Palaki-Martinez Bout Scratched; Backup Found

Saturday night’s co-main event between John John Palaki and Jorge Martinez has been replaced with another 10-round fight, promoter Clint Van Orman said.

Palaki has the flu and Martinez suffered a cut in training, according to Van Orman. In their place, Felipe Garcia of Denver, whose record is listed at 24-20, will fight Salt Lake City’s Justo Sanchez (14-9) in a battle of 125-pounders.

The five-bout card, to be held at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds at 7, is headlined by a 10-round junior-middleweight bout between Spokane’s Rowdy Welch and Mexico’s Marco Agosto Ramirez.

Welch is 18-4-1, while Ramirez is listed at 24-3.

Also, longtime Spokane amateur Frank Vassar is scheduled to make his professional debut. Vassar, a former national Golden Gloves champion, will face Adam Hays of Vancouver, British Columbia, in a four-round cruiserweight fight.

In the card’s other fights, Spokane cruiserweight Rick Welliver meets Shawn Elliott of Medford, Ore., in a four-rounder; and Reno junior-lightweight Francisco Rodriguez faces Ed Ko of Vancouver, B.C., in a six-rounder.

Welliver won a narrow decision over Elliott in an exciting fight four months ago. It was each fighter’s professional debut.

Tickets are available through G&B ticket outlets or by calling 325-SEAT. They can also be purchased at Albertini’s Restaurant, 13524 E. Sprague, or at the Eagles Lodge, 315 E. Francis.