26 year-old Eddie Ortiz is trying to be the next in a long line of top fighters from San Antonio, Texas.

In 2010, The 26 year-old started boxing at the age of 18.  He was a lifelong athlete, who wanted to box his whole life, but his parents would not allow young Eddie to begin fighting until he turned 18.

Eddie embarked on a successful amateur career where he went 40-5, and along the way he captured the 2012 National PAL title, 2015 U.S. National title that catapulted him to be ranked number-two at middleweight and also a berth in the 2015 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Ortiz was training at the Zarzamora Gym in San Antonio under the guidance of Tony Ayala, Sr. 

Ayala's son, Tony Ayala, Jr. was managed by Dr. Brian Raditz.  Raditz took over the manager duties of young Ortiz.

Ortiz turned professional in 2016, and is undefeated with a record of 5-0-2 with three wins coming via knockouts.

The only two blemishes for Ortiz are two disputed draws when he fought in Philadelphia.

Ortiz describes himself as a boxer-puncher, who likes to exchange and he uses a lot of movement and footwork.

Ortiz will be in action on February 17th at The San Antiono Shrine Auditorium. 

"My next fight is the next step towards my goal of being the top middleweight prospect in Texas, and then being a world champ," said Ortiz.

Said Raditz, "He is a two-time National champion, he is tall at 6'3" and I feel he has a big future in the sport."

WBO number one ranked lightweight Ray Beltran and number two ranked Paulus Moses are set to do battle for the vacant lightweight world title exclusively live on BoxNation.

The pair will clash on February 16th from the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno for Terry Flanagan’s recently vacated WBO world championship belt as part of BoxNation’s exclusive output deal with promoters Top Rank.

Mexican mauler Beltran will challenge for the world title for the third, and at 36, possibly final time of his career.

A long-time sparring partner of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, Beltran’s first shot at a major title was a disputed draw against Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2013, with his second seeing him outclassed a year later by pound-for-pound ace Terence Crawford.

Beltran, with a record of 34-7-1, 21 KOs, is fighting for more than just a world title as he looks to apply for permanent residence in the US with a victory proving a huge boost in his application attempts.

However, he is set to face a similarly experienced foe in Namibia’s Moses who will go into the ring with a record of 40-3, with 25 KOs.

The 39-year-old, nicknamed ‘The Hitman’, will be fighting on American soil for the first time and is on a good run of form after going unbeaten in nearly three years.

He is used to travelling having fought around the world in South Africa, Japan, Ukraine and even Scotland when he lost a unanimous points decision after challenging for Burns’ lightweight world title in 2012.

February 16th though is all geared towards Beltran and he will be hoping to finally get his hands on a world title after a tough and long road.

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “This is a great opportunity for Ray Beltran to finally become a world champion. He has been unlucky in the past but now exclusively live on BoxNation on February 16th he will get the chance to challenge for Terry Flanagan’s former belt. In boxing it is never easy and Paulus Moses will have big dreams of his own. Both men know what is on the line and will produce a great fight for BoxNation subscribers.”

BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com, via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) and TV Player for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.

A massive undercard featuring some of the brightest prospects and fan favorites in the tri-state area will be on display on Saturday night, February 24th at The Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City.

The inaugural Boardwalk Boxing card is promoted by Rising Star Promotions.

Last week a mouth watering main event was announced that will pit  Thomas "Cornflake" LaManna taking on Gabriel "Tito" Bracero in a ten-round battle for the WBC Fecarbox Welterweight title.

A trio of six-round bouts will top a ten-bout undercard.

Tommy Rainone (26-8-2, 6 KOs) of Farmingdale, NY will take on Eduardo Flores (23-29-3, 14 KOs) of Quito, Ecuador in a welterweight bout.

Undefeated light heavyweight Frederick Julan (8-0, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY via Paris, France will take part in a bout against an opponent to be named.

Undefeated super middleweight Darren Goodall (5-0, 4 KOs) of New Milford, NJ will fight veteran Edgar Perez (7-22, 3 KOs) of Chicago.

In four-round bouts:

Bryne Green (7-10-1, 3 KOs) of Paulsboro, NJ will fight Tyrone Luckey (8-8-3, 6 KO's) in a battle of New Jersey based junior lightweights

Jahmal Dyer (4-0, 2 Kos) of Baltimore, MD will take on an opponent to be named in a lightweight bout.

Undefeated junior lightweight Donald Smith (5-0, 3 KOs) of Philadelphia battles Andrew Bentley (3-2) of Jersey City, NJ.

Mike Rashid of Tucson, AZ will make his pro debut against Demetrius Shaw (0-2) of Wilson, NC in heavyweight bout.

Ernesto Perez of Vineland, NJ will make his pro debut against Steve Moore (0-2) of Orange, NJ in a welterweight tussle.

Omar Kabary Salem (1-0) of Brooklyn, NY will fight pro debuting Cory Weekley of Philadelphia in a middleweight bout.

Osnel Charles (11-8-1 KO) of Atlantic City, NJ boxes against Laquan Lewis (2-8) of Brooklyn, NY in a junior welterweight tilt.

Tickets are available for $150, $80 and $55, and can be purchased online at www.risingboxingpromotions.com.

This event is sponsored by Acos Energy, Designer Wraps, Eat Clean Bro, Calvi Electric, and Alpha Academy.