The Avila Perspective, Chapter 11: Superfly3 and More

SANTA MONICA, Calif.-Every time the word “Superfly” is mentioned it brings back memories of the 1972 film of the same name starring the late Ron O’Neal and that timeless music and lyrics by Curtis Mayfield:

“Oh, Superfly
You’re gonna make your fortune by and by
But if you lose, don’t ask no questions why
The only game you know is Do or Die
Ah-ha-ha.”

Those words and music were not meant for Superfly3, the upcoming fight card at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday Sept. 8, but fit perfectly in tone. HBO will telecast the 360 Promotions show that features those little but mighty super flyweights.

Does it matter that almost all the fighters come from other countries to fight in Inglewood, a suburban city surrounded by Los Angeles?

Apparently not.

In the previous two Superfly fight cards large crowds first gathered last September 2017 to see Nicaragua’s Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez. Then this past February they gathered again to see Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

One fighter Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico returns and remains the common denominator on all three Superfly cards. So far all have been successful as a ticket seller and as a televised fight card.

“It all started with Chocolatito,” said Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions. “There’s an excitement with the smaller weights that fans like.”

1960s

Inglewood Forum has always been a haven for smaller weight prizefighters going back to 1968, less than a year after the indoor arena was built by Jack Kent Cooke.

Bantamweights roamed the Los Angeles landscape and were as plentiful as the thousands of California bears that greeted the first Europeans in the late 1700s. South Africans, Aussies, Mexicans and other Latin American countries often were represented in boxing cards at the Forum.

During the late 1960s the Latino population was not nearly as heavy as today which tops over 50 percent of the 10 million people living in the L.A. County area. But fans of boxing, regardless of ethnicity, would show up to watch guys like Ruben Olivares, Lionel Rose and many others.

Today, despite an abundance of entertainment activities and various sports teams like the Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Kings, Ducks, and college giants like UCLA and USC, the sport of boxing still thrives and grows like those Spanish river weeds that are spreading in the Southern California rivers.

Boxing just can’t be stopped.

360 Promotions has gambled successfully that fans in the area would come to the fights despite a multitude of entertainment options in Southern California.

Filipino standout Donnie Nietes (41-1-4, 23 KOs) vies for a third world title in a third weight division when he meets fellow Filipino Aston Palicte (24-2, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBO super flyweight world title at the Forum.

Nietes, 36, already has flyweight and light flyweight world titles draped in his closet and now he’s gunning for his third against a heavy-hitting and much younger fighter in Palicte. Look for the veteran to entice Palicte into mistakes with patient probes and traps. He’s a master at setting traps then pouncing on his foes. But is age creeping up on him?

Another super flyweight bout features Mexican star Juan Francisco Estrada (36-3) who lost a close majority decision to the aforementioned Sor Rungvisai last February at the same Forum. Now the Mexican from Hermosillo meets another Mexican named Felipe Orucuta (36-4, 30 KOs) from Mexico City. If Estrada prevails, then a matchup with the Nietes-Palicte winner looks inevitable and explosive. But neither fight is a slam dunk.

Female Title Fight

Former light flyweight world titlist Louisa Hawton (8-1) is dropping down a weight division to meet Tijuana, Mexico’s Brenda Flores for the vacant WBC atom weight world title at the Forum.

Both Hawton, 33, and Flores, 25, are mothers of two children. They’ll clash for 10 rounds to see who walks away with the world title. This is Flores first true attempt at a world title. A previous meeting for an interim title at light flyweight ended in a decision loss to Silvia Torres last December in Mexico City. Hawton shows strength and speed and looks eager to win another strap.

Brooklyn

Former world champions Danny “Swift” Garcia and Shawn “Showtime” Porter clash at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the vacant WBC welterweight world title on Saturday Sept. 8. Showtime will televise.

It’s an even match between two welters who can take a punch. Garcia is the counterpuncher and Porter the pressure fighter. It’s a good one.

On the same card Amanda Serrano (34-1-1) chases a sixth world title in as many weight divisions when she faces Argentina’s Yamila Reynoso (11-4-3) for the vacant WBO super lightweight world title. A win by the Puerto Rican knockout artist snaps a tie she has with Layla McCarter and Naoko Fujioka who also have five world titles in five weight divisions.

Serrano, 29, fights as low as 118 pounds and now zooms up to 140. That’s a battle in itself. Her fight will be streamed on Showtime’s YouTube and Facebook page.

Neeco

One last word about Neeco Macias who fought at Fantasy Springs Casino and dominated Marvin Cabrera in a super welterweight fight.

Macias unloaded near record-breaking number of punches when he stopped Cabrera last Saturday. He averaged more than 190 blows each round. It was a staggering amount of punches and he just might be perfect for Mexico’s Jaime Munguia who has the WBO super welterweight world title.

Both Macias and Munguia lack the finer technical aspects of boxing but thrive on overwhelming their opponents with blows and more blows. Munguia probably hits harder but Macias will stay in his grill and never ever stop punching.

It’s just a thought.

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