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Abril Has Better Chance At Upset Than Fedchenko Does
This Saturday, as part of a co-feature on HBO, Brandon Rios 29-0-1 [20] will face Richard Abril Might Abril be able to wipe this fat grin off Rios' face on Saturday night? Wylie says it's not near impossible.
17-2-1 [8] in a lightweight bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, while over in Mexico – at the New Mexico City Arena – Juan Manuel Marquez will take on Serhiy Fedchenko for the interim WBO junior welterweight title. If Marquez and Rios prevail in their respective bouts, their respective styles could result in a potential fight of the year tear-up between the two in the near future.
Just over a month ago, the landscape for both Brandon Rios and Juan Manuel Marquez appeared a lot different. Rios – who now finds himself going in with a Cuban of a different kind – should have been facing speed demon Yuriorkis Gamboa, while Marquez – who could have been facing long time nemesis and number one ranked welterweight Manny Pacquiao in a fourth meeting between the two – now finds himself embroiled in sort of a homecoming bout against a relatively unknown fighter.
Admittedly, I have not seen an awful lot of Richard Abril and Serhiy Fedchenko. At 5' 11'', Abril is very tall for a lightweight, which he puts to good effect by combining a decent jab, intelligent footwork and good upper body movement [think of Lucian Bute in terms of the upper body movement]. It would not be outrageous to suggest he is the more refined fighter in the classical sense than Rios. The defeats on Abril's record came about as a result of two closely contested split decisions, the first, against former Amir khan conquerer Breidis Prescott in 2008, and the second, against Hank Lundy in 2010. Abril insists he should have received the nod both times.
Serhiy Fedchenko is probably the more accomplished fighter of the two lesser knowns. Fedchenko is somewhat reminiscent of recent Nonito Donaire spoiler Omar Narvaez – nothing too fancy, just good solid textbook technique backed up by a decent boxing brain. However – like Narvaez against Donaire at the higher weight – Fedchenko doesn't possess the power or spark to really trouble his opponents [he has only two clean knockouts in his career]. Fedchenko's biggest night thus far, came as a result of a hard-fought victory over a long in the tooth Demarcus Corley in 2010 – a struggle for the Ukranian.
While there is a little uncertainty surrounding the in-ring behaviour of Abril and Fedchenko, there is none with regards to their opponents – we know how Marquez and Rios will operate. It is for this very reason then, that I believe Brandon Rios will have the more difficult task on Saturday night; and not just because Marquez is the superior fighter either.
Not too long ago, the superb Frank Lotierzo wrote a fascinating piece on David Tua, and in particular, the reasons why Tua was never considered a great swarmer. In the article Frank described some of the characteristics a great swarmer must posses. Among them were a great chin and one punch fight ending power – which Tua had in abundance. Yet, he was still not considered a great swarmer. The reason for this being that Tua did not, or could not employ great head movement along with distance shortening footwork which would have enabled him to cut off the ring better on his opponents.
I believe Brandon Rios – who is considered a swarmer- is missing more vital components that go with pressure fighting than David Tua ever did. When I look at Rios, I don't see much in the way of head movement, footspeed, one punch ko power [he has accumulative power] or discipline [in the ring and out – his weight may continue to be a problem]. Thus far, Rios has been well matched against fighters like Urbano Antillon and John Murray, who oblige him by standing right in front of him – a gift for a pressure fighter. Against Miguel Acosta, Rios had to come from behind early – Acosta was giving Rios nightmares with his boxing until Rios eventually wore him down. Simply put, I don't think the undoing of Rios necessarily has to come at the hands of a great fighter – never mind a Sugar Ray Robinson type talent, the second coming of Sugar Ray Seales would likely be enough. Don't get me wrong, Rios is an entertaining fighter – he is likeable and he will always give you his all – but I want to see him in there with fighters who are not just going to stand toe to toe with him. If Rios is indeed the pressure fighter everyone says he is, then he should be able to walk through Abril without difficulty.
