By Sean Reed
Dallas, TX – Luis Yanez has officially arrived.
The outspoken 2008 US Olympic boxer received a hearty hometown welcome in Dallas on Tuesday afternoon, which served as Media Day for the aptly named "Grand Entrance" card at the American Airlines Center this Friday. It is on that card where he makes his long awaited pro debut, against Julio Cesar Valadez.
The show will be broadcast live on FoxSports Southwest (9PM CT).
Emotions ran high for Yanez at the first sight of Valadez (3-2), but love wasn't amongst those sentiments. From a distance, the "Latin Legend" aimed a baleful stare in Valadez's direction that would make Sonny Liston proud.
When it was time for the stare down, Yanez got up close and personal. Mere inches from one another, Yanez uttered unpleasantries to Valadez's face as Julio smiled.
Valadez was first to address the crowd, at which point he reiterating his doubts about the former junior flyweight Olympian campaigning at bantamweight.
"He's good, he's fast, but I'm good too," claimed Valadez (3-2). "He's never fought without headgear or at this weight class and I'm gonna bring it."
Yanez anxiously awaited his turn to speak, literally rubbing his hands together and sporting a devilish grin. When it was his time on the mic, the loquacious "Latin Legend" didn't disappoint.
"For those of ya'll that don't know, February 20th is Valadez's birthday and since it's his birthday, I'm gonna let him choose which round I knock him out in!"
He was just getting started
"You see these? he said, motioning to his two fists. "They don't have names; so when I let them go, I can't call them back!"
At that point, even Valadez seemed impressed by Yanez's oral theatrics.
Yanez will be presented the key to the city of Dallas on Wednesday, followed by Thursday's weigh-in and the highly anticipated pro debut on Friday.
