Avila Perspective, Chap. 99: Errol Spence and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 99: Errol Spence and More

Let’s start Friday with a bang.

WBC welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. has agreed to face ex-champ Danny Garcia in defense of the title this coming November it was announced on Friday.

Spence was expected to take a tepid tune-up fight after suffering a near fatal car accident a year ago. Instead, the Texas welterweight opted to accept the challenge of ex-champion Garcia. They will meet on November 21, 2020 at a place to be designated, supposedly in Los Angeles. It will be shown on Fox pay-per-view.

Deservedly so.

This smacks of the 80s the way Spence decided to take on a heavy-duty challenger like Garcia. Why gamble on a tune-up fight against seemingly subpar competition? Anything can happen when you take tune-ups.

Back in 1984, Sugar Ray Leonard was at the top of the boxing world and was returning after eye surgery. He agreed to fight Kevin Howard and with most of the world expecting an easy win, Leonard was dropped in the fourth round. He rallied to defeat Howard by knockout, but it flagged an important lesson: there are no easy fights at the top.

Spence could easily lose to a top-20 contender when he returns. Might as well make it count by facing former super lightweight and welterweight world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia. During these tenuous days any champion should go-for-broke.

This is the best of the Premier Boxing Champions scheduled matchups for my money.

Showtime

A battle for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title features Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs) against Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Aug. 1, at the contained setting of the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. Showtime will televise.

Much of the boxing world was awaiting the return of boxing on the Showtime network and this card marks the reboot for 2020.

Last Wednesday, the head of Showtime’s sports programming Stephen Espinoza unfurled its future dates that extend until the end of the year. The list of upcoming fights included WBC super middleweight titlist David Benavidez versus Roamer Alexis Angulo on Aug. 15; Erickson Lubin versus Terrel Gausha on September 19; and the Charlo brothers in a Showtime pay-per-view on September 26.

October brings another Showtime pay-per-view event with Gervonta Davis clashing with multi-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz. They will meet on October 24.

I truly can’t figure out how their battle will turn out. Davis looks big and strong at 130, but can he drop to 130 once again to defend the WBA super featherweight title? Losing weight can be more daunting than the fight. Santa Cruz will be moving up in weight and will be stronger than at 126 pounds. But will he be strong enough to match Davis?

It’s a great fight.

Rumors were spreading around Southern California that Leo Santa Cruz and many in his gym were infected with the coronavirus. Apparently, if it were true, it has long passed.

Gyms all over the country are being hit with the coronavirus as evident with the rash of positive tests results that are happening at almost every major boxing card.

FOX in Los Angeles

Welterweight contenders Jamal James and Thomas Dulorme will be meeting in Los Angeles on September 8, for the interim WBA welterweight title. Also, Omar Juarez and Willie Shaw clash on the same card that takes place at the Microsoft Theater in LA Live. The boxing card will be televised by Fox at 5 p.m.

It’s a very interesting card that would have intrigued a lot of fight fans in Los Angeles. But no fans or media will be allowed on the PBC boxing card.

Boxing without fans cannot exist unless it includes television or streaming.

DAZN

Speaking of streaming, those cards being streamed by DAZN have former super flyweight killer Sri Sor Rungvisai meeting Amnat Ruenroeng in a clash in Thailand on Saturday Aug. 1. Or is it YouTube.com?

Later, on Saturday Aug. 1, DAZN will be streaming Sam Eggington versus Ted Cheeseman in a super welterweight match taking place at Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s estate. They dubbed it Fight Camp in London, England.

Next Friday Aug. 7, DAZN has Terri Harper, the WBC super featherweight titlist, defending against Natasha Jonas in the main event at Fight Camp.

On Aug. 15, Cecilia Braekhus battles Jessica McCaskill in the USA for the undisputed welterweight world championship. They will meet in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matchroom Boxing will promote the American fight card and it will be shown by DAZN.

ESPN

The return of Top Rank boxing finds it transferred to England where Jono Carroll Meets Maxi Hughes in a lightweight scrap on Wednesday Aug. 12. ESPN+ will show it.

On Saturday Aug. 15, Carl Frampton fights Vahram Vardunyan in a super featherweight clash in London, England. ESPN will show it too.

It seems boxing is back to fighting, even between the networks.

Start marking your calendars.

Last note

Hopefully, fans will be able to return to the arenas at some time later this year to watch these scheduled fight cards.

When November 21 comes around, perhaps a venue will be chosen for the Errol Spence Jr. and Danny Garcia welterweight showdown. It’s a matchup between the elite and they don’t happen that often.

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