Nothing will ever likely match the grandiose, superb and now legendary ?Night of the Rematches? fight card promoted by DKP back in May of 1994.
That one particular card featured Hall-of-Famer Azumah Nelson rematching Jesse James Leija, Julio Cesar Chavez facing Frankie Randall the second time, Gerald McClellan vs. Julian Jackson with Terry Norris avenging his defeat against Simon Brown. The same card also featured the legendary Ricardo Lopez, Calvin Groves, Giovanni Parisi, Meldrick Taylor and Christy Martin?how is THAT for a card?
While 2011 kicks off with a bang, at least the first half of the year seems en route to do what that one aforementioned night did, albeit spread throughout the first six months instead of one night. I?m sure everyone will take what they can get.
So, for the particulars?
-Jesus ?Renuente? Soto-Karass and Mike Jones are on again for another dance in February. Look for a repeat of their first sizzling welterweight barnburner as the HBO-televised co-feature to the excellent match-up between Fernando ?Cochulito? Montiel and the ?Filipino Flash? Nonito Donaire at the Mandalay Bay.
There?s not much that can be added to what has already been written about their November clash, just that everyone who sees it, will be treated to something special again.
WBA/WBO/The Ring magazine Mini-Flyweight Champion Giovani ?El Guerrero Azteca? Segura is expected to go back to Puerto Rico and again face the formerly undefeated southpaw Ivan Calderon in March.
?We are working on it? said Ricky Mota, who handles Segura?s career.
?The rematch would be in Puerto Rico; it is 80-percent done as of now. We have been speaking to Zanfer Promotions (handling the Segura promotional duties along with Top Rank) and PR Best?s Peter Rivera, who handles Calderon?s career in the island…oh, that beautiful island. Can?t wait to make my way to that paradise again.?
At issue is the weight at which the fighters would meet in the rematch.
?That is what we are working on, talking about the weight, coming to terms for the fight to be finalized,? continued Mota.
?Gio [Segura], he wants the fight; he is excited. That is biggest fight or him out there, rematching a legend like Calderon, just like Calderon gave him a chance to fight him; he wants to do it too,? concluded Mota.
Urbano Antillon and Humberto ?La Zorrita? Soto is a natural, as many have christened it 2010?s ?Fight of the Year.? Although Soto is still taking it easy, recovering from the grueling war Antillon put him through last month, that fight (as told to the media in recent weeks by Top Rank?s Bob Arum) should take place on May 7th as the co-featured bout to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley main event.
?Urbano is very excited,? said German Antillon, the fighter?s brother and manager over the phone.
?[Antillon] heard about it and is looking forward to it. He should be in the gym in the next week or so and has said that the next time, he will knock out Soto and make sure to take the decision out of the judges? hands,? German added.
Miguel Cotto, clearing his next assignment on March 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas against the ever-dangerous, although faded Ricardo Mayorga.
With everything falling into place with a victory over the wild Nicaraguan slugger, Cotto will try to avenge his first loss, via stoppage at the hands of Antonio ?Tijuana Tornado? Margarito in June, given that Margarito is medically cleared to do so, following the eye socket injury suffered in his November clash against the pound-for-pound best fighter on the orb, Manny Pacquiao.
Margarito-Cotto II will most likely land at Madison Square Garden.
This fight has special meaning to both fighters, as Margarito takes another step in redeeming his name by defeating Cotto once more. This time Margarito wants to leave no doubt that his 2008 victory over Cotto was not caused by any foreign substances in his gloves, as has been alluded to by Cotto himself since the Margarito vs. Mosley bout.
Beating Cotto again would give Margarito his fourth world title in a second division.
Of course, Cotto would love to reverse the outcome of their first fight by beating the first man to stop him and take his undefeated status away.
Perhaps out of all the fights mentioned thus far, this one has the most implications and drama built into it.
Although not set by any means, this next one should be demanded by everyone- a third and final battle between Manny Pacquiao and the thorn in his side, the man many believe beat him twice before, Juan Manuel Marquez, for all the marbles and bragging rights.
And yes, no Floyd in here, as he has shown in the past year to date, that he should not be even considered for a fight against Manny, given all the backpedaling and excuses to not actually make the fight a reality.
Last but not least, Bernard Hopkins should definitely get a rematch against World Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal sooner than later. Though he truly is a freak of nature at his age, Hopkins could very well ?get old? at any time, so a prompt rematch vs. the Canadian hero would be most welcomed.
Hopkins vs. Pascal could lead into another rematch which could still take place- Pascal vs. Chad Dawson II.
Should the rest of the year be even half as fun (on paper, at least) as the fights listed above, 2011 should be a good one for boxing.
And this is just in the first six months!
