A couple of Southern California fight cards feature two of the best boxers under 126 pounds, including junior bantamweight Nonito Donaire at Pechanga Resort and Casino and flyweight prospect Giovanni Segura in Maywood.
First, let’s look at Donaire.
Donaire, a hard-hitting Filipino junior bantamweight, faces his first real test against Kahren Harutyunyan (13-2-3) for the NABF title in Temecula. It will be speed vs. speed.
“This is the biggest brick I have to break down to get to the title,” Donaire (13-1, 8 KOs) said by phone. “We know each other well. We used to train in the same gym.”
Though he lives in Northern California, Donaire expects a lot of support from family living in the Riverside area. It’s a critical fight.
“Definitely this is my rocket booster to get up to the top of the rankings,” Donaire, 23, said of the bout that will be televised on Showtime. “I just have to beat this guy.”
Donaire and Harutyunyan have one common opponent, Gilberto Bolanos. Donaire easily took a decision, while the Armenian fighter lost by technical knockout because of a cut. But now Freddie Roach trains Harutyunyan.
“He’s looked real good,” said Nick Kahn, Harutyunyan’s adviser.
Donaire’s older brother, Glenn, is a flyweight with power and speed. He won’t be on the fight card but will probably be there to cheer his brother.
Also on the Pechanga fight card, which will be televised by Showtime, will be former junior welterweight title-holder Vivian Harris facing Marteze Logan. Harris will make his first appearance since losing the WBA title to Carlos Maussa, who then lost it to England’s Ricky Hatton.
Other impressive boxers on the card will be junior lightweight Tyrone Harris and heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon. For tickets or information call (877) 711-2946.
Maywood Bouts
Fast-rising Segura (11-0-1, 8 KOs) steps in against Mexico’s Juan Carlos Perez, whose record according to an American database is light years away from his home country’s record keeping. But according to the match-maker, Perez (20-18-3) is a veteran with a penchant for sticking around until all of the rounds are spent.
“They tell me that he’s a dangerous fighter. He’s not willing to be just a fighter who is an opponent for me. He’s coming to win,” Segura said after working out at Azteca Gym in Bell.
“He’s got time to train, so I think it’s going to be a good fight.”
In his last match, Segura, a left-hander born in Acapulco, was dropped by under-rated Benji Garcia but came storming back to win a split-decision in New Mexico.
“I don’t like to make boring fights,” Segura said. “I train hard so I can give a big war to anybody.”
The main event features Puerto Rico’s Jose Miguel Cotto (26-0) against Ubaldo Hernandez (20-16-2), a fighter who upset contender Ivan Hernandez by majority decision last November in a junior welterweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds. Cotto had his toughest fight six years back against San Bernardino’s Fernando “Bobby Boy” Velardez. He barely won by split decision but has since steamrolled by opponents.
Also on the card is junior lightweight prospect Brandon Rios (8-0, 6 KOs), who fights out of Oxnard. He was seen sparring with fellow junior lightweight Vicente Escobedo in a riveting session. He’s still a couple of years away from Escobedo’s level, but come 2008 look out. The two may end up fighting each other with a world title at stake. For tickets or information call (323) 270-6810.
Reyes Replaces Corrales
The third fight between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo scheduled for Feb. 4 in El Paso was canceled. Corrales, the WBO and WBC lightweight title-holder, suffered a rib injury and had to postpone the bout.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum said he is replacing Corrales with Oxnard’s Rolando Reyes. The Reyes-Castillo fight will still take place in boxing-crazy El Paso.
Is Reyes ready?
“This is a good fight for him,” said Robert Garcia, who trains Reyes. “Why risk losing against fighters he should beat for only $10,000 when he can fight someone for much more money? It could be his day to beat Castillo.”
Garcia said Reyes could make $100,000 for the fight.
Reyes, ranked No. 7 by the WBO as a lightweight, will fight Castillo at the junior welterweight level.
“For the money that’s OK,” Garcia said. “This is why you fight professionally, to make money.”
Hollywood Female Fights
Suswella Roberts meets Daria “TNT” Hill in a welterweight match Jan. 27 at the Hollywood Palladium. It’s the main event of an all-female fight card.
Other fights on the card include Yvonne Reis against Angel Martinez, and Laura Ramsey vs. Erin Toughill.
Palm Springs Action
Heather Percival has been preparing for her bantamweight world title showdown against Melinda Cooper set for Jan. 28 at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City. This past Saturday, she traded blows with Mariana Juarez at South El Monte Boxing Gym. Also lending a hand was former amateur standout Kaliesha West, who is poised to make her pro debut in a few weeks.
