Upcoming schedule full of must see matchups

By Steve Galindo III

   The relationship between Boxing and its fans is a special one; it is one that is akin to a union between a man and a woman. In any relationship there will most certainly be: highs, lows, disagreements and in most cases, at some point- one of the parties involved will likely take the other person’s love for granted. The latter seems to be the case in the 2010 love affair between Boxing and its aficionados.

   The year started off on a sour note with the heartbreak of knowing that the super fight between boxing’s two best fighters: Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather would not be taking place. Shortly thereafter, another letdown came in the cancellation of the bout between welterweights “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Andre Berto. As more and more fights failed to materialize (thanks in part to the childish backbiting between promoters), further displeasure among enthusiasts ensued. Acting like lovers scorned, many fans left for the allure of another, another sport that is (in this case Mixed Martial Arts, and the UFC). Alas, fall has arrived and with a new season comes change and the opportunity to right the wrongs of seasons past.

   Promoters are now ready to make amends with disenchanted fans, and are doing so by piecing together an impressive fall schedule that promises more action than Robert Rodriguez’s latest flick Machete. Nearly every big fight on the upcoming schedule has Fight of the Year written all over it. But, perhaps the most important factor of these fights is that they each have the ability to transcend the sport, and make believers out of those who lost faith some time ago.   

Top 5 fights of Fall 

5. Abner Mares (20-0-13 KOs) vs. Vic Darchinyan (35-2-27 KOs)
When: December 11
Where: Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
TV: Showtime

   One half of Showtime’s excellent 118-pound tournament pits undefeated rising star Abner Mares of Mexico, against hard-hitting, trash-talking Armenian Vic Darchinyan. Along with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Alfredo Angulo, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Mares is emerging as one of the top young Mexican stars of the sport. Mares came to prominence in his last fight this past May (on the undercard of Vazquez-Marquez IV) against IBF champion Yonnhy Perez.  Despite giving Perez all that he could handle for twelve hard fought rounds, Mares came away with a controversial draw. The 24-year-old Mares will now return to his native Country for the first time in his career to face quite possibly the most hated fighter in all of Mexico. Vic Darchinyan is no stranger to Mexican boxing fans. Over the course of an impressive 10-year career, Darchinyan has battered some of Mexico’s best fighters (fighters such as: Cristian Mijares and Jorge Arce). Before his February 2009 fight against Arce, Darchinyan stated “I can’t get enough of Mexican fighters; they bounce real good off the canvas when I hit them.” That comment set off a firestorm in the Mexican community. Mexican boxing fans have waited a long time for Darchinyan to get his comeuppance; Abner Mares could be just the man to elicit such punishment. 

4. Juan Manuel ‘Dinamita’ Marquez (51-5-37 KOs) vs. Michael Katsidis (27-2-22 KOs)
When: November 27
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: HBO 

   When Mexico’s Numero Uno, Juan Manuel Marquez defeated Juan Diaz this past July, many expected him to move up in weight and challenge Amir Khan for the Jr. Welterweight crown. After much deliberation, Dinamita decided to stay put in the lightweight division. He now faces mandatory challenger Michael “The Great” Katsidis for the World Boxing Association, and World Boxing Organization lightweight titles. A winner of four straight, Katsidis presents a difficult challenge for Marquez. Known as a blood and guts warrior, the tough Aussie challenger will take the fight to Marquez and test his chin early and often. “Given the styles of both fighters, Marquez vs. Katsidis has fight of the year written all over it,” said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. 

3. Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez (45-2-24 KOs) vs. Paul Williams (39-1-27 KOs)
When: November 20
Where: Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV: HBO 

   It’s the rematch that we’ve all been waiting for. It’s also a battle between two of the most avoided fighters in the sport. When these two got together last December, they engaged in an absolute war of wills- one worthy of Fight of the Year honors. After twelve arduous rounds, Williams emerged as the victor via a controversial majority decision. Since losing to Williams, Martinez has bounced back in a major way. In April, the man known as Maravilla scored the most impressive victory of his career by defeating Kelly Pavlik via unanimous decision. The win not only earned him the middleweight crown, but it also turned Martinez into a full-fledged star of the sport. Martinez is now looking forward to avenging last year’s disappointing loss to Williams. “There is a good reason for us to fight again,” Martinez said. “It is a fight that everyone wants to see, we will try to do again, what we did before.” A win over Williams should secure 2010 Fighter of the Year honors for Martinez.  

