The Feud Ignites Saturday Night

They say styles make fights.

So when Mexico warrior Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (20-1-17 KOs) meets southpaw James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (29-1, 26 KOs) the adjectives that can describe this fistic feud are clash and crash, collision and explosion–and pure combustion.

The fiery combatants are set to ignite THIS Saturday, November 5 from Centro de Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This WBC Light Middleweight title eliminator is scheduled for 12 rounds but nobody thinks the fight will go the distance.

I, for one, would’ve loved to have been in Cancun to witness this shootout. But since I couldn’t make it I have the next best thing in updates from a couple of my compadres who are in Mexico just for this fight! The Angulo vs. Kirkland showdown will air on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions which reps both sluggers.

Keeping me updated is Memo Ocampo, who has been part of Team Angulo for over seven years now. Memo has The Original Double SS Kennel and has provided several dogs to “Perro” both in and out of the ring. Alfredo has even graced the cover of Ocampo’s popular Atomic Dogg magazine starring the American Bully breed of Pit Bulls. Alfredo sports a studded dog collar in his walkout into the ring while flashing his fangs.

Memo is there in Cancun along with about 20 members of the SoCal “dog pound” of supporters who are counting down the hours till the battle begins. They will be rooting for their favorite canine boxer in Angulo to sink his teeth into the challenger Kirkland. “We will be there ‘barking loud’!” Memo relays to me. He has known Angulo since before he turned pro.

Another one of my compadres, photographer Ray Flores, also traveled to Mexico to witness all the action.

Yesterday was the press conference and media workout and Ray sent me plenty of photos along with his comments and thoughts of the day.

In the photos, I see both prizefighters looking tough and fierce. Fan favorite Angulo is sporting a Mayweather–Hatton T-shirt during his shake out with the legendary Nacho Beristain; Kirkland’s best accessory in impressing the crowd are those washboard abs flexed as he worked out with female trainer Ann Wolfe.

“Alfredo looks great and Kirkland was ripped–not an ounce of fat! Ann Wolfe says her ‘dog’ is ready,” Flores tells me. “This should be a good one. In my humble opinion whoever lands the first big one is going to be the winner!”

In the idyllic backdrop of Cancun, Ray raves about the setting: “Pepe Gomez and his son have been the perfect hosts and terrific promoters along with Golden Boy.”

The photographer also echoes the popular consensus that this will be one combustible contest.

Sharing the bill will be the co-main between Peter Quillin and Craig McEwan. Brooklyn’s “Kid Chocolate” Quillin will square off against Scottish southpaw McEwan. The two have a history stemming from their days when both trained at Wild Card.

“‘Kid Chocolate’ guarantees a WAR with McEwan,” my amigo Ray continues, after watching the fighters meet on Thursday. “Angulo and Kirkland are also headed for the WAR Wagon.”

And it is the main event that has everyone salivating as the two soldiers ready themselves for war.

After well-documented prison stints, Kirkland and Wolfe are hoping to make a statement in continuing to rebound after his upset loss to Nobuhiro Ishida. And after U.S. Visa issues, Angulo is looking to make his own statement in this match with new trainer Nacho Beristain cornering “El Perro.”

All that’s left now is the official weigh-in and the big showdown on Saturday night.

WILL “PERRO” BE THE FIRST ONE TO BITE?

OR WILL THE “MANDINGO WARRIOR’S” BARK GET THE BEST OF HIS FOE?

Fire and fury is promised.

Light a match and watch them go, folks!

ALL PHOTOS BY RAY FLORES