Seven out of the eight title fights in the next five days have US TV coverage. Not a bad week for fight fans. You better check the remaining space of your DVR and schedule away.
Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler [41(31)-1(0)-0] vs. Venezuela’s Gusmyl Perdomo [16(10)-2(0)-0]
Kessler‘s WBA Super Middleweight (168 lbs.) title
September 12 (Saturday) – Herning, Denmark
Showtime (10 PM ET) – tape delay
Kessler is finally lacing his gloves again after almost a year of inactivity. His lack of action was due to his dispute with long-time promoter, Team Palle. The Viking Warrior signed with leading German promoter Sauerland Events to kick start his career back on track.
Before heading to Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, Kessler is defending his title against his mandated challenger, Perdomo. It is actually quite amazing for Perdomo to get the mandatory nod when he does not even have any notable opponents to speak of. His best opponent of late, or ever, was Dimitri Sartison who beat him by unanimous decision.
This is, for all intents and purposes, a tune-up for Kessler. It is highly improbable for Perdomo to score an upset. Perdomo will not stop Kessler from taking with him his title belt to the super middleweight tournament. Kessler’s last bout was a knockout win over Danilo Haussler last October. Four months earlier was another stoppage win over Sartison for the vacant title. This is the same title that Joe Calzaghe relinquished a few months after unifying the 168-lb. titles with a win over Kessler on November 2007, the only loss in Kessler’s remarkable career.
After Perdomo, Kessler clashes with Andre Ward, scheduled for November 21. Their first of three fights in the preliminary stage of the Showtime spearheaded tournament.
Prediction: Kessler by early stoppage.
Puerto Rico’s Ivan Calderon [32(6)-0(0)-1] vs. Philippines’ Rodel Mayol [25(19)-3(2)-1]
Calderon‘s WBO and Ring Junior Flyweight (108 lbs.) titles
September 12 (Saturday) – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Integrated Sports PPV (9 PM ET)
The rematch between Calderon and Mayol will probably produce fewer fireworks than their abbreviated clash last June in the Miguel Cotto - Joshua Clottey undercard. Calderon is the guru when it comes to the art of hitting and not getting hit which in turn is not the action-packed fight a blood-thirsty fan usually looks for.
Calderon was not his usual self in their first meeting. He tried to exchange with Mayol. It could be from the 10-month layoff or his trying to showcase himself to attract more US exposure. His typical style along with the difficult-to-market weight class does not appeal TV coverage in the US. He almost lost the fight going toe-to-toe so he will likely give up the US market than his style and his belts.
Now that his back in Puerto Rico, he will fight the way he fights. It may take non-Calderon fans to sleep but his home crowd will not care as long as he gets the W.
Mayol’s got his work cut out for him. Not only will he be jeered by a hostile crowd, he will also try to initiate the action against somebody who will be elusive and will pick his spots so sparingly. His stamina will be a major factor to win as he will be running after Calderon the whole time. Constant offense is his only chance because Calderon does not have the knockout power to stop him. He needs to make it a brawl to win. He cannot afford leaving the decision to the judges. Easier said than done. Mayol is up against enormous odds. If there is a prediction that I want to be wrong, this is it.
Prediction: Calderon by decision.
Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez [22(13)-0(0)-1] vs. Argentina’s Vicente Martin Rodriguez [25(13)-2(0)-1]
Martinez‘s WBO Junior Lightweight (130 lbs.) title
September 12 (Saturday) – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Integrated Sports PPV (9 PM ET)
This is the first defense for Martinez of the title he won last March against Nicky Cook in Cook’s home turf of Manchester. Rodriguez is ranked #9 by the WBO and has fought all his fights, except for one, in Argentina.
An expected Martinez win will usher in further discussions with his IBF counterpart, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. That is an almost guaranteed HBO card.
Prediction: Martinez by mid fight stoppage.
Philippines’ Donnie Nietes [24(14)-1(0)-3] vs. Mexico’s Manuel Vargas [26(11)-3(1)-1]
Nietes‘ WBO Mini Flyweight (105 lbs.) title
September 12 (Saturday) – Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Top Rank PPV (9 PM ET)
This is the first of two title fights in the Latin Fury 11 card featuring the “protected” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against Jason LeHoullier.
Nietes is on his second straight trip to Mexico to defend his title. Last February he defeated Erik Ramirez by a comfortable margin. Vargas though is not going to be as easy as Ramirez. Vargas is the current interim titleholder and the mandatory challenger.
Nietes won the title two years ago by winning the vacant belt against Pornsawan Porpramook. This is only his third defense. Lack of action was mostly because of his team’s inability to secure him fights. The same reason he has to defend his title outside the confines of his home country.
Vargas won the interim title last December against Daniel Reyes by stopping Reyes in the 4th. He defended it two months later by decision against Walter Tello.
Prediction: Nietes by late stoppage.
Mexico’s Fernando Montiel [39(29)-2(0)-1] vs. Mexico’s Alejandro Valdez [21(15)-3(2)-2]
Montiel‘s WBO Bantamweight (118 lbs.) title
September 12 (Saturday) – Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Top Rank PPV (9 PM ET)
This is the second title fight of the Latin Fury 11 card.
Valdez is no more than a tune-up for Montiel before finally meeting his extremely patient mandatory challenger, Eric Morel. Montiel was supposed to meet Morel last June but injured his hand which forced the postponement. Morel has been the mandatory challenger even before Montiel acquired his title.
