By Cliff Rold
What a great week fight fans are coming off of…if great weeks are determined by having so few fights to watch it might as well be a week off. It’s not that there was nothing to watch. Last week provided a successful rebound from defeat for Jr. Middleweight slugger Alfredo Angulo and a look at Lightweight prospect Sharif Bogere.
Don’t know what the readers think, but dudes who come to the ring in a cage, adorned with a lion’s head, and then drop bombs make for future must-see viewing in this camp.
So there wasn’t much. There was still something and we get more of something with these picks of the week.
Pick It: Vivian Harris-Noe Bolanos (Friday, ESPN2, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST)
This won’t be the best card of the week but then again there might not be a best card. In a collection of so-so on the week, the Deuce has a benefit not found elsewhere: it’s free. It’s also got a guy in the main event that has made for good knockout wins and losses on more than one occasion. Once upon a time, Jr. Welterweight Vivian Harris (29-3-1, 19 KO) was building a reputation as one of those ‘most dangerous and avoided’ types with a stream of trash talk to back him up. Then he got dumped by the woeful Carlos Maussa, the tricky Junior Witter, and almost suffered an early end with the marginal Octavio Narvaez in his last outing. That he’s signed now with Golden Boy has caused speculation that Harris is being positioned for the Victor Ortiz self esteem rebuilding course. Harris has to beat Bolanos (20-4-1, 12 KO). He should be able to, with Bolanos having lost four of his last five but with Harris, one never knows.
A look at rising American heavyweight Deontay Wilder (6-0, 6 KO), notable for his Olympic Bronze Medal and ability to stay in shape so far for more than one fight in a row, will also be inaction. Wilder is raw but he’s got speed and pop which suggest a bright future. He’s facing someone named Travis Allen (3-4, 3 KO). Don’t blink
Pick $: Nonito Donaire-Rafael Concepcion (Saturday, PPV, 8:30 PM EST/5:30 PM PST)
This isn’t really a bad card. it’s just questionable at $34.95. The main event features the long awaited move to 115 lbs. for IBF Flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire (21-1, 14 KO) for an interim WBA title (and who doesn’t have one these days) against Rafael Concepcion (13-3-1, 8 KO). Concepcion’s creds are spotty with a quality win over AJ Banal weighed against a fun knockout loss to Jorge Arce. Donaire shouldn’t have much trouble here but the bout should blaze as long as it lasts. Win and Donaire is positioned to challenege ‘regular’ WBA titlist Nobuo Nashiro for the right to face “SUPER” WBA titlist and real World Champion Vic Darchinyan.
No, we can’t make this crap up.
On the undercard, WBO Featherweight titlist Steven Luevano and rising Lightweight Anthony Peterson both see action. It could be entertaining stuff before nights end.
Pick More $: Roy Jones-Jeff Lacy (Saturday, PPV, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)
You know who they are. You know what they were. It’s $34.95 and both men will be all over ESPN Classic this week if you’re more interested in the good old days. It could be good given the declines of each but, hey, buyer beware.
Back in seven.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com