Will Arce Follow Mijares?

Former unified super flyweight champion Christian Mijares announced his retirement shortly after losing his rematch against Nehomar Cermeno. He is only 27, the age where boxers normally begin to reach their peak. Yet, Mijares seem to have lost the skills, the technical ability and the will his known for since his arse got whopped by Vic Darchinyan. Perfect segue to Jorge Arce.

Early this year, Arce received the same whopping from the Armenian and a couple of days ago like Mijares; lost to an opponent he was expected to beat. Ignore Arce’s annihilation of Fernando Lumacad last June. Lumacad was a patsy to simply help Arce regain his confidence in the ring.

Cermeno and Simphiwe Nongqayi were supposed to be manageable road blocks for the two great Mexican warriors to put them back to the level they were before Darchinyan manhandled them.

It is not clear what is next for Arce, but, whatever it is, winning is the only option. Otherwise, he better get his rocking chair ready and sit next to Mijares in the virtual pugilists’ retirement home.

Aside from the Arce-Nongqayi title bout, there are 6 other title fights with all titleholders successfully holding on to their belts.

Nongqayi wins vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight (115 lbs.) title via UD

Mexico’s Jorge Arce [52(40)-6(3)-1] vs. South Africa’s Simphiwe Nongqayi [16(6)-0(0)-0]

September 15 (Tuesday) – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Soto retains his WBC Super Featherweight (130 lbs.) title via TKO 2

Mexico’s Humberto Soto [49(32)-7(1)-2] vs. Colombia’s Aristides Perez [15(8)-1(1)-1]

September 15 (Tuesday) – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico

• Soto was supposed to challenge Edwin Valero for the Venezuelan’s WBC lightweight title in the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao undercard, but, Valero was denied of his US visa possibly because of his close ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Sosa retains his WBC Light Flyweight (108 lbs.) title via TKO 6

Mexico’s Edgar Sosa [37(21)-5(1)-0] vs. Puerto Rico’s Omar Soto [14(6)-4(2)-1]

September 15 (Tuesday) – Puebla, Puebla, Mexico

• What’s next for Sosa? Will he move up or unify against IBF counterpart Brian Viloria.

Kessler retains his WBA Super Middleweight (168 lbs.) title via KO 4

Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler [42(32)-1(0)-0] vs. Venezuela’s Gusmyl Perdomo [16(10)-3(1)-0]

September 12 (Saturday) – Herning, Denmark

• Kessler is ready for Andre Ward on November 21 in the bay area.

Calderon retains his WBO and Ring Junior Flyweight (108 lbs.) titles via TD 7

Puerto Rico’s Ivan Calderon [33(6)-0(0)-1] vs. Philippines’ Rodel Mayol [25(19)-4(2)-1]

September 12 (Saturday) – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

• From the immortal words of the great Yogi Berra; "This is like deja vu all over again"

Martinez retains his WBO Junior Lightweight (130 lbs.) title via KO 9

Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez [23(14)-0(0)-1] vs. Colombia’s Feider Viloria [22(15)-5(4)-1]

September 12 (Saturday) – Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

• Viloria is a late replacement to Argentina’s Vicente Martin Rodriguez who failed to secure a visa

Nietes retains his WBO Mini Flyweight (105 lbs.) title via SD

Philippines’ Donnie Nietes [25(14)-1(0)-3] vs. Mexico’s Manuel Vargas [26(11)-4(1)-1]

September 12 (Saturday) – Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico

• Controversial win for Nietes in the challenger’s home turf.

WBO Bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel practically lost to a supposed tune-up bout against Alejandro Valdez. The fight was originally declared a technical draw then was changed to a 3^rd round TKO win for Valdez then a few hours later was reversed by the Mexican boxing commission.

Montiel escaped with a controversial draw but because of the bad cut over his left eye, his lucrative defense against the extremely patient Eric Morel on the Cotto-Pacquiao undercard will be, to Morel’s disappointment, once again postponed.

Early reports have the Montiel-Valdez a title fight but changed to a 10-round bout before the weigh-in.

Dominican Republic’s Giovanni Lorenzo [27(19)-1(0)-0] vs. Germany’s Sebastian Sylvester [31(15)-3(2)-0]

Vacant IBF Middleweight (160 lbs.) title

September 19 (Saturday) – Neubrandenburg, Germany

Prediction: Lorenzo by late stoppage

Indonesia’s Chris John [42(22)-0(0)-2] vs. USA’s Rocky Juarez [28(20)-4(0)-1]

John‘s WBA Featherweight (126 lbs.) title

September 19 (Saturday) – Las Vegas, NV

HBO PPV

Prediction: John by decision

The only change in the tally is the addition of the new IBF Junior Bantamweight champion, South Africa’s Simphiwe Nongqayi.