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MEDEL HEADLINES AS PROFESSIONAL BOXING RETURNS TO ST. PAUL ON APRIL 18

Leo Medel is on the verge of making years of boxing training pay off with a major fight.

The Apple Valley, Minn., resident has built a perfect 10-0 pro record after a decorated amateur career. Now 33, Medel says he's ready for a big opportunity.

However, first he has to get past a very tough Noah Kidd in the main event of "Showcase Showdown," an event scheduled for April 18 in St. Paul and promoted by Big Q Promotions and Extreme Maximus Boxing. The 8-rounder is for the vacant USA Mid American Middleweight Championship.

The event will be held at the HSRA (High School for Recording Arts) building, which is located at 1166 University Ave. W in St. Paul, Minn. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first bout at 6 p.m.

"I'm excited. It's been a while since I got to fight in Minnesota and to have it be a title fight and main event makes it that much better," Medel said. "I went to train in Mexico City to prepare for the fight ... I want to have my best performance because my fans deserve it.

"Medel is trained by his father, Mario Medel, and Oscar Chavez.

"Oscar and my father have trained me since the amateurs and I think they've don an awesome job," the younger Medel said. "I mean, we did well in the amateurs and now I'm 10-0 as a pro. I appreciate all they have done for me."

Kidd, his opponent in the main event, has been up and down. The 30-year-old from Jefferson City, Mo., defeated a 6-1 opponent for his last win and upset an 18-1 fighter before that. He has fought nine undefeated fighters in his pro career.

In the co-main event, Arath Luna (3-0) of Richfield, Minn. faces Jerome Lambert (5-1-1) of Racine, Wis., in a 6-round super middleweight showdown.

In other professional bouts:

* Justus Pomeroy (6-0) of Winona, Minn., will try to remain undefeated, taking on Zach Hill (4-7) of Sisseton, S.D. in a featured 6-round welterweight bout.

* Isayah Smith (2-0) of Duluth, Minn., will battle Jonquez Benson (0-4) of Kalamazoo, Mich. Smith was a national-level amateur with 150 wins.

* Timothy Bender (2-2) of Mankato, Minn., will face DeShawn Kennedy (5-9) of Waterloo, Iowa. Bender is coming off a TKO victory while Kennedy has won 3 of his last 4 bouts.

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Host or Publisher Extreme/Maximus Boxing Promotions