Promoter Richard Schaefer signs U.S. Olympian Carlos Balderas, brother Jose

Promoter Richard Schaefer’s new Ringstar Sports signed impressive 2016 U.S. Olympian Carlos Balderas of Santa Maria, along with his brother, Jose.

Carlos Balderas advanced to the Olympic lightweight quarterfinals during last summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro, losing to eventual bronze medalist Lazaro Alvarez. Balderas lost only nine fights out of 184 amateur bouts.

Jose Balderas, 21, is a bantamweight who posted an 80-8 amateur record.

The brothers are expected to make their pro debuts on a card in February in Los Angeles, Schaefer said.

Carlos’ debut will be a main event, he said.

In an announcement Monday in Los Angeles, Schaefer called his first signing of boxers “exciting,” praising Carlos Balderas’ “it factor.”

“When you go back to boxing’s old Olympic [Auditorium] days, there was always one who carried L.A. and became the king of boxing,” Schaefer said. “I see a void today and either one of these brothers can fill that void. My No. 1 project is to give these fighters the opportunities they deserve.

“I have no question these brothers will [one day] fill up Staples Center.”

Schaefer also said a homecoming fight in Santa Maria and bouts in the family’s other home in Mexico are likely.

Carlos Balderas won the 2014 World Amateur championship and a U.S. Golden Gloves title the same year.

“I’m excited to get the ball rolling,” Carlos Balderas said in English and Spanish. “Sky’s the limit. I’m looking forward to making L.A. my home and making it big.”

Schaefer said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions in Sherman Oaks will have a key voice in the Balderas brothers matchmaking.

“There’s not a rush,” Schaefer said. “We want the right, exciting fights, and build Carlos as the king of L.A.”

Schaefer also expressed high hopes for Jose Balderas, suggesting a nickname, “The Barber,” after Jose told of previously cutting hair for pay.

Jose Balderas said, “When I started boxing, my plan was to make sure my parents and grandparents didn’t have to work again. My grandfather told me how he used to sleep in the fields. I don’t want to hear that again. I want to be a world champion.”

The fighters’ uncle has been selected as their manager.

Schaefer, the former CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, returned to the boxing business earlier this year after a legal settlement, and his company will stage its first fight Dec. 10 at USC’s Galen Center with a featherweight-title main event pitting champion Jesus Cuellar versus former three-division world champion Abner Mares of Hawaiian Gardens.