Avila Perspective Chap. 362 Worldwide Boxing

Avila Perspective Chap. 362 Worldwide Boxing

By David A. Avila

Boxing, the oldest sport in the world, older than horse racing or football or any other entertainment entity, presents several events big and small from California to Europe this weekend.

From Teofimo Lopez to Josh Kelly to Serhii Bohachuk, the fists will be flying. In Southern California, in the city of Long Beach made famous by the Queen Mary, the Spruce Goose and Snoop Dog, a boxing show by DMG Promotions showcases young, strong talent including undefeated light heavyweight Samuel Arnold (14-0, 9 Kos) versus Argentina’s Fernando Farias (13-3-3, 5 Kos) at Thunder Studios on Friday Jan. 30.

Also, on the fight card will be eight other undefeated prospects including female bantam Perla Bazuldua who is mentored by Manny Robles. The fight show can also be seen on Triller TV, LG Channels and Canela TV.

On the East Coast, on Friday, another lively boxing card showcases talented contenders and prospects. Pro Boxing TV has super lightweights Bryan Flores (27-1-1, 16 Kos) fighting Starling Castillo (20-1-1, 13 Kos) in the main event at Maryland Live Casino in Hanover, Maryland. PROBOX TV will stream the boxing card.

Pro Box continues to provide strong boxing cards throughout the USA. Seven undefeated prospects are scheduled to perform on this card with many top prospects also ready to continue their assaults on title opportunities.

It’s a solid appetizer to get you ready for all-day Saturday.

Denmark and England

One of the top female fighters, pound-for-pound, Dina Thorslund returns to the boxing ring after more than a year away due to pregnancy.

Thorslund, 32, is a former bantamweight and super bantamweight world champion who relinquished the super bantam titles to participate in the more competitive bantamweight division. She dominated in the bantams too, until a baby came along. Now she is returning but as a featherweight. Whether she remains at feather is another question but no doubt she will be a force.

On Saturday Thorslund (23-0) meets Almudena Alvarez (7-3) for the interim featherweight title at Kolding, Denmark. DAZN will stream the match.

On the same day across the North Sea, another high-profile female bout takes place as Turkey’s hammer-fisted Elif Nur Turhan returns to the boxing ring one month after destroying former champion Beatriz Ferreira and taking the IBF lightweight title. Turhan (12-0, 8 Kos) defends the IBF title against Australia’s Taylah Gentzen (8-1) on Saturday Jan. 31, at Newcastle Arena in Newcastle, England. The co-main event features Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 Kos) against Josh Kelly (17-1-1) in a battle for the IBF super welter title. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Murtazaliev hasn’t fought in a year. The last time he put on the boxing gloves was against Tim Tszyu and he destroyed the Aussie in three rounds. Now it’s Kelly’s turn. Can he survive against the murderous punching Russian?

Madison Square Garden

A showdown between undisputed super lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 Kos) and lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 Kos) headline an impressive boxing card at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday Jan. 31. DAZN pay-per-view will stream the Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing event named “Ring 6.”.

“All I know is it’s my time,” said Stevenson. “I think I’m the smartest fighter on the planet Earth.”

The champion Lopez listens to him calmly.

“This guy is the best and we’re here to face the best. That’s just what it is,” said Lopez. “I look forward to see what will be thrown at me on January 31.”

Teofimo and Shakur are two of the sport’s quickest and most athletic performers. But they are not everyone’s cup of tea. Stevenson or Lopez can juke and feint all day long without throwing more than a dozen punches. Or they can unload 50 lightning blows in mere seconds like an Uzi.

The support cast includes Olympian Keyshawn Davis (13-0) against Jamaine Ortiz (20-2-1) in another super lightweight contest. Carlos Adames (24-1-1) defends the WBO middleweight title against Austin Williams (19-1). Bruce “ShuShu” Carrington (16-0) meets Carlos Castro (30-3) for the vacant WBC feather title and Jarrell “Big Baby: Miller (26-1-2) fights Kingsley Ibeh (16-2-1) in a heavyweight battle.

New York and Jersey fans will show up bad weather or not.

Zuffa in Las Vegas Again

Former super light champ Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-3, 9 Kos) meets dangerous Diego Torres (22-1, 19 Kos) in the main event on Sunday Feb. 1, at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Paramount+ will stream the second Zuffa Boxing card. Also, Ukraine’s popular Sergii Bohachuk (26-3, 24 Kos) meets Russia’s Radzhab Butaev (16-1, 12 Kos) in a middleweight clash set for 10 rounds. Both are looking to return to world title contention. Bohachuk lost twice to Brandon Adams and to Veril Ortiz Jr. in a very competitive match. Butaev lost to Eimantis Stanionis whose only loss was to IBF super welter champion Jaron Ennis.

Eight bouts are scheduled for the Sunday event. The matchmaker is Charles Bosecker who has a good reputation for making competitive contests.

Fights to Watch (all times Pacific Time)

Fri. Pro Box TV 3 p.m. Bryan Flores (27-1-1) vs Starling Castillo (20-1-1).
Fri. Triller 7 p.m. Samuel Arnold (14-0) versus Fernando Farias (13-3-3).
Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Dina Thorslund (23-0) vs Almudena Alvarez (7-3)
Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0) vs Josh Kelly (17-1-1); Elif Nur Turhan (12-0) vs Taylah Gentzen (8-1).
Sat. DAZN pay-per-view 3 p.m. Teofimo Lopez (22-1) vs Shakur Stevenson (24-0); Keyshawn Davis (13-0) vs Jamaine Ortiz (20-2-1), Carlos Adames (24-1-1) vs Austin Williams (19-1), Bruce Carrington (16-0) vs Carlos Castro (30-3), Jarrell Miller (26-1-2) vs Kingsley Ibeh (16-2-1).
Sun. Paramount 6 p.m. Jose Valenzuela (14-3) Diego Torres (22-1), Serhii Bohachuk (26-3) vs Radzhab Butaev (16-1).

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