Avila Perspective, Chap. 342: Three Fights That May Steal the Show on Sept. 13

Avila Perspective, Chap. 342: Three Fights That May Steal the Show on Sept. 13

It’s not often that a major confrontation between two of the top prizefighters in the world could be upstaged by the supplemental bouts, but that is exactly what could happen next week in Las Vegas.

Three contests preceding Canelo-Crawford boast fire-eating contenders and challengers that mixed together equal major conflagration. All will be streamed on NETFLIX on Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Let’s start with super welterweights Serhii Bohachuk (26-2, 24 KOs) and Brandon Adams (25-4, 16 KOs). This is a rematch of an earlier confrontation that took place in Puerto Rico four years ago. It was a furious spectacle that saw Ukraine’s Bohachuk turn up the steam but get caught in-between punches by Adams’ perfectly placed left hook.

Nobody could survive that kind of blow.

Bohachuk learned a lot from that fight and almost upended Vergil Ortiz last year in the TSS Fight of the Year. Those two losses helped launch Bohachuk into another realm in the boxing world. Fans see his name and expect a great fight now. He seldom disappoints.

Adams is no slouch. He won the last version of the Contender TV series in 2018. He has always been under-appreciated and overlooked in the boxing world. Adams can take a punch and give one as he displayed in his win over Bohachuk in 2020.

In another super welterweight clash, Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) meets Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-0, 15 KOs) in a bout that is perfectly matched. It’s the Pride of Cork, Ireland versus the son of the great “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas.

One person interested in this fight is UFC’s Dana White who manages Walsh. Ireland has been exporting great fighters for over a century, but the flow has slowed in the past 50 years. Walsh trains with Freddie Roach who knows a thing or two about transitioning good fighters into the realm of the elite.

Walsh, 24, a southpaw, has speed, a good chin and power in both fists. He has fought in Ireland, New York City, Boston and in California. This is his first Las Vegas fight.

Vargas, 28, a southpaw, has power too. He is the oldest of the fighting Vargas brothers and like his father can box or bang. Of course, he prefers to bang like his father who fought many of the best in his era. This is his first true test.

If you have never seen either fighter before, this will be a treat.

A super middleweight contest matches Canada’s Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) against Guatemala’s Lester Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs) for the interim WBC title.

Mbilli, 30, tends to blast out opponents by using his strength. So far, no one has truly given him a problem. Even Sergiy Derevyanchenko who gives everyone headaches was unable to slow down the Mbilli locomotive. He is a deadly puncher and is eager to prove ready for a world championship.

Martinez, 29, is an oddity. He doesn’t look fearsome and doesn’t possess mind numbing skills, but if he touches somebody they tend to crumble. In his very first pro fight he stopped Nicaragua’s Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga in one round. That should explain a lot. Not many elite fighters hail from Guatemala.

This contest is a stick of dynamite meets a lit match.

There you have it. Three sets of fights pitting warriors you may not have seen before who can blaze their name in your brain for the future. The winners will gain popularity and status and depending on their individual performances, even the losers can benefit.

It is a true fight connoisseur’s delight.

Fundora Family

Both are very tall for their respective weight classes and both are world champions. Meet Gabriela and Sebastian Fundora, the sister and brother world champions.

Gabriela Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) defends the undisputed flyweight championship against Ayelen Granadino (12-2-4, 1 KO) on Sept. 20 at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, Calif. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card.

At 5’9” in height, Fundora towers over every flyweight in the world. When you add her length, power and southpaw stance, that all adds up to trouble for any flyweight in the world not named Kenia Enriquez. The Mexican fighter might just be the only flyweight capable of giving Fundora a competitive fight.

Older brother Sebastian Fundora is 6’6” in height and towers over the super welterweights. He also is a southpaw and now has the WBC title which he will defend against former welterweight champion Keith Thurman on October 25 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Amazon Prime will stream the TGB Promotions card.

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