LEMOORE -- Three World Championship bouts will be on display on Thursday at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore. Watsonville's Carina Moreno (19-1) will defend her WBC Strawweight belt in a 10-round showdown with Albuquerque, New Mexico's Jodie Esquibel (5-2-1).

In a 10-round WBC USNBC Interim Cruiserweight title fight, Palace favorite Las Vegas' Dewey Copper (17-1-3) takes on Pensacola, Fla.'s Arthur Williams (44-15-1) and in a rematch St. Louis, Mo.'s Don Juan Futrell (21-3-2) defends his WBC USNBC Jr. Welterweight title against Tulare's Hector Alatorre (15-5).

"Anytime you can feature three WBC title fights you're talking about a major boxing event. We have three title fights. We have best female fighter in the world right now pound-for-pound in Carina Moreno and Dewey Cooper, who is a rising star," Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup said. "Cooper is facing a veteran of the sport in Williams. Then a rematch everyone wants to see. First time (Futrell and Alatorre) fought it was a very close fight. Futrell is vowing to knock Alatorre out in this fight. We know if Hector comes in focused that he can hang with anyone in the world. This is one of more anticipated rematches put together"

Tickets can be purchased at tickets.com or charge by phone 1-800-225-2277 and at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino gift shop.

Fights start at 6:30 p.m. and doors will open at 5:30.

Also in action is the return of Fresno middleweight Frank Mondejar (16-4) against St. Joseph, Mo.'s Brian Bernard (7-4-2); Visalia bantamweight Aaron Alafa (2-0) takes on Los Angeles' Ephraim Martinez (1-0); Niagara Falls, New York welterweight James Ventry (6-5-1) battles Trenton Titsworth (2-3-1) of Omaha, Neb.; Los Angeles super bantamweight Rico Ramos (7-0) takes on Colorado Springs, Co.'s Torrance Daniels (12-4-1); and the pro debut of Lemoore middleweight Poppies Martinez against Ben Witthar (0-4) of Westminster, Colo.

"The rest of the card is also good with Frank Mondejar and Rico Ramos. Both are very exciting fighters and everyone is excited to see the pro debut of Poppies Martinez," Printup said.

And if eight boxing bouts were not enough, Printup will also feature five mixed martial arts bouts.

In the main event, Lemoore middleweight Mike Martinez (3-2) moves up in weight to take on city rival and light heavyweight Brandon Lorenz (1-0).

Palace Fighting Championship Featherweight champ Jorge Evangelista (7-2-1) of Fresno will take on Chico's Randy Spence (10-8) in a non-title fight.

In some preliminary action, Oakland featherweight Jimmy Jarquin (2-2) is slated to take on Anthony Acosta (1-1), Visalia heavyweight Rocky Molina (1-2) takes on Madera's Joaquin Sanchez (3-1) and Lemoore featherweight Sergio Quinones (2-3) will battle Bakersfield's Fernando Arreola (3-6-1).

(Oct. 22, 2008)