In this week’s “In the Squared Circle”, I offer you more of my thoughts of the past seven days’ happenings in the world of boxing, enjoy:
*in the shot heard around the boxing world, Nonito Donaire landed the perfect check hook on the right cheek of Fernando “KOchulito” Montiel this past Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to capture the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles and position himself comfortably on the 118 lbs. division’s throne. In my humble opinion, Montiel can beat anybody in the bantamweight division… except Donaire. Donaire can beat anybody not only in the bantamweight division but at super bantamweight and will find real challenges at featherweight versus JuanMa Lopez or Gamboa. I can’t wait to see the fireworks.
*San Diego’s Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta took care of business as was expected last Friday night in San Francisco when he stopped the clearly over match Genaro Trazancos in three quick rounds on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate”. The bout marked the third time the Pinoy appeared on the boxing telecast in the last twelve months. Gesta is definitely coming into his own not only as a fighter but as a Filipino favorite. There is no doubt that after Pacquiao and Donaire, Gesta is the third most popular Filipino fighter at the moment. Rumor is that Gesta will be jumping ship and fighting on another network in his next bout and against a more recognized and live opponent.
*Another local fighter ready to get in some action is featherweight Aaron “Gavilan” Garcia (9-1-2, 2KOs). Garcia was scheduled to fight on the Gesta-Trazancos undercard last Friday but his opponent fell out last minute. Garcia was then flown first class the next morning to Las Vegas to face Alejandro Lopez (20-1, 7KOs) of Tijuana in an eight round super featherweight bout. The only problem was that Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, had never heard of Garcia. That changed in a matter of minutes as Zanfer Promotions’assistant matchmaker Sean Gibbons, legendary Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler and even promoter Don Chargin called and told him about Garcia’s extensive amateur career. By that time it was too late for Kizer to approve the bout for the undercard of the Donaire-Montiel bout but did so for the undercard of Acosta-Rios this Saturday night at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.
*Former title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos of Tijuana will be climbing into a ring once again after suffering his first defeat at the fists of former WBC bantamweight champ Hozumi Hasegawa last December. Burgos will be facing Frankie Archuleta on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”. The funny thing is there really hasn’t been a lot of publicity announcing this fight. Burgos is a solid fighter at the top of the featherweight division and I don’t believe he is getting the exposure he deserves. I have not seen a press release or an interview in any of the major or minor websites. You would think that with his contract rumored to be almost over with Thompson Boxing, his promoter will do a better job of telling people who Burgos is.
*Once again Tijuana lightweight Antonio DeMarco is in the lobby of a full fledged title when he faces WBC Silver title champ Reyes Sanchez this Saturday night in Nebraska. I spoke to Antonio recently and he is really excited in fighting in Nebraska, a state in which a championship has never been disputed. DeMarco knows by winning the belt and putting together a spectacular
performance on Showtime, he will be able to get bigger and better fights. Despite Sanchez being as tall as DeMarco and with basically the same style but orthodox, I don’t think the man from Los Mochis, MX, will have any issues with Sanchez and he will stop him before six rounds.
*The word on the street is that Miami-based promoter Tuto Zabala Jr. of All Star Boxing is trying to stop the pending WBC super welterweight title fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Matthew Hatton. Zabala Jr. claims that he has a contract with Alvarez since 2008 and that it has not been honored by the freckle faced Mexican. Golden Boy Promotions, who is working now as Alvarez’s promoter along with his own company Canelo Promotions, must have known that there, is a contract, right? I am sure that Zabala Jr. is only a tick under Golden Boy’s collar as of right now since I don’t think that a judge will stop the event. Golden Boy would have to be very foolish to invest millions of dollars (“Canelo” reportedly is promised at least $350,000 per fight) on a fighter that has a valid contract with another promoter. I am more than certain that the Alvarez-Hatton title fight will go on as planned and I am glad, since I will be in attendance.
I agree with you on Montiel being able to beat anyone in the bantamweight division but Donaire, and Donaire vs Ganboa could be another great fight that could end in a blink of an eye, a fight where Donaire could have the advantage puting into perspective the questionable chin that Gamboa has shown in the past
and the punch power Donaire brings to the ring.
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