Avila Perspective, Chap. 70: Golden Boy vs Top Rank, US vs UK and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 70: Golden Boy vs Top Rank, US vs UK and More

Several riveting battles take place this weekend, two in the American southwest and another in the United Kingdom. Each card presents world title fights that titillate the fancy of pure boxing fans.

Deep in the Coachella desert another world title takes place as WBO light flyweight titlist Elwin “La Pulga” Soto (15-1, 11 KOs) defends against Filipino challenger Edward Heno (14-0-5, 5 KOs) at Fantasy Springs Casino on Thursday Oct. 24. The Golden Boy Promotions card will be streamed by RingTV.com.

The last time Mexico’s “The Flea” Soto entered the ring he upset Puerto Rican slugger Angel Acosta with a knockout in the last round. As we have mentioned many times before, Mexico versus Puerto Rico is a matchup that never fails to provide action and drama.

This time it’s Mexico versus Philippines and though it’s not as prolific, these two countries still get their antlers up when they face each other. Manny Pacquiao really started the ball rolling when he went through a murderer’s row of Mexican fighters in the early 2000s, or did we forget?

Pacman beat Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, at least twice each and established himself as a legendary fighter. And he’s still fighting.

Heno, 27, fights out of Manila and is making his American debut. It’s also his first confrontation with a Mexican fighter so it should be interesting especially with a world title as the prize.

A couple of other solid fighters highlight the card including Jonathan Navarro a super lightweight from East L.A. who had back to back impressive wins over Damon Allen and Manuel Mendez. Navarro works out of Riverside with Robert Garcia and is moving up the ranks. He fights Levis Morales (17-5-1) in an eight round contest at Fantasy Springs.

Also on the Golden Boy card are Ireland’s undefeated welterweight Aaron McKenna and Mexico’s undefeated super welterweight Raul Curiel.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. PT and the fights begin at 5 p.m. PT.

Top Rank vs Golden Boy

On Saturday Oct. 26, in Reno, Nevada, the Silver state, former amateur rivals Shakur Stevenson (12-0, 7 KOs) and Joet Gonzalez (23-0, 14 KOs) face off for the vacant WBO featherweight world title. ESPN will televise.

Three years ago Stevenson emerged from the Rio Olympics in 2016 as one of the more electrifying performers on Team USA, but he didn’t win the gold. Gonzalez was one of the American boxers that did not make the team. Both have been very familiar with each other for years.

Gonzalez also has a sister, Jajaira Gonzalez, who competed for the American team going to the Rio Olympics who is good friends with Stevenson. There will be no surprises in this fight. They know each other well.

Stevenson, 22, arrived from the Olympics with blistering speed and height to go with his boxing skills. When he first entered the pro ranks he was all speed and no punch. But that has changed. A lot of amateur coaches like to preach that speed is power. No, it is not. That’s why certain speedy boxers from the amateurs don’t quite make it in the pros.

Lately, the power has arrived and Stevenson has stopped five of his last seven opponents. He can punch.

Gonzalez, 26, always had a pro style and it’s a primary reason he did not make the Olympic team. But in the prize ring he’s evolved into a force, especially after escaping with a win over Mexican tough guy Rafael Rivera a year ago in Los Angeles. It was a pivotal win that made Gonzalez an even better fighter, a fighter with purpose and a tint more meanness in the ring. He’s stopped three fighters in a row including the talented Manuel “Tito” Avila.

This fight is also worth noting for another reason: it’s Top Rank versus Golden Boy and when they put their fighters against each other they usually result in explosive results. How can anyone forget Jose Carlos Ramirez versus Antonio Orozco? Expect the same in this fight.

London Calling

Scottish fighter Josh Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) meets American slugger Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) in a battle of the southpaws at O2 Arena in London, England on Saturday Oct. 26. DAZN will stream the title clash early 11 a.m. Saturday morning if you live in the Pacific Coast.

Anytime you put lefties versus lefties expect the fight to end with a knockout. Both Prograis and Taylor are hard hitting southpaws with run-them-over tendencies. Neither is a fancy Dan.

Taylor, 28, looks and fights like he does collections at night for local Glasgow mobsters. He’s not shy about taking blows to give blows. He also can be elusive if he desires, but usually prefers a dog fight. Ask Ivan Baranchyk a Russian fighter who ran into him in Glasgow. The Scottish pugilist out-muscled the muscle.

Prograis, 30, prefers to slug it out rather than box it out. If this were a movie, he would be Doc Holliday in the film Tombstone who says, “I’m your huckleberry.”

The Louisiana prizefighter has ties to Hollywood and is co-managed by director Peter Berg and and actor Mark Wahlberg. Maybe after this fight Berg can remake the Tombstone movie so that Prograis can play Doc Holliday.

This fight has taken several turns before it finally was nailed down.

Surprisingly it has not been received with the excitement it deserves. This ranks up there with Kostya Tszyu versus Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya versus Shane Mosley, or Miguel Angel Gonzalez versus Julio Cesar Chavez. All were super lightweight or welterweight fights that electrified the fans when they took place.

It’s guaranteed to provide excitement.

Another added factor will be the lefty component. When lefties fight lefties it creates a puzzle that neither are accustomed to facing. Whoever figures out the conundrum –which usually means whoever lands a right hook first– will win the fight.

Both Taylor and Prograis are tough guys. They each have speed, strength and power to end each other’s night with a single pile driving blow.

Don’t miss it.

Hollywood Swinging

The return of Serhii “El Flaco”Bohachuk (15-0, 15 KOs) finds the Ukrainian slugger facing a tough test in veteran Tyrone Brunson (28-7-2, 25 KOs), a Philadelphia super welterweight who has fought elite fighters in the past. They meet on Sunday Oct. 27, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood, Calif. on the 360 Promotions fight card. It will be streamed on the promotion’s web site and on the Facebook page.

Bohachuk, 24, trains with Abel Sanchez in Big Bear and has quickly proven to be a very solid boxer who can deal with technical fighters, or handle bombers in crazy exchanges.

Brunson, 34, competed in the recent television boxing show The Contender and lost to eventual champion Brandon Adams by knockout last year in Los Angeles. But he has a win over Kermit Cintron so he knows what he’s doing in the prize ring. He also went the distance with Caleb Plant four years ago.

Doors open at 3 p.m. First bout begins at 4 p.m.

Fights to Watch

Thurs. UFC Fight Pass 4 p.m. Tiara Brown (8-0) vs Vanessa Bradford (5-1-2); Mykquan Williams (15-0) vs Tre’Sean Wiggins (11-4-2).

Thurs. RingTV.com 5 p.m. Elwin Soto (15-1) vs Edward Heno (14-0-5).

Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Kendo Castaneda (16-0) vs Stan Martyniouk (20-2).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Regis Prograis (24-0) vs Josh Taylor (15-0).

Sat. Showtime 6 p.m. Erickson Lubin (21-1) vs Nathaniel Gallimore (21-3-1); Robert Easter (21-1-1) vs Adrian Granados (20-7-2).

Sat. ESPN 7 p.m. Shakur Stevenson (12-0) vs Joet Gonzalez (23-0); Mikaela Mayer (11-0) vs Alejandra Zamora (7-3).

Sunday www.360Promotions.us  5 p.m. Serhii Bohachuk (15-0) vs Tyrone Brunson (28-7-2).

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