Avila Perspective, Chap. 108: Knockdowns, Featherweight Title Fight and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 108: Knockdowns, Featherweight Title Fight and More

Followers of boxing were abuzz throughout the social media world after super lightweights Jose “Chon” Zepeda and Ivan “the Beast” Baranchyk walloped each other with blows big enough to wipe off each other’s eyebrows.

After the smoke cleared eight knockdowns had been scored.

If you missed the knockdown battle between Zepeda and Baranchyk last Saturday, you missed one doozy of a fight.

Over the years and decades, I’ve seen similar battles in the prize ring, but seldom do they happen among top contenders. That’s what made Zepeda-Baranchyk so memorable. Both had fought for world titles before and desperately needed to win.

Desperation can make you do funny things.

Zepeda came out winging and Baranchyk came out winging and down went the Southern California native in the first round. And then both went down in the second round and that’s when you realized uh oh, we might have something special going on.

Yes, it was.

“Both of us were climbing up and one of us had to stay, so thanks for the great fight,” said Zepeda after the fight.

Too bad fans were not allowed for that fight. Can you imagine the number of people who would say they were at that fight?

Their clash reminded me of Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo’s first encounter 13 years ago. That was a doozy too and memorable. Despite taking place at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino only 5,000 fans showed up for that epic battle. Zepeda and Baranchyk had zero fans in attendance, but it might soon be watched again all over the world on social media.

It’s guaranteed to win Fight of the Year honors at the end of 2020.

World Title Clash

Former super bantamweight titlist Emanuel Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) of Mexico moves up in weight and will meet California dandy Ruben Villa (18-0, 5 Ks) for the vacant WBO featherweight world title on Friday October 9. ESPN will televise the match.

Navarrete, 25, demolished every super bantamweight he faced including Isaac Dogboe twice in world title bouts. But making 122-pounds on his tall thin frame proved too much so he’s going to try the bigger guys. Those extra four pounds could make him stronger or it could make him vulnerable.

Villa, 23, has been fighting featherweights and super featherweights with a slick southpaw style that features his superb footwork and quickness. He is lickety-split quick and unafraid of punchers or their power. It’s almost like he sneers at power punchers the way a mongoose would a cobra.

“Navarrete is a good fighter, but I will be honest, I feel largely disrespected coming into this fight. I am a southpaw who is the bigger man, and had a better amateur career, but am being viewed as an underdog. I have a chip on my shoulder, and though I respect Navarrete’s skills, I am looking to prove a point,” said Villa who trains with Max and Sam Garcia.

It should prove very interesting.

Villa, who hails from Salinas, California, was overlooked by the top promoters and eventually signed with little giant Thompson Boxing Promotions. They have a knack for spotting overlooked talent. Villa could very well be their next Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley.

As an amateur Villa fought Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney and Karlos Balderas numerous times trading victories and losses.

If you are a connoisseur of boxing, this is for you. Power versus boxing.

Champs Only

On Halloween Night two rival boxing cards crash head to head, but one features champion versus champion.

A boxing card in San Antonio, Texas showcases three-time champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis versus three-division world titlist Leo Santa Cruz in a battle for the super featherweight world title and shown on Showtime pay-per-view.

Davis has that blend of speed and power that makes him a mini-Mike Tyson and an attitude to match. But the Baltimore bullet has massive respect for Santa Cruz especially in giving, or should I say sacrificing himself to provide a big platform.

“I’m thankful to Leo for stepping up and calling me out. He wants to test himself out. It shows me that he has a lot of heart and he wants to fight the best. The winner of this should be up there in the pound-for-pound rankings. The winner takes it all on October 31,” said Davis who has knocked out almost every man he ever faced inside a boxing ring. Only one man can say he heard the final bell and that was five years ago.

East L.A.’s Santa Cruz has never been stopped. And despite a thin frame and easy-going attitude he’s managed to win world titles beginning in 2012 when he grabbed the bantamweight belt. He went on to win the super bantamweight title in 2013 and then the featherweight title in 2015.

Santa Cruz knows what he’s stepping into could be quicksand.

“This is a hard fight. It’s the toughest fight of my career. We’re facing a tough fighter with great skills. I know he’s going to come with everything he has and be at his best,” said Santa Cruz during a Zoom interview conference on Tuesday.

Fans will be allowed in the massive arena.

On the same Halloween Night, in Las Vegas, the Japanese fighter known as “Monster” will be defending his world title at the MGM Grand Bubble.

Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) defends the WBA and IBF bantamweight world titles against Australia’s Jason Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs) on Halloween night. Fans are expected to be allowed to attend. We shall see.

This will be Inoue’s first fight in America since signing with Top Rank. ESPN will televise the monster affair.

Also, in a female clash, WBO super featherweight titlist Ewa Brodnicka (19-0) defends against American Olympian Mikaela Mayer (13-0) who has long sought an opportunity for a world title.

Fights to Watch

Wed. Showtime, 9 p.m. Charles Conwell (12-0, 9 KOs) vs Wendy Toussaint (12-0, 5 KOs) Brandun Lee (19-0, 17 KOs) vs Jimmy Williams (16-3-2, 5 KOs).

Fri. ESPN* 9 a.m. Maxi Hughes (21-5-2) vs Viktor Kotochigov (12-0).

Fri. ESPN, 7 p.m. Emanuel Navarrete (31-1) v Ruben Villa (18-0); Elvis Rodriguez (9-0-1) vs Cameron Krael (17-16-3).

Fri. Telemundo, 11:30 p.m. Saul Sanchez (13-1) vs. Daniel Lozano (15-9-1).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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