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Gallegos heads local boxing card By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Ricky Gallegos of the Bulldog Boxing Club of Medford will step up in class Saturday night before a hometown crowd at Superior Gym and Fitness. Gallegos, 17, will fight Edgar Hernandez of Caldwell, Idaho, in the feature bout of the 16-fight Bulldog Boxing Invitational. It starts at 7 p.m. Superior is located at 886 Chevy Way, Medford. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Joseph Winans furniture of Medford and Superior. General admission and reserved seat tickets will also be available at the door. Gallegos, ranked 10th nationally, makes his debut in the Senior Open Division of U.S.A. Boxing in the fight against Hernandez. The 1999 Junior Division (under age 17) national champion at 132 pounds, Gallegos takes a 30-12 amateur record into the fight. He was able to move up to the Senior Division when he turned 17. "It's going to be tough moving up to the Senior Division, but I think I'm ready," says Gallegos. "It's an opportunity for me to give myself a better name in boxing, if I can win. "Fighters at this level are bigger, stronger and better. I will try to go out and box with him (Hernandez), stay aggressive and try to tire him out." Gallegos is one of 11 Bulldogs on the fight card. Others are Salvador Regalado (Senior Open, 125 pounds), Troy Wohosky (age 14-15, 112), Boone Wyatt (14-15, 110), Rico Guiterez (Senior Open, 185), Alex Ponce (9-11, 70), Tito Torres (10-11, 70), Ben Perez (10-12, 70), Nathan James (Senior, 162), Lionel Leon (Senior, 119), Alex Pujillo (13-14, 139). Regalado will meet Mario Hernandez of Caldwell in another feature bout at 125. Leon's bout against Vincente Escobedo is also considered one of the top fights on the card. "A lot of our kids were small and pretty young when we first started our boxing club four years ago," says Bulldogs Boxing Club owner and head coach Joe Pedrojetti. "Now, we're getting to see some of them fight in the older divisions and show some of the improvement they have made. "Ricky (Gallegos) was one of our first four kids in the gym. When he first came, he was pretty little, and I was hesitant to put him in the ring. "But I found out what kind of heart he has when he started to fight. He's a tough kid. He has excellent speed and good skills. And now, he will be able to fight the top amateurs in the country in the new division." Gallegos finished third in the Mexican Junior Olympics in 1999 and was a bronze medalist in the U.S. National Junior Olympics. Gallegos says he hopes to continue to improve in the Senior Open Division, preparing himself for a shot at professional boxing. "I need to improve before I can think about turning pro," says Gallegos. "I need at least two or three more years. "I'm excited about getting to fight at home Saturday. I feel good because they (the fans) will be backing me up and cheering me on. I box better in front of bigger crowds." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.