The Avila Perspective, Chap 26: The State of Boxing 2019

Any time 20,000 fans pack an arena in the U.S. it’s a good thing for prizefighting.

Last weekend’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez victory over WBA super middleweight titlist Rocky Fielding at Madison Square Garden just before Christmas, proves professional boxing has reached a healthy state.

It’s going to get better in 2019.

Fans can be fickle, especially in the New York area, but if you give them a spectacle, such as watching the red headed Mexican fighter perform on the East Coast for the first time, they will show up in droves.

It was the same weeks earlier in Los Angeles. The sight of two gargantuan heavyweights with undefeated records clashing at the Staples Center, despite not having local ties, meant nothing. It was a spectacle and 17,000 fans clamored to see the world title fight.

Two boxing shows on opposite coasts from different promotion companies succeeded abundantly. The slate is now set for the coming year.

Producing a spectacle takes a little bit of gambling on the part of promoters, fighters and managers. The parties involved need to be willing to risk a loss. When it’s all said and done prizefighting is about entertainment.

Fighters are the most important factors but they can be very selfish when it comes to maintaining undefeated records, or gathering world titles against opposition they know stand no chance against them. The smart fighter will clash with anyone knowing the “no guts no glory” factor will work for them in the end. These are the guys that fans follow like Shawn Porter, Ivan Delgado, Ferdinand Kerobyan and John Molina, boxers who will fight anyone at any time. You absolutely know they are going to light up the ring too.

Fans will stay away from mismatches or sure wins, regardless of talent. They want to see intrigue, even fights and bloody wars. A few like to see skill and artistry but those are in the minority. The average fan wants to see Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo battle till the end.

In New York City and Los Angeles we saw two boxing cards in December that featured those stark entertainment factors needed to attract fans. It’s a template worth keeping.

State of Boxing

Earlier in the year I wrote about newspapers and their failure to notice the sport of boxing was about to explode. I noted in this publication that in Southern California more than 100 gyms exist filled with eager boxers from all over the world. This coming year the bubble will burst and the American boxing scene will be more visible than ever before.

With Premier Boxing Champions scoring a deal with Fox and Showtime, and Top Rank signing its deal with ESPN followed by Golden Boy Promotions and Matchroom Boxing siding with DAZN, the world of boxing will be seen almost every single week.

Other promotion companies are getting into the act and for the next 12 months professional boxing will be available through television and streaming services. Boxing has arrived full force as if an atom bomb has exploded.

“In 2019 the entire sport is about to be lit and I can’t wait,” said Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions. “Boxing will be on numerous platforms globally and that’s a wonderful thing.”

Just an example: on Feb. 9 in Southern California two boxing cards will battle it out 100 miles apart. In Indio, Calif. a Golden Boy Promotions card packed with contenders and a world title fight features WBC super bantamweight titlist Rey Vargas defending against Franklin Manzanilla at Fantasy Springs Casino. Facebook Watch will stream the fight card. In Carson, Calif. at the StubHub Center, Gervonta Davis puts his WBA super featherweight title at stake against three division world champion Abner Mares who is looking to try for a fourth. Showtime will televise.

Two cards on the same day forcing fans to choose.

Saturday Action

This Saturday, a fight card from London, England features heavyweights Dillian Whyte (24-1, 17 KOs) and Derek Chisora (29-8, 21 KOs) finally meeting again in a rematch. Showtime will televise the event beginning at 2 p.m. PT. They met two years ago in an exciting clash with Whyte pulling out the victory by close decision. Supposedly, the winner will fight IBF titlist Anthony Joshua. We’ll have to wait and see about that. He’s been clamoring about fighting Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder ever since they lit a fire on the heavyweight boxing scene with their epic clash.

Following the heavyweight fight we cross the Atlantic Ocean to Brooklyn where brothers Jermell and Jermall Charlo defend their respective world titles at Barclays Center. WBC super welterweight titlist Jermell Charlo has Tony Harrison in front of him. This is Detroit’s Harrison’s second crack at a world title. About two years ago he was stopped by Jarret Hurd when they met for the vacant IBF version. It’s a good test for Charlo. Meanwhile Jermall Charlo defends the interim WBC middleweight version against Matt Korobov, a late replacement for Willie Monroe who failed a drug test. The two Charlo fights are part of a big card televised on Fox. It’s a hefty boxing card that also includes local heavyweight Dominic Breazeale.

If you’re not busy shopping for gifts there’s plenty of boxing on Saturday.

It won’t be the only overlap throughout the year. Expect the major boxing promoters to go head to head on many occasions in 2019. There’s no tapping out or crying in boxing.

Commerce Casino

Promoter Ed Holmes and All Star Boxing has a solid fight card on Saturday Dec. 22, at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

It’s one of the better venues to watch prizefighting and the casino is located alongside the Interstate-5 Freeway for easy access.

Earlier this year, in March, one of the most spectacular knockouts occurred at the Commerce Casino and it came during a female prize fight as local prospect Adelaida Ruiz showed off her vaunted power. It’s what you can expect at one of All Star Boxing’s shows.

Four undefeated boxers are on the card including 18-year-old Adrian Corona in a super featherweight fight, but a couple of fighters to especially watch are Jhon Sanchez Leon  a clever welterweight from Colombia and also local fighter Arthur Saakyan who trains with Dean Campos, the coach who engineered the careers of former world champion Sergio Mora and top female contender Seniesa Estrada.

The All Star Boxing card at Commerce Casino begins at 6 p.m. For more information including tickets call (323) 816-6200 or go to www.Allstarfights.com

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