griego

Unbeaten fighters part of Saturday’s card at Convention Center

Atrisco Boxing teammates Brian Mendoza and Matthew Griego have their opponents for Saturday’s professional card at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Emily Pandelakis of Victory Boxing, which is promoting the card, said Mendoza (14-0, nine knockouts), a welterweight from Rio Rancho, is scheduled to face Tyler Pogline (6-13-1, five KOs) of Colorado Springs.

Griego, (6-0, six KOs), a junior flyweight from Albuquerque, is matched against Mexico’s David Martino (2-1, one KO).

Albuquerque featherweight Alex Holguin (10-1, six KOs) also is scheduled to fight on the card. No opponent for Holguin has been announced.

Martino, 19, from San Felipe, Baja, Calif., won his first two pro fights in Mexico. In February, he lost in Ontario, Calif., to unbeaten (5-0) Rudy Garcia of Los Angeles.

Pogline’s record doesn’t suggest he poses a threat to Mendoza, though the Colorado fighter’s five knockouts indicate he does have some power.

Saturday’s pro card is being held in conjunction with the annual Rumble in Rio, an amateur boxing event that pits law enforcement professionals against fire fighters for charity.

For ticket information, call

the Convention Center at 505-768-3803.

MALDONADO UPDATE: Albuquerque junior welterweight Fidel Maldonado Jr. (22-3-1, 19 KOs) told KRQE-TV he’ll face Mohamed Rodriguez (9-3, three KOs) on a Legacy Promotions card scheduled for April 1 at the Manuel Lujan Building on the State Fairgrounds.

Rodriguez, of San Luís Potosí, Mexico, has won five of his last six bouts. AMATEUR BOXING: Albuquerque’s Aaron Perez is the nation’s No. 2 132-pounder in USA Boxing’s most recent elite men’s rankings. Perez last month represented the U.S. in the Strandja Tournament in Solfia, Bulgaria, losing a decision to Iurii Shestak of Ukraine.

Los Lunas’ Elyza Peralta is ranked third in the elite women’s rankings at 132 pounds. Bloomfield’s Dacia Jacquez is ranked No. 6 at 119 pounds.

From March 20-25, Albuquerque will host USA Boxing’s Western Elite Qualifier and Regional Open Championships.

MMA: In Keshena, Wis., Albuquerque’s Tim Sosa retained his King of the Cage Saturday night with a victory by first-round TKO (elbows, doctor’s stoppage) over Gonzalo Ponce. Sosa is 8-5, Ponce 3-1.

Middleweight Sidiah Parker (17-6), Sosa’s teammate at Albuqeurque’s FIT-NHB gym, defeated Jay Jackson (2-7) by second-round submission (rear naked choke). Parker is the KOTC middleweight champion, but this was a non-title fight.