Avila Perspective, Chap. 140: A Warning to Prizefighters and More

A warning to all prizefighters of the world, the pandemic is not over.

That lesson was learned harshly when an expected lightweight world championship battle in Miami, Florida was scrapped because Teofimo Lopez tested positive for the coronavirus that has afflicted the world for almost two years.

Though the situation in many countries around the world has improved due to vaccinations and other forms of preventatives, the virus remains and it seems to linger especially around those areas that have maintained a record of shrugging it aside. Florida, for example, has had a poor record from the onset.

Politics have invaded science yet the same people who do not believe science carry around items that science developed like cell phones, laptops and Bluetooth headphones.

Boxing gyms are one of the worst places to be in this pandemic. We lost many people involved in our sport to this virus. If you are a fighter and have a contracted fight, you must remain isolated. This pandemic is not over.

Teofimo Lopez was forced to learn this lesson. He’s considered to be one of the more talented and more popular fighters of his time. But if you simply saw his social media accounts it was plainly visible that he was around too many people. It only takes one infected person to pass the virus.

Keep away from people if you have a fight coming up. Also, get vaccinated.

Charlo

WBC middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) has a defense against Mexico’s Juan Macias Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs) on Saturday, June 19. The world title match will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Showtime will televise the PBC card.

For the last five years Charlo has been fighting some tough competition and deserving of a mega fight against someone like Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. He’s already shoved aside Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Matt Korobov. It’s time for the big dogs to meet.

Charlo will be defending against Macias who has a big punch but lacks in skill. He blew out James Kirkland in one round last December. But he also lost in two rounds to fellow Mexican Jaime Munguia.

This matchup is definitely a test for Charlo to show what he can do if he’s matched against Munguia.

Speaking of Munguia

Mexico’s Jaime Munguia (36-0, 29 KOs) meets Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (21-1, 5 KOs) on Saturday June 19, at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas. The Golden Boy card will be streamed by DAZN.

Munguia, 24, has moved up a weight division and is slowly learning the art of fighting from one of Mexico’s masters Erik Morales. Still, it hasn’t been an easy process for the Tijuana fighter.

Though Munguia packs a big punch and has a solid chin, you cannot depend on those two things alone when it comes to facing elite fighters.

Szeremeta has excellent boxing skills but lacks the firepower to upend the heavy hitters like Gennady Golovkin who beat him last December. But the Polish fighter can give Munguia problems with his movement.

It’s a good test for Munguia and sets him up for a showdown with either Charlo or Golovkin if they want it.

The road is clear for the Tijuana fighter. He needs to increase his velocity down the road or get run over by faster traffic.

Inoue

WBA and IBF bantamweight titlist Naoya “Monster” Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) defends his titles against Michael Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) on Saturday June 19, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. ESPN will televise the Top Rank card.

Considered one of the top pound for pound fighters, Inoue still has some things to prove in the bantamweight division. Namely, can he definitively show he’s the superior fighter over another Filipino fighter Nonito Donaire. Their clash nearly two years ago was one for the ages.

Instead, Inoue will be facing another Filipino in Dasmarinas who has never fought in the U.S. before let alone face top competition. But he’s a southpaw slugger and that always spells trouble, especially when it’s a lefty versus lefty matchup.

Southpaws have problems fighting other southpaws. They’re taught to look out for certain punches from certain angles. But against another lefty all the preparation is thrown out the door.

Right hooks are the nemesis for lefties. Whoever has the quicker more powerful right hook will win the fight. It almost always comes to the right hook in lefty versus lefty matchups.

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 12:30 p.m. Jaime Munguia (36-0) vs Kamil Szeremeta (21-1); Ibeth Zamora (32-6) vs Marlen Esparza (9-1) for WBC flyweight title.

Sat. Showtime 6 p.m. Jermall Charlo (31-0) vs Juan Macias Montiel (22-4-2).

Sat. ESPN 7 p.m.  Naoya Inoue (20-0) vs Michael Dasmarinas (30-2-1); Mikaela Mayer (14-0) vs Erica Farias (26-4) for WBO super featherweight title; Isaac Dogboe (21-2) VS Adam Lopez (15-2).

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