Avila Perspective, Chap. 123: Dueling Desert Cards and More

 Three compelling boxing cards take place beginning in England and ending in Southern California.

All three are available for viewing.

It begins late Saturday morning for boxing fanatics living in the Pacific Time zone. Matchroom Promotions presents an interesting featherweight clash. Undefeated Josh Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) meets Mexico’s Mauricio Lara (21-2, 14 KOs) in a 12-round non-title fight in London. DAZN will stream.

Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly learned that Mexicans versus Brits make for explosive fights. The only thing jeopardizing them are poor judging. Remember when Miguel “Titere” Vazquez lost to Lewis Ritson by split decision last October? Even the fans there knew the Mexican was robbed after he gave the local boy a boxing lesson.

Warrington holds the IBF featherweight title, which he plans to vacate, and has beaten several top fighters including Kid Galahad, Carl Frampton and Lee Selby.

“I expect an early night. But I’m experienced over 12 rounds. I’ve done marathons,” said Warrington, 30. “He will bring it, which will tune me up nicely for the fights down the line. Make no mistake, I’m treating him like a monster because I can’t afford a slip-up.”

Lara is eager to perform.

“I enjoy coming for war. We’re going to clash in the ring, that’s definitely going to happen,” said Mexico’s Lara.

Will it be an England versus Mexico classic?

Coachella Desert

IBF super featherweight titlist Jojo Diaz (31-1, 15 KOs) defends against Shavkat Rakhimov (15-0,12 KOs) on Saturday Feb. 13, at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. The Golden Boy Promotions card will be streamed by DAZN with prelims on Facebook Watch.

Diaz has been inactive inside the boxing ring, but business-wise he’s gone through some radical changes including signing with MTK and allegedly seeking to leave Golden Boy Promotions. Sometimes business can trip up the boxing side.

“I’m focused on going out there and performing at my best. I want to entertain fight fans and show them what I am all about. I want to show that I am the best at 130 pounds,” said Diaz at the press conference. “If he thinks he will come in here and overwhelm me with his power, that is not going to happen.”

Russia’s Rakhimov has never fought in the U.S. before but has knocked out his last four opponents. He’s not worried about a hometown decision.

“The key is to do anything that needs to be done to win. Diaz is going to be in for a big surprise on Saturday,” said Rakhimov.

It’s lefty versus lefty and those are always quirky fights.

In a co-main event WBO super welterweight titlist Patrick Teixeira (31-1, 22 KOs) defends against Brian Castano (16-0-1, 12 KOs). It’s Brazil versus Argentina and anytime you get those two countries involved it gets crazy.

Both guys are easy to hit, but they’re not there to slip punches.

Teixeira is making his second defense of the title but Castano is considered the favorite. We shall see.

Lots of good matches on this card including Ronny Rios (32-3) versus Oscar Negrete (19-2-2) in a super bantamweight clash. This should be one to watch. Rios has looked strong in winning his past three fights via knockout. One of those wins included a stoppage of Diego De La Hoya.

It’s a loaded card with the prelims beginning around 1 p.m. and available to see on Facebook Watch. The main card begins around 6 p.m. and can be seen on DAZN.

Las Vegas

Despite losing the main event due to the coronavirus, the Top Rank boxing card still retains a number of good fights including former world champion Richard Commey (29-3) against Jackson Marinez (19-1) in a lightweight 10-round main event. ESPN will televise the featured bouts with the prelims on ESPN+.

The lightweight division has suddenly become boxing’s hottest weight class with an abundance of gate attractions like Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Ryan “King Ry” Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.

Both Commey and Marinez are coming off defeats but their losses have asterisks attached:

Commey was knocked out by budding super star Teofimo Lopez over a year ago and has been inactive since that loss.

Marinez lost a very close decision to Rolando Romero for the interim WBA lightweight title and many argue he should have been declared the winner.

Here they are Commey and Marinez facing each other and eager to get another shot at one of the big bank lightweight world champions.

“Things didn’t go as planned with my last fight. I’m ready to get the win with Commey,” said Marinez during a press conference call. “We know that Richard Commey is a big challenge and the biggest of my career. A win will catapult me to the top.”

Commey expects the unexpected.

“I never walk into the ring looking for a knockout. If a knockout comes it always comes as a bonus. This is a 10-round fight and I’m ready to go 10 rounds. That’s all,” said Commey. “We all saw what happened. This is boxing. My focus is to win this fight.”

The winner will be right in the eye of the lightweight storm.

Also on the fight card will be Adam “Blunose” Lopez (14-2) versus Jason Sanchez (15-2) battling for the NABF featherweight title.

And a heavyweight match pits undefeated Jared Anderson (7-0, 7 KOs) against Kingsley Ibeh (5-1-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout.

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