Saturday, November 8 2014 Live from Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City on HBO Luis Abregu (36-1) vs. Sadam Ali (20-0) set for 10 rounds ? I absolutely love the fact that Ali took this fight, it really shows that the kid is looking to make some real noise in the boxing world as he takes on the heavy handed Abregu. Ali can win this fight by boxing, simply by double jabbing to throw his foe off from setting his feet planted down. Hard heavy punchers like Abregu need to be completely flat footed when moving in on their target to fire out damaging blows, which is why Ali needs to keep Abregu moving. Ali is going to have to catch Abregu with some dynamite early and often to get him to respect him, otherwise, Abregu will continue to stalk and get the young kid in dead end tight corners. At this time I just don?t see Ali having enough of the experience needed to employ tricky footwork mixed in with counters to frustrate the charging bull. Give me Abregu by late fight 8th round stoppage. Bernard Hopkins (55-6-2) vs. Sergey Kovalev (25-0-1) (IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight titles) – The more I think about this fight, the more excited I get for it. It?s a fight that is tough to call only because Hopkins seems to always find a way to take a dangerous punchers aggression and somehow uses it against them to outscore them. But Kovalev is not your average hard puncher, Kovalev is very forceful in his punch delivery. Hopkins loves to get in close to hard punchers with his chin tucked in deep behind his Philly shell. He does this mainly to suffocate his dangerous opponents incoming fire. In saying that, Kovalev must not bite the bait. Kovalev must continue banging at Hopkins like a drum and must utilize over hand shots and looping shots to touch Hopkins with shots to the top of Hopkins head. I want to pick Kovalev by 7th round stoppage but in studying Kovalev?s fight against Cedric Agnew earlier this year, I then rapidly change my mind. I saw many moments in that fight that found Kovalev frustrated with Agnew?s peek a boo style. Kovalev ended up getting Agnew out of there in the 7th round, Hopkins is much nastier and is loaded with survival tactics. If Hopkins is still around in the 7th, then chances are that he will out point Kovalev. I really love Kovalev?s confidence, but I keep seeing Hopkins somehow someway walking Kovalev through a revolving door. I am going with Hopkins by close decision. IRON BOY 17 TO STREAM LIVE AND FREE, WITH VICTOR CASTRO VS ROBERT RODRIGUEZ IN MAIN EVENT PHOENIX ? In less than two weeks, Iron Boy Promotions returns to Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix to deliver to Arizona boxing fans another quality boxing event packed with local talent. Once again, Iron Boy Promotions will be streaming the event live and free, so boxing fans worldwide can enjoy the best that Arizona boxing has to offer. ?With boxing becoming less and less accessible to fans, due to being broadcasted on premium and paid channels, we?re pleased to offer an alternative,? said Iron Boy Promotions President & Promoter, Roberto Vargas. ?We want our shows to be accessible to everyone, even people that don?t live in Arizona.? The November 15th card will be streamed on Iron Boy Promotions? website at www.iron-boy.com. In the main event bout, Victor ?El Nino? Castro (12-0, 6KO) returns to the ring after his thrilling third round knockout at Iron Boy 15 in September. Victor is currently in camp, training at Israel Vasquez?s Magnifico Boxing Gym, under the tutelage of the former Champion. Vasquez made history at Iron Boy 15, commentating the Unimas broadcast as he worked Castro?s corner. Castro faces Robert Rodriguez, (7-4-0-1, 3KO) of Greely, Colorado. Cameron Dunkin managed prospect Brian Mendoza (2-0, 2KO) enters the ring for the third time on fight night. Mendoza hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is trained by Fidel Maldonado Sr. Mendoza, who is known for his devastating punching power, last appeared in the ring at Iron Boy 14, where he knocked out his opponent in the first round. ?Mendoza is top-level talent,? said Iron Boy Promotions matchmaker Mike Sanchez. ?He?s a very good prospect in the welterweight division. I wouldn?t want to get hit by him, that?s for sure.? Alexis Zazueta (3-0, 3KO) will also make his long-awaited ring return. After his opponent was unable to make weight at Iron Boy 15, Zazueta returned to camp and will be competing at 115 lbs on November 15th. Zazueta trains with Armando Lopez at Sonny?s Boxing Gym in Avondale, and is also managed by Cameron Dunkin. ?My last fight was called off due to my opponent not making weight,? said Zazueta. ?I never stopped working and I am more than ready to defeat my next opponent.? Rounding out the card, valley favorites Carlos Castro (6-0, 3KO) and Emilio Garcia (7-1, 1KO), who are both trained by Jose Benavidez, Sr., will return in separate bouts. Local fighters Brandon Riddell (1-1, 1KO) and Aron Moreno (debut) face each other at 130 lbs. Julio Sarinana 3-0-1, 0KO) and Edgar Brito (3-0-1, 2KO) also return in separate bouts. Brito faces fellow undefeated fighter Manuel Lopez (3-0-1), who is also trained by Benavidez. Chandler fighters Keith Busch (1-2, 1KO) and David Demore (0-0-1, 0KO) meet in a four round Cruiserweight bout. The evening will begin with amateur bouts featuring Luis Espinoza, Juan Garcia, Alfredo Escarcega, Breenan Macias and others. ?Our last two events have been co-promoted with Top Rank Boxing and have been televised on Unimas,? said Promoter Roberto Vargas. ?That has been a blessing that we?ve worked very hard for, but we also want to continue to provide opportunities to as many local fighters as possible to fight at home here in Phoenix. We hope to continue to do a mix of these types of shows, and the co-promoted shows with Top Rank Boxing.? The promotion has announced that its next show with Top Rank Boxing will be a December 20th card, which will be televised on Unimas. The official weigh-in for Iron Boy 17 will be at Crescent Crown Distributing in Mesa at 5 p.m. on November 14th. Tickets for Iron Boy 17 are priced at $30, $50, $65 and $100, and are available at www.iron-boy.com or at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office.
