Bryan Polaco and Omar Rosario both opted to turn pro during an originally designated Olympic year for the purpose of remaining active.
Their handlers are more than doing their part to live up to that promise.
The pair of amateur standouts and rookie prospects will both appear in separate bouts on the fall season premiere of Boxeo Telemundo, which takes place October 2 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.
Polaco (2-0, 2KO) will make his third appearance on the circuit, as he faces Frederick, Maryland’s Ryan Burrs in a scheduled four-round junior middleweight bout. The 6’2” southpaw from Fajardo, Puerto Rico—who still plans to represent Puerto Rico next summer in the 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympics—made his pro debut on the August 14 summer season premiere, scoring a 1st round knockout as was the case in his next fight three weeks later, with both taking place in this very venue.
“Nothing delights me more than coming to beautiful America city like Kissimmee and bringing the biggest night of boxing to those watching on Boxeo Telemundo,” noted Polaco.
Burrs (2-2, 0KOs) has also kept active, serving as the first career pro opponent for highly touted former U.S. amateur talent Javier Martinez. The two fought this past July, live on ESPN from The Bubble at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Burrs dropping a four-round decision to snap a two-fight win streak.
Rosario (1-0, 0KOs) returns following a four-round decision win over Solon Staley at Osceola Heritage Park on the August 21 edition of Boxeo Telemundo. The 22-year old from Caguas, Puerto Rico—who is managed by Split-T Management’s Tim VanNewhouse—will face Santa Maria, California’s Matt Gavers (1-4-1, 0KOs) in a scheduled four-round junior welterweight contest.
Unbeaten lightweight Luis Valentin (3-0, 1KO) fights for the first time out of his native Puerto Rico, as the 23-year old from Toa Alta faces Otar Eransoyan (1-0, 1KO) in a six-round battle.
Eransoyan—a 27-year old Georgian now based out of Miami—made his pro debut in this venue on the August 28 show, scoring a 2nd round knockout of DeShawn Kennedy. The show was topped by the summer series’ biggest upset, as Dennis Contreras scored a 5th round knockout of fringe featherweight contender Belmar Preciado.
Contreras headlines Friday’s show, as the 28-year old spoiler from Guadalajara faces unbeaten countryman Carlos Flores (20-0, 11KO)—a 20-year old from Tijuana—in a scheduled 10-round regional title fight.
Also on the show, Miami-based Cuban featherweight Hairon Socarras (22-1-3, 14KOs) will serve in the evening’s chief support in a six-round bout versus an opponent to be confirmed.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox