Avila Perspective, Chap. 347: Saturday Boxing Marathons; Muhammad Ali Act Revision

Avila Perspective, Chap. 347: Saturday Boxing Marathons; Muhammad Ali Act Revision

Two lengthy fight cards compete against each other on Saturday, one coming from the southern tip of Texas and the other coming from Southern California.

If you love marathon boxing cards these are right up your alley.

Most Valuable Promotions has two female world title fights including Lourdes “La Pequena Lulu” Juarez (38-4) defending the WBC light fly title against former champ Yesica Nery Plata (30-2) and Desley Robinson (10-3) defending her IBF and WBO middleweight titles against Logan Holler (11-3). DAZN will stream the MVP event from the Convention Center on San Padre Island, Texas.

The two world title fights will be accompanied by super lightweights Omar Juarez (19-2, 7 KOs) and Omar Rosario (14-2, 4 KOs) in the semi-main event.

MVP has continued ramping up events featuring the best in female pugilism. Two other female bouts are also on the lengthy card that is scheduled for 80 rounds of action. That’s a lot of rounds.

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s only Don King would put on marathon boxing cards that would start early and end the next day. I remember vividly attending one of Don King’s cards in Las Vegas that started at 10 a.m. on a Saturday and culminated around 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Though I remember there were at least four or five world title fights, the rounds just glazed over each other like a mosaic.

Promoters still compile marathon fight cards due to contractual obligations. When they sign a fighter they write into the contract they promise to give a fighter a certain amount of fights each year or period of time. If they fail to complete the guidelines, the promoters risk losing that fighter or face monetary penalties or both.

We are close to the end of the year and promoters need to fulfill their contractual obligations.

Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif.

An even larger fight card takes place on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif.

DMG Boxing Promotions and Top Rank are partnering to bring 82 rounds of boxing in a show featuring undefeated super featherweight Andres Cortes (23-0, 12 KOs) against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo (13-4-1) in a match set for 10 rounds.

DAZN will stream this card that begins at 4:30 p.m.

Three 10-round affairs are planned for the event that also includes top female prospect Perla Bazaldua (3-0, 3 KOs) against Mexico’s Yazmin Martinez (3-2, 1 KO) in a super fly matchup.

It’s a longer than usual boxing card that you normally don’t see in the U.S. unless its in Las Vegas or New York.

Expect this boxing card to include some future champions. Top Rank has long made a habit of discovering the best talent in the amateur programs, then guiding them through the traps of professional boxing. Think Terence Crawford, Shakur Stevenson, Oscar Valdez and Oscar De La Hoya. All were polished under Top Rank’s guidance. They know what they are doing.

One of my favorite Top Rank cards took place on Cinco de Mayo 1994 when they brought two prized prospects Danny Romero and Johnny Tapia to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Both were flyweights from Albuquerque, New Mexico and both could bang. They fought others that night but were headed for an eventual showdown three years later after each won a super fly world title. Their clash took place in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 1997 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Tapia won that night.

That’s how Top Rank does things. Groom and polish before letting them explode.

Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act

The California State Athletic Commission approved (6-0) an amended version of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act H.R. 4624. It’s currently awaiting a hearing by the US House of Representatives.

What does this mean?

This new act is amending the current version of the Muhammad Ali Act passed in 2000 and sponsored by the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona. That original version protected professional boxer’s rights and set guidelines.

This new version has been submitted by Zuffa Boxing and claims to present “an alternative system in which fighters will have more choice and opportunities, better pay, greater health and safety protections, and more events in which to compete.”

Basically, it’s a new boxing league under the guidance of Zuffa which is a joint venture of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. and Sela. Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh are both affiliated with the proposed venture.

If you are familiar with UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) then you have a good understanding of what this new league will resemble.

To get a better understanding read my colleague Abraham Gonzalez’ comprehensive story on this suggested revision of the Muhammad Ali Act. Read this link: https://fightsatw.com/inside-zuffa-boxing-what-dana-whites-new-venture-means-for-fighters-and-the-future-of-the-sport/

Fights to Watch (All times Pacific Time)

Sat. Millions PPV 3:00 p.m. Danny Garcia (37-4-0) vs Daniel Gonzales (22-4-1)

Sat. DAZN 5:00 p.m. Lourdes Juarez (38-4-0) vs Yesica Nery Plata (30-2-0)

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