East County cousins to fight on same boxing card Saturday night

San Diego cousins Julius Ballo and Jonny Mansour have trained together since they were youngsters at the Bomber Squad Boxing Academy in El Cajon. As rising amateurs, they regularly traveled to venues all over the country together.

On Saturday night, the pair will appear on the same professional fight card for the first time at the “CMH 2: Rematch Season” event at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles.

The eight-bout event is highlighted by a fight between cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and former title-holder Noel Mikaelyan.  It will stream live starting at 6 p.m. for $29.99.

The 25-year-old Mansour will carry a 5-0 record into his lightweight bout against Marco Antonio Juarez Rodriguez (12-9-3) while the 22-year-old Ballo will be fighting as a professional for the second time when he faces veteran journeyman Juan Centeno (10-25-4) in a featherweight bout.

A 15-time amateur champion, Ballo is coming off a victory over Brandon Ayala via a six-round unanimous decision in his pro debut back in July.

Mansour and Ballo recently visited Saudi Arabia, where they had the chance to work out at the Mike Tyson Boxing Club. Both see Saturday’s fights as important steps in their respective journeys.

Mansour has won all five of his pro fights in dominating fashion, while Ballo’s stunning success as an amateur has many in the sport viewing him as a future champion.

“I had a positive experience in my first fight,” Ballo said. “Now it’s about continuing to level up, putting good rounds together and sharpening my skills with each training session and fight. My time as an amateur got me ready for these opportunities. Time to take advantage of it by fighting hard and looking good doing it.”

Mansour will be fighting for the first time since the death of his mother, Bushra, in May. He said the grieving process kept him out of the ring for several weeks. Just two days after Mansour’s last fight, a victory over Christian Avalos in Los Angeles, Bushra Mansour died following a four-year bout with colon cancer.

“It was definitely an extremely hard experience losing someone I cared so much about and who has been so supportive over the years,” Mansour said. “I was in a pretty dark place there for a while, but in time, I knew I needed to get back in the ring and continue making my career, to continue making her and my family proud.

“I think about her every single day and she continues to inspire me.”

Fittingly, the CMH in Saturday’s fight card title stands for “championing mental health.” All fighters who participate Saturday will receive one year of free mental health care; $1 from every pay-per-view purchase will go toward the Championing Mental Health Foundation.

“I think it’s a great way to raise awareness in and around our sport,” Mansour. “I know that I’m not the only one who has had to battle through some hard times. It’s important to know that there is help and support out there for all of us, no matter what we may have going on.”