Avila Perspective, Chap. 337: Golden Boy is Chicago Bound plus Soboba Fights

They’re going to Chicago.

Golden Boy Promotions dips its toes into Chicago this Lollapalooza weekend.

Led by a super lightweight showdown between Mexico’s Oscar Duarte (29-2-1) and Chicago’s Kenneth Sims (22-2-1) on Saturday, Aug. 2, Golden Boy Promotions brings its style of prizefighting to the basketball arena at the Chicago branch of the University of Illinois. DAZN will stream the card.

They’re also matching former world champions Regis Prograis and Jojo Diaz. It’s like having two main events in one.

First, let’s talk about Duarte and Sims.

They collided ideas or egos last February at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Both demoted and challenged the other and that led to this fight being arranged.

Duarte is a pure pressure fighter Mexican style. He seems to improve with every fight and had his greatest moment trading blows with Ryan Garcia two years ago in Texas. He’s vastly improved from the fighter who made his American debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. 10 years ago.

Sims last fought and defeated the very tough Kendo Castaneda by unanimous decision after 10 competitive rounds at the Honda Center. He previously fought and defeated former world champion Jonathan “Momo” Romero in Las Vegas. He showed the ability to break down the champion bit by bit.

Chicago is home to Sims, but the city also has a large Mexican population.

Both fighters are accustomed to fighting each other’s style. Duarte can punch and Sims can move. A win by either boosts their respective ranking considerably.

The other main fight between Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs) and Diaz (34-7-1, 15 KOs) is very interesting. Both are latching on to respectability and more paydays. Both suffered losses and need a win to remain relevant in the upper tier of prizefighting where the paydays have at least seven figures.

Who knows if those paydays are a thing of the past with ESPN now joining the list of broadcast networks dropping boxing. Gone are HBO, Showtime, USA, and Televisa. And now ESPN, a sports network, has decided to part company with Top Rank and that has sent shudders in the boxing world.

Prograis is one of those fighters who never says no to an opponent. The New Orleans-bred fighter may not have size but more than enough heart and determination to match blows with many of the top fighters of his time like Terry Flanagan, Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall. His bout with Taylor was the consensus Fight of the Year. His decisive loss to Devin Haney was unexpected.

Diaz, a southpaw like Prograis, has always been an action-type fighter who prefers to do his work on the inside. The former super featherweight champion has lost six of his last eight, but all in competitive fights. He has a very good chin but lost his battery that allowed him to unleash blows at a phenomenal rate. Can he restore that ability at age 32? Like Prograis, he is always up for any challenge. He fought Haney when that fighter couldn’t find an opponent. He comes from South El Monte that also bred Arnold Barboza. They like to fight in-close.

Diaz and Prograis should be a collision. It’s great matchmaking.

Soboba Casino Fights

Featherweights Albert Gonzalez (13-0, 7 KOs) and Angel Contreras (16-9-2, 10 KOs) headline the House of Pain Promotions main event at Soboba Casino on Saturday, Aug. 2, in San Jacinto, Calif.

Also, two talented female bouts are planned. Brook Sibrian and Karen Lindenmuth battle in a minimumweight fight set for eight rounds. And super flies Perla Bazaldua and Kedra Bradley clash too. Bazaldua, the third female fighter signed by Top Rank, is a fine prospect despite her babyface looks.

Soboba Casino is deep in the Inland Empire and has been home to many previous boxing events of the past. That region includes Gilman Hot Springs where legendary champions Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, Jerry Quarry and Muhammad Ali trained for a few of their fights. There is a lot of boxing history there.

During the early 2000s many boxing cards were held outdoors at Soboba including some of the hottest and coldest events I ever attended. I remember once attending a Mia St. John fight when temperatures were 28 degrees in California. There were others in the middle of summer when temperatures hit 117.

Now, Soboba has a great indoor facility and casino. It truly has evolved from the large tent they used to have to a sparkling massive casino complex. What a change.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

Fights to Watch (All times Pacific Time)

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Oscar Duarte (29-2-1) vs Kenneth Sims Jr. (22-2-1).

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