James De La Rosa Seeks Another BIG Win, Vs. Centeno, After Angulo Triumph

Boxing is coming back to the BK, and leather will be traded at Barclays Center on Dec. 6.

One of the featured fighters on the Golden Boy card, portions of which will run on HBO, is one James De La Rosa, coming off his career-best win. On Sept. 13, the Mexican-born hitter, who lives in Texas, and withered somewhat on the Don King vine after turning pro in 2005, got a W over Alfredo Angulo.

A win over that pitbull looks sweet on his resume, which stands at 23-0 with 13 KOs. At Barclays, he takes on a fresher foe, the 23-year-old prospect/contender Hugo Centeno Jr., who holds a 21-0 mark, with 11 KOs.

Centeno is coming off back to back UD10 wins, over 11-3-1 Angel Osuna, and 14-0 Gerardo Ibarra.

The 26-year-old De La Rosa, who answers to “The King,” is managed by Dallas resident Adrian Clark. The up ‘n coming helmer, just 28 and a certified sports agent, talked to me about this face-off, and what the stakes are on fightnight.

“Centeno Junior is a taller, longer fighter who plays it safe from the outside,” Clark told me. “Nothing special about him, picks his shots and uses his feet. We feel Julian “J-Rock” Williams exposed his heart in their three round ‘No Contest’ (on Sept. 12, 2013). For De La Rosa, much is expected after his dominating performance versus Alfredo Angulo. If he can repeat that dominating performance on HBO, then I’m more than positive I can begin talks for Canelo for his debut HBO PPV fight in 2015.”

OK, I like the way this young guider talks and thinks. Thinks XL…

“James has to be the aggressor this fight, because Centeno will not,” Clark continued. “After pretty much a five year lay off being tied up with Don King (DLR didn’t fight once in ’10, fought one time in ’11, one time in ’12, and once in ’13), once I got him free he said he wanted big time fights and he would capitalize. He is one for one thus far. Next up, on HBO vs Hugo Centeno Jr!”

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