PEDAL FOR PEACE

by Vivian Hemphill

Get on your bike and ride! The Bay of Banderas non-profit association, PEACE, wants you to hop in the saddle and pedal away on Sunday, April 26 starting at 8 am.

This is not a race, but a fun bike ride through the country. The event features three separate, clearly marked routes for three levels of ability, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The routes are primarily on dirt and gravel farm roads and require a mountain bike or a bike with large tires.

All three routes begin and end in the town of La Desembocada, 15 kilometers east of Puerto Vallarta on the Las Palmas highway (Route 70). The paths will be clearly marked and maps will be available at the registration table. From the highway, just after crossing the Rio Mascota bridge, follow the signs to the parking and registration area. Registration begins at 8 am and the starting line will be open from 8:30 am to 10 am.

The cash donation schedule for the ride is as follows:

• Official bib/bike number and your personal digital action photo – 20 pesos
• The above plus raffle ticket (for bike gear), 50 pesos
• All of the above plus official Pedal for PEACE T-shirt, 200 pesos

For route descriptions and further information about the ride, bike rentals, etc., send an email to Steve at kavenga (at) att.net or call cell telephone number 322-157-0722

To learn more about PEACE visit www.peacemexico.org

Carlos Solorio Fights for IKF Muay Thai Championship at Collage, Saturday April 4th

Carlos Solorio is ready to claim the IKF superlightweight title belt sitting in front of him. He just needs to fight five or less grueling rounds against a once beaten opponent who defeated him two years ago.

The IKF belt which has been vacant for over a year will have an owner late Saturday night.

Carlos “Metralleta” Solorio of Puerto Vallarta will finally get his shot again at the IKF sanctioned super lightweight Muay Thai belt this Saturday night, April 4th at the Collage Club in the main event on a card that features 13 bouts. He will face Luis “Cobra” Perez of Mexico City in a rematch of a fight that Perez won two years ago when he opened a gash over Solorio’s eye that rendered him defenseless and gave Perez a TKO.

Promoter Jose Luis Uribe of MFC Productions announced the participants of the “No Mercy For Pride.” On hand was Felix Perez, the IKF Mexico representative who was affiliated with the October 31st, 2008 “Triple Championship” in Puerto Vallarta that featured triple main event with title belts in Muay Thai in three weight classifications. Cesar Palomera and Gregorio Gabriel, both of Puerto Vallarta won their title belts. The third was the Carlos Solorio- Ricardo Neftali Garcia of Irapuato, Guanajuato bout.

Solorio controlled the fight from the start but at the close of the second round, after he sent his opponent to the canvas with a kick to the stomach, he instinctively followed with another kick. That kick landed on his back as he dropped to the canvas he flipped over and Solorio didn’t have time to stop the inadvertent kick. The decision was a technical draw die to medical conditions. Solorio has been a warrior over the years in the ring and a gentleman as well and was disheartened with the turn of events. The title belt went unclaimed.

Solorio has a professional record of 19-7-2 and will be looking to avenge his loss to Perez who has a 13-1 professional record. Perez holds one belt currently; the Mexican Federation Kick Boxing title and is the WBC ex-champion in Muay Thai, his only professional loss. The IKF title has been elusive for the popular fighter from Puerto Vallarta and owner and professor of Lanna Gym. Carlos says he has been training well and is ready to claim the title.

The semi-main event has Puerto Vallarta Hector “Hierro” Uribe facing Jesus “Moreno” Quintero of Leon, Mexico in the lightweight division. Uribe is 10-3-1 as a pro and Quintero is 5-1.

The remainder of the card is all amateur bouts that will have local Puerto Vallarta fighters as well as fighters coming from cities in Mexico such as, Mexico City, Leon, Aguascalientes and Tepic. The top amateur fight will have Carlos Palomera of Lanna Gym facing David “Azteca” Mota of Tanai Luark Gym, both in Puerto Vallarta.

The professional bouts will be five rounds, three minutes each with a two minute rest between rounds. The amateur bouts will be three rounds, two minutes each with a one minute rest between rounds.

Pre-sale tickets will cost $180 pesos and tickets at the door will be $230 pesos. Tickets can be purchased at Tanai Luark Gym or Lanna Gym in advance or at the Collage Club. For information, call 293-7674. The fights begin at 7:00 pm.