Alexis Arguello.

At the tender age of 16, Carlos ”Chocorron” Buitrago (7-0), is fast becoming the new rising star of the Nicaraguan fight scene.
With blistering speed and a slick style well beyond his fledgling years, Buitrago looks set to light up the Nicaraguan and World boxing scene for many years to come.
We recently caught up with the young Buitrago in our series of “Going 10” interviews.

1. What made you decide to turn pro at only 16yrs of age?

When I started boxing most of the top pros were amateurs as well. The years have passed and I saw how Jose Alfaro and Roman Gonzalez have made a huge name for themselves in boxing. I want the same things that they have. In the gym I was sparring with pros and beat some of them regularly inside the ring. This made me start bugging the PRODESA people to help me turn pro.

2. As your performances continue to impress, have you found yourself getting more attention?

The guys from PRODESA have done a great job of promoting me. That promotion naturally brings more attention. I just hope to be able to live up to the expectations being put upon me as a highly promoted fighter.

3. What goals have you set for yourself going forward in the game, how good can Carlos Buitrago be?

My goal is to be patient. I have been programmed regularly against sub par competition and have done well but I know that I need time to let my body develop and become stronger to perform better against tougher competition. The good thing is that I am gaining more experience in the pros as well as making a little money.

4 What fighters have you modeled yourself on with the slick style you fight with?

My favorite fighters are Tito Trinidad and Oscar de la Hoya. If I have to pick a favorite fighter its Tito. My manager Mr. Conrado has me studying film of Cristian Mijares and specially the stick and move style of Jorge Linares. Both are elusive and intelligent boxers.

5. Although still very young, do you have a timetable in your mind for reaching your goals?

I would like to get a shot at the championship by the age of 21, however I will leave all that to the better judgement of my managers. They have made two world champions, and have gotten title opportunities for other boxers so they must be doing something right.

6. Where do you feel you have to improve to reach the top?

I need to become stronger and be more elusive. Sometimes I like to trade shots but I know that at this moment this is not convenient. I also want to improve my defense to become a more complete fighter and learn to throw a better uppercut.

7. Which fighters have been your favorites growing up?

Tito Trinidad is my all time favorite. He is really good. I also like Oscar de la Hoya and Alexis. They were warriors in the ring with good boxing sense.

8. Working out of the same gym, what has it been like sparring with World champion Chocolate Gonzales?

He is a really tough and super talented fighter. I don’t think there is a better fighter in Nicaragua at the moment.

9. So many good young boxers today switch to high profile trainers. You are trained by your father; is this something you would like to continue throughout your career?

I only have seven pro fights. My father has taught me the basics but I realize that different trainers have different talents. The trainer I have is really up to the people who manage my career.

10. If you had a dream match-up, who would you love to fight?

Good question. I have never thought about that. I guess that a dream match would be somebody like Ivan Calderon but he wont be available by the time I become mature. I guess a dream match would be against somebody like Roman Gonzalez or Juan Palacios.

105 pounds – Yader Escobar (15-2, 11 kos) vs. Miguel Tellez (18-10, 6 kos) – 8 rounds
The main event will feature highly rated Yader Escobar (#15, WBA, #10 WBO, #8 IBF) facing off against former world title challenger Miguel Tellez in an 8 round slugfest. This is a rematch of a fight that occurred in February of this year in which Escobar was able to pull off a narrow decision against then IBF rated Tellez.
112 pounds – Evert Briceno (29-5, 24 kos) vs. Marlon Pineda (8-3-1, 5 kos) – 8 rounds
Former world title challenger and current WBA (#14) and IBF (#14) ranked Briceno will face up and comer Marlon Pineda in an 8 round bout. Briceno is looking to reach his milestone 30th win and has found an obstacle in the always game Marlon Pineda. Pineda on the other hand knows that a win over Briceno will project him onto the world-boxing scene.
140 pounds – Cristian Ruiz (6-0, 5 kos) vs. Osman Vilchez (2-5, 0 kos) – 6 rounds
Power punching prospect Cristian Ruiz will face the always-game Osman Vilchez in a 6 round bout.
118 pounds – Jose Antonio Elizabeth (9-2,4 kos) vs. Juan Alvarez (11-14, 8 kos) – 6 rounds
This 6 round bout has the potential to be the fight of the night in which two very busy light punching fighters will go at it since the start of the belt. Up and comer Elizabeth will try to impose his way on the durable Alvarez.
105 pounds – Carlos Buitrago (4-0, 2 kos) vs. Ernesto Castillo (0-1, 0 kos) – 4 rounds
Sixteen year old phenom and future super star boxer Carlos Buitrago will face Ernesto Castillo in rematch of what was a real exciting first fight. Buitrago, a former stand out amateur boxer with a record of 167-8, 42 kos, will put his polished boxing style to the test against the in your face attack of Castillo.
115 pounds – Rene Alvarado ( 4-0, 4 kos) vs. Heyner Aragon (0-2, 0 kos) – 4 rounds
Former 2 time Central American Amateur boxing champ, Rene Alvarado, is riding a 4 fight win streak in which he has been able to knock out all of his opponents.
126 pounds – Miguel Aguilar (1-0, 0 kos) vs. Melvin Umanzor (1-3, 1 kos) – 4 rounds
Stylist Miguel Aguilar will put his polished boxing on the line against Melvin Umanzor a boxer with a slight edge in experience. Aguilar impressed the crowd in his first bout with a lot of poise and refined boxing technique.
126 pounds – Eliecer Lanzas (1-0, 0 kos) vs. Roger Duran (1-2, 0 kos) – 4 rounds
Former Central American feather weight Eliecer Lanzas impressed in his debute winning a tough 4 round fight against then highly touted prospect Danny Erazo. Lanzas, along with Miguel Aguilar lead a fine crop of feather weight prospects which will soon be lighting up the Nicaraguan boxing scene.
140 pounds – Walter Castillo (0-1, 0 kos) vs. Nicolas Montes (0-1, 0 kos) – 4 rounds
Former 140 pound Central American amateur champ Walter Castillo had a very disappointing debut in which he lost a SD to boxer Edwin Palacios. Castillo, a talented boxer who has excelled in the international amateur boxing scene, will try to make a comeback and get his career on the right track.

In November 2006, Ortega—a member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)—won the presidential election with 37.99 per cent of all cast ballots. Presidential candidates in Nicaragua are not compelled to garner more than 50 per cent of the vote in order to win the election.

Ortega governed from 1985 to 1990, but was a losing candidate in the 1990, 1996 and 2001 ballots. In January 2007, he was sworn in for a five-year term.

Earlier this month, Nicaragua became the first country to side with Russia in its acknowledgement of the independence of the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had endorsed the independence of the two regions on Aug. 26, after an armed conflict erupted between Russian and Georgian forces in South Ossetia.

Ortega said that Nicaragua “recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia” and went on to condemn the “political hegemonies” that, according to him, are “trying to surround Russia” and seeking to “build a military fence against Russia.”

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/nicaragua_poet_s_sword