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Arizona Boxing News & Notes With Don Smith: Upcoming Boxing Schedule, Boxing News & Much More By Don Smith PhilBoxing.com Thu, 07 Jul 2016  Boxing Fans, I disagree with fans and critics who have already selected the recent Shawn Porter (26-2-1) vs. Keith Thurman battle as fight of the year. It is July and 2016, like other years, is represented by 12 months so we should hold off anointing one fight as ?the best? until the rest of the 2016 boxing contests are presented. Here is a list of a dozen or so ?big? bouts on the horizon that may be in the mix for top honors. In my opinion, the choice making process is always suspect and frequently subject to debate. Here upcoming fights that may be factored into consideration for bout of the year. So far, my pick is Orlando Salido vs. Francisco Vargas at the Stub Hub Center in Carson California on June 4. Here are a few upcoming fights with dates and television coverage data: Sergey Kovalev vs. Isaac Chilemba on July 11 on HBO, Walter Castillo vs. Sergey Lipinets on ESPN July 15, Terrence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol on HBO July 23 (Jose Benavidez Jr. on the under-card), Mikey Garcia vs. Elio Rojas on Showtime, July 30-Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz on Showtime, July 30, David Benavidez vs. TBA August 6 (Glendale Arizona ) PBC on ESPN, Juan Diaz vs. Cesar Vasquez on August 6- UNIMAS, Errol Spence Jr. vs. Leonard Bundu August 21, PBC on NBC. ABNN would like to congratulate Phoenix referee and attorney Chris Flores for being chosen to work the Kovalev/Chilemba card on August 6 in Russia. Boxing News: A reliable source has informed this column that a proposed title bout between Phoenix lightweight Victor Castro (17-0) and an unidentified prospect won?t be happening because Castro had second thoughts about adding five pounds and fighting at 140 even though the offered purse was a handsome one and the bout would have been a televised main event. What the rejection will do to Castro?s career is unknown? Team Castro issued the following response to our query: ?We never saw a contract so it is kind of hard to turn something without seeing the full details. It was a verbal possibility and we just said we need more notice for a big fight; but, at 135 lbs. 5 lbs. is a lot to give up and we will continue to pursue opportunities at 135 lbs.?.According to Iron Boy CEO Roberto Vargas, his promotional company will ?most likely? continue to work with Top Rank Boxing; putting down rumors that TR & IB have severed ties?.Tucson Boxer Jesus Aravelo (Tucson Southwest Boxing) will make his debut on the under-card of the August 6 Juan ?Baby Bull? Diaz (41-4-20 knockouts) vs. Cesar Vasquez (27-3-16 knockouts) on August 6 in the Grand Ballroom of the Casino Del Sol in Tucson Arizona. The main event contest is scheduled for 10 rounds. Light heavyweight sensation Trevor McCumby (22-0-17 knockouts) is featured in the co-main and hopes to improve his contender status with a win. In a special bout, 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Egor Mekhontsev (11-0) makes his Arizona debut. It shapes up to be a very good card and tickets are available at the Casino. Other Arizona pugilists on the card include Alfonso Olivera 7-2-1 and Jose Maruffo 9-4-2; more news in next issue. More Stuff: light heavyweight David Benavidez (15-0-14 knockouts)is in discussion with PBC over a potential ESPN televised fight on August 5 at the Gila River Arena. All signs indicate it?s on. I talked to Team Benavidez and they have their fingers crossed.?..underrated super featherweight Cesar Valenzuela (12-4-1) is signed for the under card on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith show (September 17). Cesar is an intriguing boxing figure in that he manages himself and serves as his own matchmaker. Valenzuela rarely fights in Arizona (where he lives) and one local promoter blames the difficulty in contacting the Phoenix super featherweights as the main reason why the fighter doesn?t grace local cards very often. In reality, Cesar makes more money picking and choosing his own career moves?.don?t be surprised if Gilbert Arizona Heavyweight Malcolm Tann (27-4) marks his return to boxing on the rumored PBC/ESPN August 5 card if it comes to fruition?.. next Arizona Boxing/MMA Commission meeting for July is schedule for Thursday 7/21 at 10 AM; call 602-364-1721 for location and seating capacity. We are told that Commissioner Scott Fletcher (appointed in 2011) reads our ?non-classified? column on a regular basis on a secure PC; and our staff is elated. His term ends in January of 