Kingsville’s Homer Fonseca (8-2-2) will face his first opponent since winning the Texas State Heavyweight Boxing title when he steps into the ring for six rounds against Lenroy Thomas (14-1) in Tampa Florida this Friday.

Fonseca won his title back in September when he defeated Austin fighter Fred Gatica by unanimous decision in an eight-round main event rematch at the ‘South Texas Young Guns’ venue which was hosted by Lone Star Promotions at J.K. Northway.

That September fight card was assembled by Promoter Jaime Cantu and Event Coordinator Eddie Aguilera who are currently working on presenting more bouts on May 15.

Homer capturing the state title turned the heads of many promoters while encouraging other pugilists to lay low.

“As far as respect, we have received a lot of calls from enthusiastic matchmakers and promoters congratulating Homer who knew he would win the Texas title,” Cantu said.

“As far as getting fights, now that he is the Texas Heavyweight Champion, a lot of people from around this area do not want to fight him because they realize how good he is. That is why we are going out of state and hopefully this will be a good tune-up for May 15 here in Kingsville.”

Fonseca has not toned down his training regiment since winning the Texas title, seeing it as the first in many crown jewels to come in his career.

“He is definitely intense and I think more confident and at home in his training,” Cantu said. “Homer has a confidence about him based on his achievements knowing his work ethic, all of these years, got him the title and the respect throughout the United States as the number 36th ranked fighter in the nation.”

Hunger and intensity add plenty of ‘oomph’ to Fonseca’s punches which, Cantu said, could drop even the best heavyweights of today.

“Because it is not so much just his power but also the confidence Homer has behind the punch,” Cantu said. “Can someone out-bench Homer, there’s no doubt but the intensity and ferociousness he puts behind his punches I think ranks with the top five heavyweight in the world. If Homer hits Klitschzko with a clean punch in a six rounder, Klitschzko goes down; pick a brother. If Homer hits any top ten heavyweight in the world with a clean shot, that heavyweight goes down.”

Plenty of fighters have resorted to cat-and-mouse tactics once absorbing a shot or two from Fonseca.

“The reason Homer’s knockout ratio isn’t as great as we’d like to see is we have fought guys with experience who once they got hit hard for the first time by Homer - whether on the head, body, arm or shoulder - immediately they go into defensive mode and avoid giving Homer another chance to land a big shot,” Cantu said. “It becomes more of a track meet with Homer chasing them down; that is how much respect every opponent he has faced has for his power.”