Avila Perspective, Chap. 60: Celebrity Sightings at Dueling Press Conferences

LOS ANGELES-If you stand in certain places in Los Angeles long enough, a celebrity or two will cross your path.

On Tuesday, if you were standing in downtown Los Angeles, a stampede of world champions, singers and multi-millionaires were running amok like elephants at a Serengeti watering hole.

TGB Promotions opened up the stampede in front of Staples Center with the announcement that welterweight world titlists Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter will be clashing in a unification battle on September 28.

“You’ve seen my growth over the years to where I’m fighting in bigger and bigger stadiums and headlining the pay-per-views. Now I’m in a unification fight, which is what I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Spence the IBF titlist. “My whole thing is that I’m looking for the stoppage. I want to make a statement that I’m clearing out the division. I want Manny Pacquiao and all of the top names in this division.”

Porter wants what Spence wants. It’s not a coincidence.

“When I beat Errol Spence Jr., it doesn’t mean he’s going away. He’s still elite. But I’m going to take care of him September 28 and go after Manny Pacquiao. That’s the plan,” said Porter the WBC kingpin.

They’ll have plenty of company too.

Super Middles

A WBC super middleweight title fight pits titleholder Anthony Dirrell against former titleholder David Benavidez in the co-main event, and welterweights Josesito Lopez, John Molina Jr., Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and Joey Spencer will also on the Staples Center boxing card. It will be shown on FOX pay-per-view.

“Benavidez is a come forward fighter who throws a lot of punches. You can frustrate him and do what you need to do to counteract that though,” said Dirrell who holds the title that was stripped away from Benavidez for testing positive for a banned substance in September 2018. He regained active status this past February.

Now without a title, Benavidez hungers for championship status once again.

“There’s a lot of motivation for me because he has my title. We have respect outside the ring, but none of that will be in the ring. We’re both going for the knockout and it’s going to be a war from round one,” said Benavidez.

Other fights included on the same card are Mario Barrios and Batyr Akhmedov who will battle each other for the WBA super lightweight title. But perhaps a hidden gem will be the welterweight clash featuring local sluggers Josesito Lopez and John Molina Jr.

Riverside’s Lopez and Covina’s Molina Jr. have known each other for all of their careers, yet surprisingly, they never fought each other. Both are known for their crazed tenacity and warrior spirit.

“Here we go again. It’s going to be another exciting fight. This is a long time coming for the both of us. We both have a never say die attitude and that’s what you’re going to get on fight night,” said Molina whose last fight was a loss that looked a lot closer than the judge’s cards last February.

Lopez has fond memories of Staples Center and raised eyebrows against Keith Thurman last January. He was recently suspended by New York State Athletic Commission but that governing group strangely does not reveal their reasons. Lopez is ready.

“It’s been seven years since I had that great showing at Staples Center against Victor Ortiz, and it’s a great feeling to be back,” said Lopez. “I’m going to put on a show, just like I did my last time fighting at Staples Center. I’m going to deliver another great performance.”

Golden Boy

Several blocks north at the Golden Boy Promotions building, another press conference took place on Tuesday afternoon to announce a super welterweight world title fight and a super lightweight clash on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Standing in front were Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya and gold medal recording artist Usher.

Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia will defend the WBO super welterweight world title against Patrick Alottey on Sept. 14, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. DAZN will stream the fight card.

Erik Morales, manager Fernando Beltran, Jaime Mungia and Oscar De La Hoya

Whether or not Munguia passes the challenge, he plans to move up in weight.

“This is my last fight in this weight division,” said Munguia. “But I’m happy to be fighting on this day. It’s very important for Mexicans.”

Munguia faces Alottey a veteran from Ghana with more than 40 pro fights who has not lost in three years.

“We both have a lot of knockouts,” said Munguia about his next foe.

Now training Munguia will be Tijuana’s most successful fighter of all time Erik “El Terrible” Morales.

“I’m just grateful to be working with Jaime Munguia,” said Morales. “He has a lot of gifts.”

Also on the card will be Ryan “the Flash” Garcia who has an extremely large fan base. He will be opposing Philadelphia’s Avery Sparrow who defeated veteran gatekeeper Henry Lundy this past March by unanimous decision.

Usher accompanied Sparrow to the press conference.

“Everybody knows I’m a good fighter,” said Sparrow. “Ryan Garcia has a lot of fans and a lot of support. I definitely feel I’m at a different level.”

Garcia was unshaken by his next adversary’s comments.

“I got offered three fights and I definitely feel Avery is the toughest,” said Garcia whose last fight was a second round knockout win over Jose Lopez. “He’s fast, he’s got skills.”

Burbank Fights

Welterweights lead a boxing card on Friday, Aug. 16, at the Burbank Marriott in Burbank, Calif. Among those on the Bash Boxing card are undefeated super welter Jessy Martinez (12-0) against the very awkward and rugged Luis Norambuena (3-3-1) in a six round bout. Also, undefeated super lightweight Jose Rodriguez (7-0) meets Gonzalo Dallera (5-4) in another six round co-main event.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information call (626) 388-8888 or go to this link: https://www.bashboxing.com/

Fights to watch

Sat. ESPN   Emanuel Navarrete (27-1) vs Francisco De Vaca (20-0); Jessie Magdaleno (26-1) vs Rafael Rivera (27-3-2); Arnold Barboza (21-0) vs Ricky Sismundo (35-14-3).

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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