Avila Perspective, Chap. 240: Welterweights Crawford and Spence, plus Regis Prograis

Avila Perspective, Chap. 240: Welterweights Crawford and Spence, plus Regis Prograis

BEVERLY HILLS, CA.-It’s only fitting that an epic welterweight clash be triggered at the historic Beverly Hills Hotel where celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and Buster Keaton first gathered since 1912.

They all liked to watch boxing.

World champions Terence “Bud” Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. opened up a two-day press jaunt that started in Beverly Hills and ended in New York City today in front of hundreds of media members.

Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) and Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) will meet on Saturday, July 29, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime pay-per-view will televise the TGB card.

“This fight speaks for itself. Two of the best fighters in the sport fighting to make history,” said Stephen Espinoza, president of Showtime Sports.

The Beverly Hills Hotel was the same venue used to promote Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez in their final clash. That ended in a knockout.

Will this long-anticipated meeting between undefeated welterweight titlists end in a knockout?

“Terence is a great fighter and I’m gonna break another great fighter’s will. Mentally and physically, I’m gonna dominate and come out on top,” said Spence in his high-pitched Texas-tinged voice. “I broke Kell Brook’s other eye, that’s how he got broke.”

Spence was referring to his technical knockout win over Brook in which he inflicted a break on one of the British fighter’s orbital bones. His eye was broken by hard-hitting Gennady Golovkin.

Does Spence hit as hard as Golovkin?

Crawford does expect Spence to give him a challenge but that won’t be enough according to the Nebraskan.

“People after this fight are gonna say that Bud Crawford is special. I can assure you that. He’ll give me my respect after the fight after I whoop that ass,” said Crawford in his tenor-tone voice.

Ever since the Great Depression welterweights have been able to attract the interest of fans and the casual viewers. Throughout the past 80 years fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Emile Griffith, Jose Napoles, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have taken part in some of the most lucrative and historic moments in prizefighting.

All were 147-pound welterweights.

“This is as big as it gets. The best two fighters in the world, both in their prime and both undefeated world champions,” said TGB’s Tom Brown. “It’s an instant classic that you’ll remember for years to come.”

Super Lightweights

This Saturday, it’s Regis Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) facing Danielito Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KOs) at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Last week Brooklyn’s Teofimo Lopez defeated Scotland’s talented Josh Taylor by unanimous decision in their battle for the WBO super lightweight title.

Prograis picked up the WBC super lightweight title with his impressive performance when he knocked out always dangerous Jose Zepeda last November in Carson, California. His only loss was to Josh Taylor in a close battle four years ago in England.

Zorrilla’s only loss was to Southern California’s Arnold Barboza at Pechanga Casino last summer.

“There’s pressure on me already as I’m fighting at home in New Orleans, my people are coming to see me,” said New Orleans-born Prograis about fighting at home and knowing that his nemesis Josh Taylor lost to Teofimo Lopez. “And yes, Teo has done his thing against Josh, so I still feel that I am the best at 140lbs, but Teo deserves his credit, and I give that to him. So, I must go out and look great and prove I am the best, and then we can get that fight so there will be no doubt.”

Also on the card are two female fights including Ramla Ali in a super bantamweight title fight and Olympian Ginny Fuchs in a flyweight contest.

More Welterweights

Speaking of welterweights, former champion Adrien Broner (35-4-1, 24 KOs) returned to the ring after a two-year absence and defeated Bill Hutchinson (20-3-4) in a 10-round fight in Miami, Florida. He’s now promoted by Don King.

Already there are hints that Broner could be fighting a welterweight contender soon.

Last Saturday in the Inland Empire

Fans are still hyped about the shootout in Ontario, California where Ukraine’s Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Mexico’s Jaime Munguia rocketed bombs off each other for 12 rounds in front of a near sell-out Inland Empire crowd.

It proved both are bullet-proof and can take anyone’s blows.

The site of Munguia’s head snapping back was like watching a contortionist at work. How he was able to return fire after withstanding some of those shots was one for the record books.

And Derevyanchenko was equally impressive. After sustaining a shot to the ribs that floored him in the final round, watching him deal with the pain and understanding that he needed to survive was proof of a championship heart.

Fighters like these are not common.

Fans left the arena fully injected with adrenaline for hours later. Chatter at local restaurants was still about the fight between the two super middleweights. Fans got their money’s worth.

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 8 p.m. ET Regis Prograis (28-1) vs Danielito Zorrilla (17-1); Ramla Ali (8-0) vs Julissa Guzman (12-2-2).

Sat. Showtime 11:30 p.m. ET Tim Tszyu (22-0 vs Carlos Ocampo (35-2).

Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME

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