underwhelming variety. That’s the standard formula these days for the big pay-per-view shows – with the feeling being that fans will cough up their dollars regardless of the supporting line-up. Of course more fans might tune in again the next time if they’re given a great show of world title level bouts from top to bottom, but that’s another story.
The main undercard attraction features Guillermo Rigondeaux facing his toughest professional test to date in Ricardo Cordoba of Panama. An “interim world title” is reportedly at stake, though given the sanctioning body in question has a champion already at 122lbs, it’s hard to take such a designation seriously.
The clever Rigondeaux has been tipped for stardom since turning pro last year, and with counterpunching skills that are arguably on par with anyone in the sport, you have to like his chances of making some big noise soon. Cordoba has established his credentials on the world stage, though took a bad late round beating against Bernard Dunne last year. It was the type of physically draining loss that might be very difficult to fully bounce back from, and though only 27, one has to wonder what Cordoba still has in his tank. He can fight though, and if he’s 80-90% of his old self, should given the Cuban some quality rounds.
The other two bouts have welterweight prospect Mike Jones taking on Mexican Jesus Soto Karass and big hitting lightweight Brandon Rios facing off against Omri Lowther. Soto Karass is a good opponent for Jones at this stage. Tough enough to give him rounds, though likely not skilled enough to win any of them. Rios and Lowther are replacements for the originally scheduled Pavlik/Vera bout. Rios is coming off a pummelling of Anthony Peterson a couple months back, and it’s tough to see the inexperienced Lowther posing too many problems.
Let’s take a look around the net for more news and notes on these three bouts…
Bad Left Hook – Know Your PPV Undercard: Pacquiao-Margarito Edition Cordoba’s best opposition has come from Wladimir Sidorenko and Celestino Caballero. Cordoba drew twice with Sidorenko (both fights in Germany), and beat Caballero, but that win came in 2004. Cordoba is a good fighter and a contender at 122, but you’d be right to expect a Rigondeaux victory without a lot of trouble. Of all the Cuban amateur stars that have infiltrated the pro ranks to varying degrees of success in recent years, Rigondeaux might simply be the best of them all. Not the most exciting (Gamboa on his good nights), not the highest upside (maybe Luis Garcia), but the best right now. I believe he’ll out-think, out-box, and out-fight Cordoba, wearing him down gradually before putting him away with a final push. Rigondeaux TKO-8
ESPN – Guillermo Rigondeaux goes for his first title “I don’t want this to be misconstrued but the Cuban trainers have produced better fighters than anybody else,” Arum said. “And the Cuban Olympians are far more advanced than the Olympians from the United States or any other country. It is obvious to me that their program is far superior, at least it has been. Any other fighter who has Olympic experience we wouldn’t be putting him in his seventh professional fight, but this man is special.”
Boxing Scene – Cordoba’s Trainer: Rigondeaux is Getting Knocked Out Cuellar added that the preparation of C?rdoba was technical.
“Ricardo’s preparation has been intense and hard to get where we are,” he said. “Ricardo had around 120 rounds of sparring with Cuban fighters with similar styles to that of Rigondeaux.”
Although the experts have Rigondeaux as the betting favorite, Cuellar is confident that his pupil will get through this night.
“I have a reputation of winning with fighters who are supposed to lose and for me this is another fight where that will happen.”
BoxingScene.com’s Television Picks of the Week The undercard is highlighted by mega-talent Guillermo Rigondeaux (6-0, 5 KO) fighting Ricardo Cordoba (37-2-2, 23 KO). Yes, this being for an interim WBA belt at 122 lbs. is silly, but consider this: Cordoba has faced world champions like Celestino Caballero, Wladimir Sidorenko, and Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym. Rigondeaux, in only his sixth fight, might turn out to be the best opponent of Cordoba?s career. That?s how good the former Cuban amateur standout just might be in the paid ranks.
AllHipHop.com – Mike Jones Interview, Top 50 KO?s of All-Time, Pacquiao Training Update, Bute, Weekend Fight Schedule AllHipHop.com: Since you?re an up and comer many casual fans may not be familiar with you. When did you start boxing?
Jones: I started when I was 15 years old as an amateur. I used to play basketball and football but nothing too serious. I wanted to box and my dad took me down to Joe Frazier?s gym in north Philly. And that?s when my amateur career began and I just stuck with it. I turned professional at 22 years old. And here I am now.
Boxing FanHouse – Mike Jones Shines Spotlight on Philadephia’s Boxing Tradition What sort of an opponent is Jesus Soto Karass, and what kind of fight do you expect out of him?
He most definitely is a tough guy. He’s very rugged, and he’s going to come forward a lot and he leads in with his head. He goes to the body, and he’s a non-stop, pressure-type of fighter. That’s what I’m going to be expecting.
Max Boxing – “Bam Bam” Comes Out of the Bullpen Right now, no fighter (save for the “Pac-Man,” of course) in the Top Rank stable is creating the buzz Rios is.
“Well, we got a lot of young guys causing buzz,” said Arum. “We got ?JuanMa? [Lopez], [Yuriorkis] Gamboa and [Guillermo] Rigondeaux, who are going to be causing a lot of buzz. But yeah, he?s the one.”
Rios, who has created his own niche with his colorful personality on this latest installment of “24/7” (as a stablemate of Antonio Margarito), says of this good fortune, “It was a blessing. I want to thank Bob Arum for making it happen, for thinking about me, giving me an opportunity like this on a big card. So I like to thank Bob Arum and the members of that team that helped him out, that put this card together for me to be on it. I want to thank them a lot.”
