Avila Perspective, Chap. 178: Showtime Boxing and Nottingham Too

Some of the hottest fight cards lately have been the Showtime televised fights with TGB and PBC promotions involved. They’ve been on fire.

It’s always about matchmaking and, lately, they have produced the type of fights you want to see over and over again. Can they keep the streak going?

On Friday, March 11, super welterweight Ardreal Holmes (11-0, 5 KOs) tangles with Vernon Brown (13-1-1, 9 KOs) in the main event that takes place at Deadwood, South Dakota. Showtime will televise.

Holmes hails from Flint, Michigan and stands at 6’2” in height. Brown is a mere 5’7” and fights out of Chicago. It seems like a mismatch on paper, but you never know. If they have a good referee who allows the fight to go inside close, it can turn out to be a firefight.

Also on the Showtime card, Texas lightweight Luis Acosta (12-0, 11 KOs) meets Dominican fighter Edwin De Los Santos (13-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-round fight. Uh oh. Another unknown Dominican. Just a few weeks ago, another little-known Dominican, Hector Garcia, upset Chris Colbert on a Showtime card from Las Vegas. Gotta watch out for those unknown Dominicans and Argentines.

A couple of weeks ago Showtime televised the slugfest between Jerwin Ancajas and Argentina’s Fernando Martinez for the IBF super flyweight world title. That blew the socks off of viewers and fans watching live in Las Vegas. Combine that with the Gary Antuanne Russell super lightweight clash and it was a perfect night for fight fans.

Showtime has really been on a roll. By the way, watch for Giovanni Marquez, the son of Showtime analyst Raul Marquez making his pro debut.

Saturday in Nottingham

WBA featherweight world titlist Leigh Wood (25-2, 15 KOs) meets Michael Conlan (16-0, 8 KOs) on Saturday, March 12, from Nottingham, England. DAZN will stream the fight card live at 11 a.m. PT.

Conlan, the 2016 Olympian, beat TJ Doheny to win an interim version of the title last August in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Now he’s in England and faces Nottingham’s Wood fighting on his own turf. Wood is making the first defense of the title he won with a twelfth-round stoppage of Can Xu.

Also, former super featherweight world champion Terri Harper returns to action but now as a lightweight. Harper (11-1-1) meets Argentina’s Yamila Belen (13-4-1) in a 10-round fight for a regional title. It’s the British fighter’s first action since losing by knockout to Alycia Baumgardner last November.

Another female bout may be shown featuring super lightweights Sandy Ryan (3-0) versus Argentina’s Erica Farias (26-5). It should be good.

Crowded fight schedule next week

Next week looms a full load of fight cards from Asia to USA. Plan now.

It begins on Thursday March 17, in Montebello, California as Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions presents popular super featherweight Adrian Corona (9-0) meeting veteran Joe Perez (15-6-2) in a six-round match at the Quiet Cannon golf course. UFC Fight Pass will stream the card.

The main event features super middleweights Cem Kilic (15-1, 10 KOs) and Andrew Hernandez (21-8-2) meeting eight rounds at the popular venue located on Garfield Avenue. It’s an interesting match.

Turkey’s Kilic is no stranger to fighting on the West Coast with two fights at Pechanga Casino and another in Las Vegas. He has talent.

Arizona’s Hernandez has fought many top fighters including former champion Caleb Plant whose only loss was to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Hernandez went the distance with Plant and also the distance with Patrick Texeira. He can fight.

Probellum

On Friday March 18, a two-day event fight card by Probellum Promotions begins.

IBO lightweight titlist Estelle Mossely (9-0) meets Yanina Del Carmen (10-1) in the main event at Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It will be streamed live on https://probellum.com/events/

Mossely hails from France and won the 2016 Olympic gold medal at Rio. She defeated Katie Taylor along the way. She is very good and makes her first defense of the title she won a year ago against Germany’s Verona Kaiser. She was recently signed by Probellum who are busy signing up many top female fighters.

“As you know I have always supported women’s boxing,” said Richard Schaefer, the head of Probellum.

Saturday, March 19, the second portion of the Probellum fights takes place again in Dubai. This time its former champion Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) facing Tyrone McKenna (22-2-1, 6 KOs) in a super lightweight clash. It will be streamed live on the Probellum web site: https://probellum.com/events/

Golden Boy

On Saturday March 19, Golden Boy Promotions opens with welterweight star Vergil Ortiz Jr. (18-0, 18 KOs) meeting Michael McKinson (21-0, 2 KOs) in a 12-round fight for a regional title at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. DAZN will stream the fight card.

Ortiz is heading toward elite status in the welterweight division and it’s just a matter of time before he crashes the top.

Another welterweight battle features top undefeated prospects Alexis Rocha (18-1, 12 KOs) versus Blair Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) in a lefty versus lefty affair set for 10 rounds in the semi-main event.

In a special feature, England’s Ramla Ali (4-0) makes her American debut when the super bantamweight meets Shelly Barnett (5-6-2) in an eight rounder. Ali has a modeling career as well but the tall 122-pounder can fight.

Top Rank

New York is presenting big-hitting Puerto Rican fighters as Edgar Berlanga (18-0, 16 KOs) fights Canada’s Steve Rolls (20-1, 12 KOs) for the NABO title at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ESPN will televise.

Also, on the same card Xander Zayas (12-0, 9 KOs) meets Quincy LaVallais (12-2-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super welterweight match.

If you are a big boxing fan, then plan your entire weekend next week accordingly now.

Fights to Watch (all times are Pacific Time)

Fri. Showtime 6:35 p.m. Ardreal Holmes (11-0) vs Vernon Brown (13-1-1).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Michael Conlan (16-0) vs Leigh Wood (25-2); Terri Harper (11-1-1)

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