By Jake Donovan

Not much was said about, or thought of, California-based junior lightweight Urbano Antillon around this time last year. Sure, he boasted an impressive record. But a close split decision win over journeyman Fernando Trejo followed by a 2006 campaign mostly spent rehabbing numerous injuries wasn't exactly the formula for an everlasting impression.

Fast forward to today – five wins later, all by knockout, including three straight televised appearances. He's no longer one of boxing's best-kept secrets. The word is out, as Urbano Antillon (22-0, 15KO) violently charges toward contender status.

Sometimes, exposure can be a bitch like that.

The boxing world will get another look at Antillon tonight, as he headlines Telefutura's Solo Boxeo card (Friday, 8PM ET/PT, Sovereign Performing Arts Center, Reading, PA). The latest victim - um, opponent, is Jose Leonardo Cruz, but make no mistake about it; the question isn't if Antillion can win, but how fast he can send home the crowd – and his opponent.

Ever since he's returned at full strength, the grizzled Mexican contender has been fighting as if he's double-parked. His past five fights have lasted the equivalent of eight full rounds. A third round knockout of Roberto Mares followed his tougher than expected decision over Trejo. Mares is the only one since 2006 to make it to the third round, with his last two opponents not even lasting three minutes.

A first-round knockout win over Adrian Valdez ended Antillon's and Telefutura's 2007 campaign, and with even better news on the horizon. With Manny Pacquaio scheduled at the time to take on Juan Manuel Marquez, Antillon would advance further up the alphabet rankings (he's presently ranked in the top ten of all four major sanctioning bodies), possibly in a position to challenge the winner.

What better way to get Manny Pacquiao's attention than to fight his brother, Bobby. Antillon did just that earlier this year, two days before Manny and Marquez engaged in their memorable rematch, which was another tightly contested affair.

Antillon-Bobby Pac; not so much.

The younger Pacquiao was a considerable underdog going in, but was expected to at least give the 25-year old budding contender some difficulties. It never happened. Antillon instead dominated the brief affair, which served as the co-feature to a VERSUS telecast, though easily stealing the show (not hard to do when Tye Fields is the main event).

For as long (or short) as it lasted, the theme was body shots, including a left hook that sent Bobby Pac to the canvas, where he remained for the full ten count.

Between then and now, Antillon advanced to the top slot in the WBC rankings, though not as the mandatory contender. That designation will go to the winner of the Humberto Soto-Francisco Lorenzo eliminator on the David Diaz-Manny Pacquiao undercard later this month.

The good news for Antillon is that he still may land a title shot, all without having to pay an additional sanctioning fee that comes with a title eliminator. With Pacquiao expected to vacate the title, should he defeat Diaz, and Juan Manuel Marquez planning a move to lightweight, Antillon will be in line to fight the Soto-Lorenzo winner.

Of course before any of that happens, he has to get by Jose Leonardo Cruz tonight.

Anything can happen - promoters will often chant "Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson" the moment a fight is recognized as a perceived mismatch. But there's honestly not much that Cruz (12-2-2, 8KO) brings to the table.

Things looked good early in the Colombian's career, which began with a win over current fringe contender Edner Cherry. He looked good in a battle of then-unbeaten prospects against Rocky Martinez in 2003, in fact thought by many ringside observers to have won their six-round battle. The difference between victory and the draw verdict was a point deduction for a low blow that only referee Frank Santore appeared to detect.

Sometimes such a performance can be a confidence booster, regardless of the final verdict. Other times, the fighter becomes vulnerable, as if the aura of invincibility had suddenly been stripped from his career.

The latter applied to Cruz, who's since fallen short anytime he's stepped up, going 3-2-1, 1NC since the Martinez bout. His most notable fight was his most lopsided loss to date, as he was thoroughly outfought by Fernando Trejo – the one common opponent between Cruz and Antillon – in a June 2006 bout. The fight came with a hint of controversy as Trejo was considerably over the junior lightweight limit, but Cruz still looked like a far different – and lesser – fighter than the promising newcomer on the way up early in his career.

A win would bring back those glory days, in addition to serving as one of the year's bigger upsets. If it's a moral victory he seeks, it's worth mentioning that Cruz has never been stopped in sixteen pro fights.

That will be the test for Antillon tonight. A distance win certainly won't hurt much, but might leave some to question his present knockout streak. A knockout win, however, offers further confirmation that a star is on the rise at junior lightweight.

The only difference today is everyone's now in on the secret.

Also worth a look

Time permitting, fight fans will also get a glimpse at another extremely talented super featherweight, undefeated prospect Argenis Mendez (11-0, 8KO). The string-bean Dominican makes his second appearance of 2008 on the undercard when he faces Jose Navarette in an eight round swing bout.

Mendez has been mentioned along with Yuriorkis Gamboa as one of the more promising stars of the future. Telefutura fans got a good look last November when, on the eve of Miguel Cotto's win over Shane Mosley at Madison Square Garden, Mendez delivered a beat down in the Boogie Down, dominating Jorge Ruiz over eight painfully one-side rounds.

Tonight will be Mendez' 12th bout since turning pro just 18 months ago. Co-managed by Jose Nunez and 2007 Manager of the Year Cameron Dunkin and promoted by Top Rank, the Dominican is in good hands.

Given the rise of guys like Antillon and the potential in Gamboa and now Mendez, so too should be the junior lightweight division, now and in the near future.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.