This weekend’s Boxing Shows have a lot of local interest
Smooth, confident and wearing the bling, Floyd Mayweather Jr. seems to have it all going his way.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Television: HBO PPV
Light middleweights
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) versus Alfonso Gomez (23-4-2, 12 KOs) for the WBC light middleweight title. Poor Mr. Gomez, I hope he has his insurance all paid up. This fight is going to hurt. Alvarez is just too big, too strong and too powerful.
Light welterweights
After finishing a workout, Antonio Orozco poses for a photo before heading to the showers. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Antonio Orozco of San Diego (11-0-0, 8 KOs) should dominate Fernando Rodriguez (6-6-0, 3 KOs). Just recently, the hard hitting Orozco signed with Golden Boy Promotions and of course from here on out, they’ll have his best interests in mind. They now have him sparring with some of the top pros in the game, guys like Michael Franco and Ray Bertran.
Then, on a more personal note, Orozco joined in a partnership to open a brand new boxing gym, the House of Boxing on Reo Drive in San Diego. Shortly after the gym’s opening, he planned a romantic evening with his childhood sweetheart, Claudia Valdiviezo, from Garden City, Kansas. They have been dating on and off ever since she was a sophomore and he was a junior in highschool. His plan included dinner at this very nice restaurant in Balboa Park, La Prada and immediately after take her to this show at the Old Globe Theatre,“Much to do about nothing.” Following the show, he pledged his everlasting love and asked Claudia for her hand in marriage. She of course accepted his proposal and the couple is now planning to get married on Memorial Day.
Blue Water Resort & Casino, Parker, Arizona
Promoters: Bob Arum (Top Rank) and Sergio Diaz )showdown Promotions)
Television: FOX Sports
Mercito Gesta Photo: Jim Wyatt
Light welterweights Mercito Gesta (22-0-1, 12 KOs) versus Manuel Perez (16-6-1, 4 KOs). When we look at Gesta’s last 11 opponents, only two managed to go the distance. If you look over Perez’s resume, you’ll notice he’s been in there with some of boxing’s best – Diego Magdaleno and twice with Brandon Rios. In their first fight Perez lost a mixed decision to Rios and then in their second meeting Rios knocked him out in the seventh round. Magdaleno won his match-up by an unanimous decision.
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
Promoters: Mayweather promotions, Golden Boy Promotions
Local Television: HBO PPV or 30 minute delay available with your rabbit ears on Azteca TV, Channel 28
Welterweights
Victor Ortiz dresses to impress.
Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0-0, 25 KOs) is being challenged by Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) who currently holds the WBC Welterweight crown.
For Ortiz, it appears he’s being caught up in all of the hoopla. I don’t believe he’s been able to deal with it. All the interviews, the comparisons, etc. have been a distraction. Of course he could always get lucky early and land that big left – the one that’s going to have Floyd bent over, down on one knee.
I ask you this, how serious of a boxer can you be, if you work out at Knuckleheads Boxing Club. I believe Ortiz lost this battle even before it started. Why get caught up in all the smack talk when you’re going up against one of the kings of smack?
Sure Mayweather Jr. is coming back from a long layoff. But he’s done it before. He was gone two years when he came back to beat Juan Manuel Marquez. Floyd’s never been one of these bimbos who lets his weight go up and down, add on the weight like a beached whale. He’s been blessed. His average weight gain when he’s not fighting is around five pounds, no more. “I am one of the blessed ones,” he’ll say. “You see all this flash with the money and the cameras – it’s all just a show.”
Then you ask, but isn’t Ortiz a southpaw who’s a whole lot stronger and younger?
Mayweather not only has mad skills, he’s super confident: “As the fight goes, I will adjust and adapt my style,” says Mayweather. “Right now, I’m willing to bet Oscar De La Hoya $2.5 million and Ortiz his $2.5 million. I’ll take all their money!
“What I do best is keep my composure. My game plan involves entertaining, entertaining my fans, that’s what this is all about. It’s entertainment. Once my opponent finds out that he can’t win, he’s going to go into this survival mode.”
Ortiz was asked, “How are you going to win?”
His quirky reply, “It’s my destiny. He’s (Mayweather) fought other fighters but nothing like me. He’s stepping on my toes right now and I don’t like it. He better move or I’m going to put him on his ass!”
Light welterweights
Erik Morales (51-7-0, 35 KOs) is being challenged by Pablo Cesar Cano (22-0-1, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBC light welterweight title. It’s “El Terrible” versus “El Demoledor,” a guy who has fought most everyone giving the up and comer his shot at stardom. I don’t believe Cano, who is much younger, 21, smaller and less experienced has a shot when trading blows with the likes of Erik Morales.
Lightweights
Top lightweight contender Jessie Vargas
Jessie Vargas (16-0-0, 9 KOs) versus Josesito Lopez (29-3-0, 17 KOs). Vargas has the best chance in this one because he is stronger but Lopez will push him like he’s never been pushed before. This one should go the distance with the sharper of the two coming out with the victory.
Super middleweights
Marco Antonio Periban visited San Diego back on February 25 of this year to destroy Dion Savage.
Marco Antonio Periban (14-0-0, 10 KOs) versus Dhafir Smith (24-21-7). If Adonis Stevenson can beat Smith, then I’m sure Periban, a more accomplished boxer, will have an even easier time.
Lightweights
Anthony Crolla (21-2-0, 9 KOs) versus Juan Montiel (5-4-3, 2 KOs). Last time out, Montiel fought Carlos Molina to a draw. Crolla has been more dominate. His last three were all Knockouts. The combined record of his last three opponents, 48-9-1.
Super middleweights
Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (14-1-0, 11 KOs) versus Dion Savage (11-1-0, 6 KOs). The 33 year-old Stevenson has a lot of power and he’s a lefty. On February 25 of this year, Savage was in San Diego to fight Periban at the Four Points by Sheraton and didn’t make it out of the first round.
