Chavez Barrientes happy to be back in familiar surroundings

Junior featherweight Chavez Barrientes is set to put his unblemished record on the line when he faces Noah Contreras at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida on Friday.

The eight-round bout between Las Vegas’ Barrientes, 9-0 (6 KOs), and Noah, 9-1 (4 KOs), of Fort Mohave, AZ, will be part of a card headlined by Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz versus Christian Rubio Mino’s 10-round junior welterweight contest.

According to Barrientes, he recognizes the challenge that Contreras presents but is confident and ready to prove that the bout is more than just maintaining his invincibility in the ring.

“I’m expecting a challenging fight against Contreras,” said Barrientes. “He’s a tough competitor, and I know he’s coming to win. That’s the kind of fight I want to show everyone that I can handle pressure and rise to the occasion. I’m excited to finally be back fighting at my preferred weight of 122 pounds.

“In my last couple of fights, I was fighting above my weight class, and while I was still successful, I feel fighting in my natural weight class will be a big difference. This fight is different—I’m at the weight where I’m strongest.”

President of Boxlab Promotions Amaury Piedra expects to see Barrientes shine at the biggest stage of his career against Contreras.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Chavez perform on this big stage. He’s been working hard and improving with each fight, and a win on Friday could set the stage for an opportunity to fight for a regional title soon. We believe he has all the tools to become a major player in the super bantamweight division.”

A win on Friday could be a pivotal moment in Barrientes’ young career as he aims to take the next big step towards a championship opportunity.

“A win here will definitely help push my career forward,” the 22-year-old Barrientes said. “It’s all about making statements, and I believe a victory against a tough guy like Contreras can show people that I’m ready for bigger fights. Looking impressive is very important, especially in fights like this. People want to see that I’m more than just a young, undefeated fighter—they want to see a future world champion in the making. My goal is to give them that kind of performance.”