Avila Perspective, Chap. 63: September Sizzles with Fight Cards

You can always count on September to bring 100 degree temperatures to Southern California and also a stream of heavy duty fight cards.

Golden Boy Promotions leads off with a Thursday night fight card featuring Armenian super featherweight contender Azat Hovhannisyan (17-3, 14 KOs) meeting Franklin Manzanilla (18-5, 17 KOs) in the 12-round main event at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 5.

Both Hovhannisyan (pictured) and Manzanilla are a pair of heavy-handed fighters who prefer knockouts to decisions. Most of their losses have come via decision. One oddity is they were born a day apart. Hovhannisyan was born on Aug. 15, 1988 and Manzanilla on Aug. 16, 1988.

Hovhannisyan, 31, started slowly as a professional before learning the pro game. His most impressive win came via knockout over Ronny Rios. It was a surprising revelation and it led to a world title challenge against WBC titlist Rey Vargas in May 2018. The Armenian fighter known as “Crazy A” did well against the much taller Mexican fighter.

Since the title challenge Hovhannisyan has obliterated three successive opponents including Filipino tough guy Glenn Porras at the Avalon Theater last June. He has a solid fan base who will fill up the Belasco Theater.

Manzanilla, 31, has fought for the world title and like Hovhannisyan it was against current WBC titlist Vargas. This past February the Colombian slugger put down Vargas in the second round but was nullified by the Mexican’s strangulation tactics for most of the fight. It was a frustrating fight due to Vargas constant holding. Had the holding tactics been disallowed there might have been a different outcome.

Perhaps Golden Boy’s team realized this and brought Manzanilla back against a similar tough nut. On paper it’s excellent matchmaking.

Doors open at 5 p.m. It can be watched via: www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing

San Bernardino

If you have paid attention you know that Mikey Garcia and his family have relocated from Oxnard to Riverside County which borders San Bernardino County. Most residents living in either county refer to this region as the Inland Empire or “I.E.” for short.

Boxing has erupted in this area and during the past 30 years has become one of the world’s hotbeds of prizefighting. Robert Garcia Boxing Academy has become the heart of boxing in Riverside.

On Friday Sept. 6, Garcia Promotions presents another fight card at the Club Center Events located at 217 E. Club Center Drive in San Bernardino, Calif. 92408.

The main event features middleweight Leo Ruiz Acevedo (5-0, 3 KOs) against Christian Aguirre (8-6) in a six-round match.

Ruiz, 20, has fought three times on Thompson Boxing Promotions cards in the past year with two of three ending by knockout.

Aguirre, 23, fights out of Utah but has familiarity with Southern California. He’s fought twice in this state and his only win came via knockout.

Expected to attend are Fernando Vargas, Robert Garcia and Mikey Garcia.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Cards

Dignity Health Sports Park – on Sept. 14 Jaime Munguia defends the WBO super welterweight world title against Patrick Alottey ; also WBC super middleweight titlist Franchon Crews defends against former WBC heavyweight titlist Alejandra Jimenez. DAZN will stream live.

Staples Center – on Sept. 2 Errol Spence Jr. fights Shawn Porter in a battle between world titlists. Also, WBC super middleweight titlist Anthony Dirrell defends against former titlist David Benavidez looking to regain his old title that was stripped from him due to a failed drug test. FOX pay-per-view will televise.

You can always count on September to bring 100 degree temperatures to Southern California and also a stream of heavy duty fight cards.

Golden Boy Promotions leads off with a Thursday night card featuring Armenian super featherweight contender Azat Hovhannisyan (17-3, 14 KOs) meeting Franklin Manzanilla (18-5, 17 KOs) in the 12-round main event at Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 5.

Both Hovhannisyan and Manzanilla are a pair of heavy-handed fighters who prefer knockouts to decisions. Most of their losses have come via decision. One oddity is they were born a day apart. Hovhannisyan was born on Aug. 15, 1988 and Manzanilla on Aug. 16, 1988.

Hovhannisyan, 31, started slowly as a professional before learning the pro game. His most impressive win came via knockout over Ronny Rios. It was a surprising revelation and it led to a world title challenge against WBC titlist Rey Vargas in May 2018. The Armenian fighter known as “Crazy A” did well against the much taller Mexican fighter.

Since the title challenge Hovhannisyan has obliterated three successive opponents including Filipino tough guy Glenn Porras at the Avalon Theater last June. He has a solid fan base who will fill up the Belasco Theater.

Manzanilla, 31, has fought for the world title and like Hovhannisyan it was against current WBC titlist Vargas. This past February the Colombian slugger put down Vargas in the second round but was nullified by the Mexican’s strangulation tactics for most of the fight. It was a frustrating fight due to Vargas constant holding. Had the holding tactics been disallowed there might have been a different outcome.

Perhaps Golden Boy’s team realized this and brought Manzanilla back against a similar tough nut. On paper it’s excellent matchmaking.

Doors open at 5 p.m. It can be watched via: www.Facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing

San Bernardino

If you have paid attention you know that Mikey Garcia and his family have relocated from Oxnard to Riverside County which borders San Bernardino County. Most residents living in either county refer to this region as the Inland Empire or “I.E.” for short.

Boxing has erupted in this area and during the past 30 years has become one of the world’s hotbeds of prizefighting. Robert Garcia Boxing Academy has become the heart of boxing in Riverside.

On Friday Sept. 6, Garcia Promotions presents another boxing card at the Club Center Events located at 217 E. Club Center Drive in San Bernardino, Calif. 92408.

The main event features middleweight Leo Ruiz Acevedo (5-0, 3 KOs) against Christian Aguirre (8-6) in a six-round match.

Ruiz, 20, has fought three times on Thompson Boxing Promotions cards in the past year with two of three ending by knockout.

Aguirre, 23, fights out of Utah but has familiarity with Southern California. He’s fought twice in this state and his only win came via knockout.

Expected to attend are Fernando Vargas, Robert Garcia and Mikey Garcia.

Doors open at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Cards

Dignity Health Sports Park – on Sept. 14 Jaime Munguia defends the WBO super welterweight world title against Patrick Alottey ; also WBC super middleweight titlist Franchon Crews defends against former WBC heavyweight titlist Alejandra Jimenez. DAZN will stream live.

Staples Center – on Sept. 2 Errol Spence Jr. fights Shawn Porter in a battle between world titlists. Also, WBC super middleweight titlist Anthony Dirrell defends against former titlist David Benavidez looking to regain his old title that was stripped from him due to a failed drug test. FOX pay-per-view will televise.

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