2017. Unfortunately, more is known about the whereabouts of James Hoffa than the background of the members on the boxing commission. ?The Arizona Republic was probed by one of our readers on why the Newspaper doesn?t seem seem to have the appetite to cover Arizona Boxing and a spokesperson for the newspaper said promoters don?t seem interested in forwarding press releases to the Republic. We know at least ne publicist who disagrees. Junior Olympic Results: A competitive group of Arizona amateur boxers entered the Junior Olympic Tournament in Dallas recently (6/28-7/2) and left Big D with 4 Gold medals, 4 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals. ABNN is proud to salute the following winners and their training facility: Mariah Martinez (Gold-Knockout Boxing), Bryant Miranda (Gold-Miller?s Gym), Andrew Corona (Gold-Knockout Boxing) Raina Ruiz (Gold-Campiones Boxing), Fernando Martinez (Silver-Mendoza Boxing), Brian Gonzalez (Silver-Knockout Boxing), Lily Keating (Silver-Busted Knuckle Boxing), Alicia Martinez (Silver-Knockout Boxing), Carlos Velazquez (Bronze-Knockout Boxing), Cruz Miranda (Bronze-Miller?s Gym), Ramon Ruiz (Bronze-Campiones Boxing) and Jose Miranda (Bronze-Miller?s Gym). Clarification: Three oops made in our last column need to be corrected. The Fight Hard Promotion show at the Legends Event Center falls on Friday, August 26, not Saturday August 26 as printed. And the weigh-in will be held on Thursday, August 25 at Midway Nissan on Bell Road in Phoenix. ABNN will add further info in future columns?.The other blooper was a botch in the ?Trotter Wins in Calgary? story in the fourth paragraph where I inadvertently used the phrase it wasn?t a good night Irene for Trotter whereas I meant to say it was good night Irene for Trotter. Sorry, that is what I get for hiring a disgruntled relative to proof read for far less than the minimum wage. Also, Eben Vargas isn?t fighting twice at the Celebrity Theatre on July 16 in Phoenix. Iron Boy Update: Here is the latest update on Iron Boy?s Saturday July 16 IB 34 show in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theatre: Daniel Valdivia vs. Janks Trotter (Main Event), Co-Main Carlos Castro vs. TBA, Special Bout Adrian Granados vs. TBA, Daniel Garcia vs. TBA, Daron Williams vs. Luis Guerrero, Luis Espinoza vs. Leonard Reyes, Eben Vargas vs. Enrique Randolph, Jose Canez vs. Ricky Reyes, Jose Herrera Rodriguez vs. Otto Sandoval, Cliff Jordan vs. Lazaro Dominguez, Ryan Riddell vs. Ray Lopez and David Courtney vs. Sean O?malley. 1st bout commences at 6 pm and doors open at 5 pm. Tickets are available online and at the Celebrity box-office. JO Golden Glove Results: Christopher Romero (IronGloves Boxing) was one of several fighters who weren?t able to get a match-up at the Arizona JO JR one day Golden Gloves Tournament held at the Arizona Event Center on July 2 in Mesa due to failure to show up with completed medical paperwork. In recent weeks, USA Boxing has incorporated new guidelines governing amateur medicals and some members of the Grand Canyon State boxing community claim they were uninformed of the change. As a result, only six bouts were matched while one (Mario Toutinez vs. Jaden Galindo was scratched because of a mix-up of age and weight discrepancy. Here is our brief recap of the bouts: In the first bout, a much improved Chris Bojorquez (MCS Boxing) defeated Fabion Montes (Central Boxing)-split decision, Gadiel Rosas (Tucson Southwest) scored a unanimous decision over Anthony Hernandez (JC Boxing), Ronald Plata (unattached) defeated Cristiono Torres (Hammer Gym). In a surprise to me, Esau Valerio (MCS Boxing) was awarded a close but unanimous decision over Sebastian Mitry (Fighters First) whom I had winning comfortably. Both fighters are class acts, but the Mitry kid is more seasoned and landed the harder blows. I shared my decision with both coaches and left feeling I was right in not hiding my opinion. A taller Julian Lopez (Benavidez Boxing) used his height, reach advantage and quickness to defeat Ricardo Lopez (Tucson Southwest Boxing). We thank the Fenn for our invitation and don?t foget the Copper Gloves this fall at te Arizona State Fair. In the best match of the afternoon, Trini Ochoa (Power MMA) and Miguel Trevizo (Neutral Boxing) went after each other as if possessed and after the last blow was thrown, Ochoa was declared the winner. Both young men are about to turn professional and they will represent Arizona proudly after the announcement is made; great fight??Until Next Time! Click here to view a list of other articles written by Don Smith.  |
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