This is Montiel’s first world title fight as a bantamweight since he lost to Jhonny Gonzalez in 2006. He won the interim title when he defeated Diego Oscar Silva last March. He was then promoted to the full title a month later after the ageless Gerry Penalosa was stripped. Penalosa lost his title for not fulfilling his mandatory against Morel and instead moved up to challenge WBO 122-lb champ Juan Manuel Lopez.
Montiel is the latest member of a distinguished group of boxers who won 3 division titles. He held titles in the flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight divisions.
Valdez will be towering over Montiel because of his 4-inch advantage which makes him vulnerable to body shots. His second title shot in less than a year but with practically the same barely winnable odds. He was stopped by arguably the best bantamweight right now in Hozumi Hasegawa in the second round last October.
Prediction: Montiel by mid fight stoppage.
Mexico’s Edgar Sosa [36(20)-5(1)-0] vs. Puerto Rico’s Omar Soto [14(6)-3(1)-1]
Sosa‘s WBC Light Flyweight (108 lbs.) title
September 15 (Tuesday) – Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
Defense number 10 for Sosa. If everything goes according to his plan, he will be moving up to flyweight after this fight. Sosa captured the WBC title against Brian Viloria on April, 2007 and has been averaging a fight every 3 months since then. Sosa is definitely boxing’s busiest champion.
There has been news surrounding Sosa’s eventual plans. Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda is reported to be fascinated in pitting WBC flyweight champion Daisuke Naito against Sosa in December. There are also reports where Brian Viloria is interested on a Sosa rematch which can turn out to be a unification bout if Sosa decides to remain for one more fight in the 108-lb. class.
Any of the two will be a great fight for Sosa. Enough of the manageable and predictable challenges at home, time to step up against better competition and more lucrative bouts.
Prediction: Sosa by early stoppage.
Mexico’s Jorge Arce [52(40)-5(3)-1] vs. South Africa’s Simphiwe Nongqayi [15(6)-0(0)-0]
Vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight (115 lbs.) title
September 15 (Tuesday) – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Azteca America
This is the second of two boxing cards the day before the Mexican Independence Day.
Revenge. That will be the theme of this fight as far as team Arce is concern. Nongqayi earned his spot in this bout by defeating Jorge’s younger brother, Francisco Arce last February right in the Arce brothers’ hometown of Los Mochis. Nongqayi never fought outside of South Africa until his breakthrough win against the younger Arce.
Jorge, obviously to hardcore boxing fans, has been around the block. His back and forth against Rafael Concepcion exactly last year was a trademark Arce brawl. Unfortunately, he failed “outbrawling” another brawler in Vic Darchinyan seven months ago. His last fight was a mismatch as he totally outclassed Fernando Lumacad, who I thought does not deserve to be in the same ring.
Prediction: Arce by late stoppage.
Mexico’s Humberto Soto [48(31)-7(1)-2] vs. Colombia’s Aristides Perez [15(8)-0(0)-1]
Soto‘s WBC Super Featherweight (130 lbs.) title
September 15 (Tuesday) – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Azteca America
Another tune-up fight for the defending champion. If he comes out unscathed, Soto will likely fight the explosive Edwin Valero in the Miguel Cotto - Manny Pacquiao undercard. This will be the third defense for Soto since he won the vacant title against Francisco Lorenzo in a rematch.
Impressive wins against Antonio Davis and Benoit Gaudet practically gives Perez no chance of dethroning Soto.
Prediction: Soto by early stoppage.
Current Tally of Titleholders by Country
A quick response to benighted and biased comments left in my previous article. Please read fine print at the bottom of the list. Also, Penalosa was stripped, Donaire is interim and Viloria is American, born and raised.
|
Rank |
Country |
No. of Titles |
Title Holders |
|
1st |
USA |
12 |
|
|
2nd |
Mexico |
9 |
|
|
3rd |
Puerto Rico |
6 |
|
|
4th |
Ukraine |
5 |
-
Sergiy Dzinziruk - WBO154
-
Vitali Klitschko - WBC200+
-
Wladimir Klitschko - IBF200+;WBO200+;Ring200+ |
|
5th |
Panama |
4 |
|
|
6th (2 are tied) |
Japan |
3 |
|
|
6th (2 are tied) |
Philippines |
3 |
-
Donnie Nietes - WBO105
-
Manny Pacquiao - Ring140
-
Marvin Sonsona - WBO115 |
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Argentina |
2 |
|
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Armenia |
2 |
|
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Poland |
2 |
|
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Russia |
2 |
|
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Thailand |
2 |
|
|
8th (7 are tied) |
UK |
2 |
-
Carl Froch - WBC168
-
Amir Khan - WBA140 |
|
8th (7 are tied) |
Venezuela |
2 |
-
Jorge Linares - WBA130
-
Edwin Valero - WBC135 |
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Colombia |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Denmark |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Dominican Republic |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Germany |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Ghana |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Haiti |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Hungary |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Indonesia |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Italy |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Nicaragua |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Romania |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Serbia (Yugoslavia) |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
South Africa |
1 |
|
|
15th (14 are tied) |
Spain |
1 |
|
List Rules: (1) Only Ring, WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO; (2) Excluded interim champs, WBA's regular champs (when there are unified/super champs), champs-in-recess, emeritus status champ, WBC's diamond title and whatever extra sanctioning fee driven title; (3) Tally titles not titleholders; (4) Considered boxer's country of birth NOT ancestry, naturalized citizenship nor adopted home country.
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