2. Juan Manuel López (29-0-26 KOs) vs. Rafael Márquez (39-5-35 KOs)
When: November 6
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: Showtime

   When this fight that was originally scheduled for Sept. 18 was cancelled due to a hand injury sustained by Rafael Marquez, boxing fans held their collective breath in hopes that it would be rescheduled. Luckily it was, and now we get to witness yet another thrilling chapter in the storied rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. 27-year-old Juan Manuel Lopez enters the bout as the World Boxing Organization featherweight champion, and as the clear favorite. In just five short years, Lopez has managed to capture the imagination of boxing fans everywhere. In his Native Puerto Rico, he is already being compared to names such as Gomez, Benitez, and Trinidad, some of the islands greatest fighters. If Lopez wants to live up to such expectations, he is going to have to defeat Marquez. In Rafael Marquez, Lopez is facing by far his toughest opponent to date: a future hall of famer, with 15-years experience and nearly 200 professional rounds boxed. His four epic fights against fellow countrymen Israel Vazquez are the stuff that legends are made of. Expect a slugfest, but don’t expect this fight to go the scheduled 12-rounds. 

1. Manny Pacquiao (51-3-38 KOs) vs. Antonio Margarito (38-6-27 KOs)
When: November 13
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: HBO (PPV)

   No surprises here. Like it or not, Pacquiao-Margarito is the biggest fight of the year. So big that 70,000 fans are expected to jam into Dallas Cowboys Stadium to witness it. As was the case in Pacquiao’s previous outing against Joshua Clottey (which also took place at Cowboys Stadium), the venue, and overall event like-feel will take precedence over the actual fight. Pacquiao is seen as a 6-1 favorite and with good reason. Suspension aside, Margarito has done absolutely nothing in his last two fights to make us believe that he can defeat boxing’s pound-for-pound best. I’m not buying the whole Pacquiao is too distracted with his new role as a congressman theory either. Throughout his extraordinary career, Pacquiao has always dabbled in multiple endeavors such as Music, Movies, appearances… etc, and has yet to lose his focus in a fight. Margarito will make a fight out of it early on, but in the end Freddie Roach’s prediction of “the fight not going over eight rounds” seems just about right.

Mexicanos: Gonzales, Bio headline Muay Thai card at Pala Casino

Tomorrow night, the largest Muay Thai promotion in North America lands at the Pala Casino & Resort in Temecula. Included in the impressive twelve card show, are bouts that feature local Latino fighters Fernando Gonzales, and Luis Bio.

   Tomorrow night, a former WEC and King of the Cage contender, Fernando Gonzales will represent the MMA industry against Muay Thai world champion, Denis Grachev. Gonzales, 27, is no stranger to martial arts in general, his boxing career started at the “ripe” age of 5. At the age of 19, Gonzales, who’s been dubbed as “Manafee Maniac” started training in MMA, and has since racked up a record of seventeen wins and eight losses Gonzales trains under the supervision of a legendary fighter and trainer, Bob Chaney of Chaney Martial Arts in Murrieta, Calif. On October 2nd, Gonzales will have to prove that he can stand up to an IKF (International Kickboxing Federation) World Champion in Denis Grachev, who is originally from Russia, but currently works and trains in San Diego. Grachev is no stranger to boxing himself, and has a spotless 8 wins and zero losses boxing record to prove it. In addition to boxing skills, his professional muay Thai fights amount to 15 wins, nine by way of knockout and two losses. Grachev and Gonzales are set as the main event fighters at the WCK Muay Thai Championships.

   At first glance, 26-year-old Luis Bio gives you the first impression of a somewhat shy, very respectful young man. He is an industrial engineer and does all the things that young men his age do. All, except one. A few times a year Luis steps into a ring to prove time and time again that he is one of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world, and, certainly one of the top three fighters in the nation. Tomorrow night, Luis will once again step inside of a ring, but unlike his previous outings, this fight is not coming to him very easily. His scheduled opponent withdrew himself from the competition without any reason 20 days prior to the fight. It, possibly, had to do with the recent information that Luis knocked his opponent out in the second round in a championship in China only a few weeks ago.

   Fortunately, another fighter, Kenny Finister was able to step in and take the fight. Luis’s current professional record is 5 wins, four of them by way of KO, and two losses. His amateur record is even more impressive, it sports 17 wins, one loss and one draw.

   “Luis is a rare type of fighter that doesn’t necessarily need specific strategy for every fight. Instead, he goes all out in his training to make sure that he is prepared for the worst every time. That’s probably the reason why he is always in demand and stays busy with fights all year round,” comments Dennis Leung, Bio’s fight manager. Bio fights in the middleweight category, which puts him at about 160lb at the weigh-ins.  But in the meantime, he has to balance his weight between weight training and cardio conditioning on top of the technical Muay Thai training work.

   Fights start at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40-$100 and can be purchase at the Pala Casino box office. Fans must be at least 21 years old

Questions/Comments: Steve Galindo III can be reached @ stevegalindo3@gmail.com