In there lies the problem.
Rios is a lot like Robert Garcia stablemate Antonio Margarito. Rios is a better combination puncher and has more speed, but does he possess the chin of Margarito? For a pressure fighter like Rios who offers little head movement and whose defense equates to him coming forward to get his own punches off, he better have a cast iron chin like Margarito, otherwise his flaws will be exposed sooner than we think – dare I say maybe on Saturday night?
Probably not. While I think the fight will be a lot more competitive than most, Rios will likely have the superior stamina and will finish the fight stronger. Abril will definitely cause some early problems due to his length – namely his jab, which looks accurate on film. However, I'm not convinced Abril has the mental toughness or discipline to stay composed over the distance in what is undoubtedly the biggest night of his career. Because of Abril's low knockout percentage, a stoppage win seems highly unlikely and what with Rios' constant forward momentum, it's hard to envision Abril securing a decision win, especially with one eye on Juan Manuel Marquez as a potential opponent. Oh right, Marquez!
Barring an absolute disaster, I fully expect Marquez to get the win on Saturday night. While Fedchenko is no Likar Ramos, he is not in Marquez' class either. I can see this fight looking a lot like the Donaire-Narvaez fight, with Marquez being the busier fighter throughout. By the middle rounds, I think Marquez' accurate combinations will be taking their toll on Fedchenko and he – like Narvaez – will be looking to see the final bell. Marquez however, is so creative on offense though, that I can see him still being able to open up a negative fighter – something Donaire couldn't do – and maybe force a late stoppage in front of his adoring natives.
While defeat for both Marquez and Rios is not likely, it is also not impossible. However, defeat for Marquez will likely come as a result of a sudden overnight ageing process or from a freak knockout. Unless you are Floyd Mayweather, it's hard to imagine a boxer [which Fedchenko is] outboxing Marquez.
I can on the other hand, imagine a boxer outboxing Brandon Rios. And they will not have to be a Juan Manuel Marquez to pull it off.
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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City
Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his least three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).
Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.
In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.
The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.
Co-Feature
In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.
Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.
What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.
The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.
Also
In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).
A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, delivered the coup-de-gras, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.
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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim
Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.
Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.
Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.
Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is the winner of the Feb. 2 match between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa/Fulton have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.
Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”
Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.
Semi-wind-up
In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.
Also
In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.
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Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino
Model turned fighter Eric Priest jabbed and jolted his way into the super middleweight rankings with a shutout decision win over veteran Tyler Howard on Thursday.
In his first main event Priest (15-0, 8 KOs) proved ready for contender status by defusing every attack Tennessee’s Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) could muster at Commerce Casino, the second fight in six days at the LA County venue.
All ticket monies collected on the Folden Boy Promotions card were contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they battle wildfires sprouting all over Los Angeles County due to high winds.
Priest, 26, had never fought anyone near Howard’s caliber but used a ramrod jab to keep the veteran off-balance and unable to muster a forceful counter-attack. Round after round the Korean-American fighter pumped left jabs while circling his opposition.
Though hit with power shots, none seemed to faze Howard but his own blows were unable to put a dent in Priest. After 10 rounds of the same repetitive action all three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Priest who now wins a regional super middleweight title.
Priest also joins the top 15 rankings of the WBA organization.
In a fight between evenly matched middleweights, Jordan Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated after 10 rounds versus DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs). Though equally skilled, Panthen simply out-worked the South Caroliina fighter to win by unanimous decision. No knockdowns were scored.
Other Bouts
Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Costa Rica’s David Lobo Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs) with two successive right uppercuts at 2:59 of the second round of the super welterweight fight.
Cayden Griffith (3-0, 3 KOs) used a left hook to the body to stop Mark Misiura at 1:43 of the second round in a super welterweight bout.
Jordan Fuentes (3-0) floored Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) in the third round and proceeded to win by decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight fight.
A super featherweight match saw Leonardo Sanchez (8-0) win by decision over Joseph Cruz Brown (10-12) after six rounds.
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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