Avila Perspective, Chap. 221: ‘El Maestro’ and More Boxing News and Notes

Avila Perspective, Chap. 221: ‘El Maestro’ and More Boxing News and Notes

Not by chance, I recently encountered the retired fighter known as “El Maestro” in a restaurant known for making the best food in the Inland Empire. And very delicious margaritas.

Former super lightweight champion Mauricio Herrera was at El Patron’s in Riverside, Calif. and over a few drinks we talked about business and his days waging war against some of the toughest fighters in any era. Not only did Herrera survive, he won most of his battles with his uncanny skills.

Herrera was an anomaly in some ways. Visually, he looked more like the director of independent films seen at the Sundance Festival than a man who traded blows with the dreaded Ruslan Provodnikov. It just never seemed Herrera ever looked like a fighter until he stepped in between the ropes.

The first time I ever saw Herrera perform in the boxing ring, I had been forewarned that he was special by boxing trainer Willie Silva, an old friend. He insisted I watch Herrera make his debut at an outdoor venue in the summer of 2007.

Silva had been feeding me tidbits of nuggets since I first covered boxing in the Inland Empire. Through him I discovered Saul “Canelo” Alvarez because his trainer Jose “Chepo” Reynoso often left his best fighters to train at Silva’s gym in Mira Loma. Even the sons of Julio Cesar Chavez worked at Silva’s gym.

I definitely trusted Silva’s judgement.

That hot August summer day Herrera showed advanced defensive skills usually not displayed by pro debut boxers. But it wasn’t the best Herrera. In his next fight the fighter known as “El Maestro” truly showed his craft. He displayed all the defensive and offensive skills of a veteran boxer that night and won easily. Herrera would go on to have a very respected career and fight a number of big fights such as Provodnikov, Mike Alvarado, Jose Benavidez, Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Danny “Swift” Garcia.

Many, including myself, believe Herrera defeated Garcia in Puerto Rico when they met in a world title match back in 2014. Bad judging kept Herrera from taking home the world title that night.

Which was his toughest?

“Provodnikov for sure,” said Herrera. “I remember when Tim Bradley was going to fight him and asked for advice. I told him not to stay inside too long.”

Herrera and Provodnikov left each other looking like they had battered each other with clubs. Eyes were swollen and noses bloodied. They waged a war that I will never forget 12 years ago in Las Vegas. As a journalist you remember those battles vividly. A fight like that makes me bow down to all professional prizefighters. Not just the world champions and winners, but anyone who puts on the gloves.

Both Herrera’s and Bradley’s fights with Provodnikov were Fight of the Year in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

“Provodnikov was really strong,” Herrera emphasized all these years later.

Herrera still lives in Riverside, Calif. and has no bitter feelings over the missed opportunity to hold the world championship. He openly accepts his fate as a professional fighter who fought many of the best in his field and survived at that incredibly high level.

“I still watch the fights,” said Herrera. “My family comes to my house to watch big fights.”

During our lunch meeting one of the waitresses commented that Herrera didn’t look like a fighter.

That’s probably the best description of Herrera. “El Maestro” never looked like a fighter, but attribute that to his skills.

ShoBox in Pennsylvania on Friday

Undefeated super middleweights clash when Sean Hemphill (14-0, 8 KOs) meets David Stephens (11-0, 8 KOs) in a match slated for 10 rounds on Friday Jan. 20, at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA. Showtime will televise the King’s Promotion event.

The co-main event features more super middleweights as Atif Oberlton (7-0, 6 KOs) fights Artem Brusov (12-0, 11 KOs) in an eight-round fight.

Middleweights in Manchester

Hard-hitting Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23 KOs) meets Liam “Beefy” Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday Jan. 21, at Manchester, England. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card live.

Family roots show off their progeny as Eubank, the son of former middleweight champion Chris Eubank who terrorized middleweights during the 80s and 90s, takes on Smith of the fighting Smith family.

On one side you have Eubank who was born with power thanks to his dad. His losses were to world champions Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves. On the other side there is Smith who has one of the best chins in the boxing business. His only defeats came to world champions from Mexico Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Jaime Munguia and to undefeated Magomed Kurbanov in Kurbanov’s backyard in Russia.

It’s a very interesting showdown in England.

Commerce Casino

All Star Boxing returns with light heavyweights and super featherweights leading the fight card on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.

Undefeated light heavyweight Sonny McEwen (6-0) meets Anthony Holloway (5-3-2) in the main event set for six rounds. The co-main event pits undefeated super featherweight Dariial Kuchmenov (6-0) against Carlos Mujica (5-1) in another six-round match.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Don King in Miami

Heavyweights lead a Don King Production card on Saturday, Jan. 21, with former heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (25-5-1, 21 KOs) meeting Jonathan Guidry (18-1-2, 10 KOs) in the main event at Casino Miami Jai Alai. The card will be streamed live at  www.donking.com.

Stiverne lost the WBC heavyweight title in two bouts against Deontay Wilder and remains one of the top American heavyweights. Guidry holds the NABA heavyweight title and remains in contention to fight one of the champions, Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury.

I’m going to be in better shape than I was in my last fight. This is going to be my biggest fight,” said Guidry.

Fights to Watch

Fri. Showtime 6 p.m. Sean Hemphill (14-0) vs David Stephens (11-0).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2) vs Liam Smith (32-3-1).

Sat.  www.donking.com 10 p.m. Bermane Stiverne (25-5-1) vs Jonathan Guidry (18-1-2).

Photo credit: Al Applerose