Avila Perspective, Chap. 318: Aussie Action, Vegas and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 318: Aussie Action, Vegas and More

Twenty-six million Aussies can’t be wrong.

All eyes will be focused on an Aussie boxing card that features former champion George Kambosos Jr. along with two female world champions early Saturday morning.

It is early for viewers in America.

At 1 a.m. PT on Saturday, March 22, George Kambosos (21-3, 10 KOs) meets late replacement Jake Wyllie (16-1, 15 KOs) at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Kambosos, whose star moment was a close victory over Teofimo Lopez in November 2021, proceeded to lose three of his last four contests, albeit they came against world champions at the time, Devin Haney twice and Vasyl Lomachenko.

No shame in those losses.

The expected opponent for Kambosos was supposed to be Daud Yordan but he was pulled out for medical reasons. Now it will be fellow Aussie Wyllie a hard-punching machine from Queensland.

Wyllie doesn’t like winning by decision. Only two foes have heard the final bell. The super lightweight prospect actually bought tickets to watch the event when he was asked if he wanted to replace Yordan.

Is it kismet?

“The win is all I am coming for. I’m not here to participate, I’m here to beat this fellow and take over,” said Wyllie, adding money was not the object.

A win by Kambosos sets him up with a showdown against new super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins.

“I want to be world champion again,” Kambosos said.

One Aussie woman with a world title is Skye Nicolson.

Nicolson (12-0, 1 KO) defends the WBC featherweight title against Tiara Brown (18-0, 11 KOs) who has been chasing her for the past several years.

So far, the battle has remained a verbal battle on social media. Now they actually meet each other in the prize ring with the whole world watching.

“I’m more than ready. I’m ready for absolutely anything,” said Nicolson (pictured) who is making her first defense in her native country. “She is a good fighter, we know her well.”

Brown has been chasing Nicolson for years and plans to stop the Aussie fighter’s penchant for running and not punching much.

“The roadrunner stops today,” said Brown who trains in Washington D.C. “Skye is not going to be running. No one wants to see a fight where five or six punches are thrown.”

Another female world title fight takes place between bantamweights.

Australia’s Cherneka Johnson (16-2, 6 KOs) fights England’s Nina Hughes (6-1, 2 KOs) for the WBA bantamweight title. It’s a rematch of a prior fight that was first announced as Hughes the winner, then seconds later reversed to Johnson.

“All I ask for is fair judging,” said Hughes. “I’ve got to dominate.”

Johnson believes she was the true winner and will repeat.

“We fully believe we won that fight and were going to win again. This will be my best one yet,” said Johnson who lives in Australia but is a native of New Zealand. “I’m going to leave no doubt.”

One thing about Australians is their love for boxing.

World Title Fight in Las Vegas

Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) defends the WBC and WBO super welterweight titles against Chordale Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday, March 22, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Amazon Prime will stream the TGB Promotions fight card.

Its Fundora’s first defense since defeating Australia’s Tim Tszyu with a surprising win a year ago in Las Vegas. The tall 154-pound fighter is eager to resume his career.

“I don’t think you can really prepare for his size until you get in the ring,” said Booker on social media. “I think I’ll be just fine with the height.”

Fundora has one basic plan.

“We don’t look past Booker. This fight is what we are focused on,” said Fundora regarding the talent-loaded super welterweight division. “Without these titles no one wants to fight me.”

Another super welter on the same card is Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) who meets Argentina’s Guido Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs) in a co-feature. Perhaps the winner gets a date with Fundora if successful.

Ramos’s only loss was to Erickson Lubin who boxed and moved to get the win two years ago.

In a middleweight fight, Arizona’s Elijah Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) returns to the boxing ring after enduring his first loss last June by split decision. He meets talented veteran Terrell Gausha (24-4-1) who will provide a severe test for the 21-year-old.

San Bernardino Fights

Undefeated middleweights Lester Martinez (18-0, 15 KOs) and Joeshon James (9-0-2, 5 KOs) meet at Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, Calif. on Saturday, March 22. The House of Champions card will be shown on PROBOX.tv.

Martinez, 29, a big puncher out of Guatemala, defeated former world champion Carlos Gongora and retired former boxing great Ricardo Mayorga.

James has defeated four undefeated foes and has a victory over veteran Vaughn Alexander.

Who will move on?

Another match features former world champ Jesse Magdaleno (29-3, 18 KOs) against slugger Luis Coria (15-7, 7 KOs) in a lightweight match. Coria doesn’t allow breaks.

It’s a loaded fight card that includes a female world title fight between Jasmine Artiga (12-0-1) and Regina Chavez (8-4-3) for the WBA super flyweight title.

Doors open at 2 p.m. PT.

Fights to Watch (all times Pacific Coast)

Sat. DAZN 1 a.m. George Kambosos (21-3) vs Jake Wyllie (16-1); Skye Nicolson (12-0) vs Tiara Brown (18-0); Cherneka Johnson (16-2) vs Nina Hughes (6-1).

Sat. PROBOX.tv 3 p.m. Lester Martinez (18-0) vs Joeshon James (9-0-2); Jessie Magdaleno (29-3) vs Luis Coria (15-7); Jasmine Artiga (12-0-1) vs Regina Chavez (8-4-3).

Sat. Amazon Prime 5 p.m. Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1) vs Chordale Booker (23-1); Elijah Garcia (16-1) vs Terrell Gausha (24-4-1); Jesus Ramos (22-1) vs Guido Schramm (16-3-2).

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