Avila Perspective, Chap. 77: Harrison-Charlo, Mikey Garcia and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 77: Harrison-Charlo, Mikey Garcia and More

ONTARIO, Calif.-Once in a while you get a rivalry so intense it’s put in a neutral area.

Detroit’s Tony Harrison and Houston’s Jermell Charlo can’t stand the sight of each other and their near hatred spills over whenever they meet.

“I don’t like him, I don’t like nothing about him. He wakes me up,” said Harrison.

That’s why Harrison (28-2, 21 KOs) will defend the WBC super welterweight title against Charlo (32-1, 16 KOs) Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Toyota Center in Ontario, California. It’s neutral territory in this rematch that had to be made. FOX will televise.

The last time they met in Los Angeles they spit words so venomous toward each other that they nearly came to blows. And the time before that a similar eruption took place in Los Angeles last spring.

“All I know is I’m ready to fight and crush him. Break him,” said Charlo who lost the WBC title to Harrison a year ago on a controversial decision.

They hate each other.

Maybe the city of Angels is not for them, but Ontario 60 miles east off the I-10 Freeway just could be.

“We’ve done fights in Ontario before and have been successful in the past,” said Tom Brown of TGB Promotions. “This is going to be a great fight.”

Harrison, 29, a former pupil of the late great Emanuel Steward, was unable to fight Charlo last June due to an injury. The postponement caused further vitriol from the Houston-based fighter who instead fought Jorge Cota, and knocked him out in three rounds.

“It was a fake injury,” said an accusing Charlo of Harrison’s injury that postponed a rematch originally planned for last June in Las Vegas.

Harrison shakes his head.

“Nothing about me is fake, “Harrison said in front of the media on Thursday at Toyota Center in Ontario. “What’s between me and him is real.”

It’s the final battle of a large fight card that features 15 bouts including former Olympian Carlos Balderas, former title challengers Hugo Centeno Jr. and Andre Dirrell in separate fights, and heavyweight sluggers.

The Toyota Center formerly was called Citizens Business Bank Arena and hosted numerous boxing cards in the past including Chris Arreola, Josesito Lopez, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and the retired undefeated Andre Ward. Once again, it’s the center of a spotlight on boxing.

Sunday

All Star Boxing hosts its final show of the year and undefeated Ikeem Abdullah headlines the fight card at the Quiet Cannon Golf Course in Montebello, California on Sunday Dec. 22.

Abdullah (3-0-1) originally hails from Chicago but has fought primarily in Southern California on several All Star Boxing shows. He’s a tall super lightweight who fights out of a southpaw stance.

Most of the boxing card consists of young budding professionals itching to proceed in the boxing world.

Ed Holmes, the promoter, has ignited the career of an extensive list of who’s who in the world of boxing. Many of today’s best prizefighters began on his boxing cards including former champions Isaac Dogboe, Murat Gassiev and current female champion Mexico’s Mariana “Barby” Juarez.

The venue always attracts former greats like James “Lights Out” Toney and Paul Banke. Montebello is located just east of East L.A. right off the 60-Freeway.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information call (323) 816-6200.

Mikey Returns

Multi-divisional world champion Mikey Garcia returns to the boxing ring after yet another lengthy lay-off.

“I’m very excited to be here and get back in the ring,” said Garcia atop the WP4 restaurant on the 24^th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to another stage of my career.”

The last time Garcia performed in the boxing ring he endured his first defeat against IBF welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. last March 16, in Texas. It was the first loss for the boxing wizard who formerly captured world titles in the featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight divisions.

Now Garcia, 32, faces two-division world titlist Jessie Vargas a former two-division world titlist in the super lightweight and welterweight divisions. The Moreno Valley-based fighter will be looking up at Vargas who has an advantage in height by several inches.

“A fight with Jessie Vargas motivates me,” said Garcia who did not want to merely fight ranked opposition but fighters who posed a serious risk. “I like challenges.”

It’s not the first time the 5’7” Garcia faces a much taller opponent.

Garcia and Vargas will be fighting in Frisco, Texas under Matchroom Boxing Promotions. It’s a strange place to put this fight. Garcia has always lived in Southern California but rarely fights in his home state. Vargas was born in the Los Angeles area but raised in Las Vegas.

During the last 10 years Garcia fought only three times in Southern California. He has a large following here but despite 14 years in the business several promoters such as Top Rank and PBC keep sending him to Texas to fight. Now Matchroom has taken the same road. It’s puzzling.

Still, the match up pits two skilled fighters in their peak against each other. Don’t expect a knockout. Neither has ever been stopped despite facing some of the most powerful opposition in several weight classes. It’s going the distance.

“Some fans say it has Morales and Barrera written all over it,” said Vargas of the famous trilogy between Tijuana’s Erik Morales and Mexico City’s Marco Antonio Barrera that took place from 2000 to 2004. All of those battles were held in Las Vegas.

Garcia and Vargas will battle each other on February 29, 2020 at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing fight card.

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 4 p.m. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (51-3-1) vs Daniel Jacobs (35-3); Maurice Hooker (26-1-3) vs Uriel Perez (19-4); Liam Smith (28-2-1) vs Roberto Garcia (42-4); Gabe Rosado (24-12-1) vs Humberto Gutierrez Ochoa (33-8-2).

Fox Sports1 3 p.m. Hugo Centeno Jr. (27-3) vs Juan Macias Montiel (21-4-1).

Sat. FOX 5 p.m. Tony Harrison (28-2) vs Jermell Charlo (32-1), Efe Ajagba (11-0) vs Iago Kiladze (26-4-1), Carlos Balderas (9-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (13-1).

Mon. ESPN+ 3 a.m. Ryoto Murata (15-2) vs Steven Butler (28-1-1).

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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