Victor Pasillas, who is 10-0 in his professional career, will fight Andres Tapia on Saturday at the eighth annual Fallon Fights at the Churchill County Fairgrounds.
Sometimes changes is needed.
In the case of Victor Pasillas, it worked wonders for the Super Bantamweight.
Pasillas, who sports a 10-0 record with three knockouts, takes on Andres Tapia (8-4-2, 2 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico, on Saturday at the eighth annual Fallon Fights at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5 p.m.
For years, Pasillas trained in East Los Angeles and amassed a jaw-dropping 272-6 amateur record. He tallied 25 national and five world titles.
“This is the biggest step toward my dream,” Pasillas said. “I got to keep the lion in its cage until it’s ready to be released.”
Soon after he signed with Top Rank Boxing, which in conjunction with the city of Fallon and Let’s Get It On Promotions, produces the Fallon Fights.
Steadily Pasillas has worked his way through the ranks to become the co-main event.
“I’ve been waiting for something like this my whole career,” he said. “This will show the world I’m back and that I’m here to stay. I got to stay focused and stay humble.”
Pasillas said his amateur career was a roller coaster and felt he only actually lost one fight. Nevertheless, after training in East L.A. for years, he flew the coop and landed in the Bay Area, unbeknownst to his management at Top Rank.
Pasillas said he needed a dramatic change from his former longtime trainer and friend. He landed with Brian Schwartz at the Undisputed Gym in San Francisco, where world champ Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire trained in for years.
The move re-energized Pasillas as he scored a pair of unanimous decisions and one TKO.
“It was more of a family move,” he explained. “Everything was going downhill and I needed a dramatic change. They welcomed me with open arms. It was to upgrade with life, it had nothing to do with boxing.”
But now, Pasillas’ focus is center on Tapia and taking the next step in his career.
As a southpaw, Pasillas said his style varies from fight to fight, but feels he is in top shape and ready to keep his undefeated streak alive.
“We have been training our butts off,” he said. “I am sparring more often.”
Scouting Tapia, however, has been difficult as Pasillas said he’s only watched on tape of the Mexican boxer. The video, to add another wrench, is three years old and leaves Pasillas guessing as to whether Tapia’s style has changed.
Although Tapia is unkown to Pasillas, he said he will force the action in a variety of ways.
“What we based ourselves on was the way he punched, the way he moves,” Pasillas said. “We focused on those basic skills because he could have made a dramatic change.”