By Cliff Rold
Matchmaking matters.
It was the logical conclusion during three very good fights last weekend no one could have known to look forward commensurate to what was delivered in the ring. The Escalante-Roman main event on ESPN2 was expected to be pretty good; it was a little better than that. Then, in undercard matches which didn’t feature established names, Daniel Estrada-Angel Rivero and Gabriel Rosado-Saul Roman proved why today’s lesser known are always tomorrow’s known commodities.
This turn around the horn has a little bit of the known and the unknown with title unification, a defense from one of the sports truest World Champions, and, yes, another ESPN2 main event which appears to guarantee violence.
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: #3 Juan Urango vs. #4 Devon Alexander (Saturday, HBO, 9:30 PM EST/PST)
For good and ill, the 29-year old IBF 140 lb. titlist Urango (22-2-1, 17 KO) is the known commodity in this match. The good is obvious for anyone who has seen the Colombian. He brings it, looking to end it early without being shy about getting himself into a war. He’s tough on top of it; how many guys have ever taken a Sunday punch from Randall Bailey and made it off the floor to win? The ill is that Urango can be outboxed and that’s where the 23-year old WBC titlist Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KO) comes in. He can damn sure box. He’s got speed; solid feet. Can Alexander take it? The question hasn’t really been asked yet, not under the bright lights by anyone with the pop Urango has anyways. The winner of this bout has a serious case as the next best active Jr. Welterweight in the world behind Timothy Bradley and this B.A.D. main event is all one needs to know about why 140 is THE real fight fan’s division right now. Oh, and both guys are under 30…never a bad thing.
Pick Sho: World Champion Vic Darchinyan vs. Rodrigo Guerrero (Saturday, Showtime, 9 PM EST/PST)
It’s a special Saturday ShoBox and the length main event may end up reminding why title fights are only ‘scheduled’ for twelve rounds. If this bout goes like most of Darchinyan’s (33-2-1, 27 KO) since moving up to and laying hard claim to the World title at Jr. Bantamweight, the unknown commodity might not know where he is at night’s end. Guerrero (13-1-1, 9 KO) is a questionable title contender on paper, given his number of fights, but he’s been in with veteran Luis Maldonado and tough Juan Rosas, leaving with his hands raised. Maldonado was two fights ago…and went the distance at eight rounds. Now he’s stepping in with one of the best little man punchers of the last few decades. Could there be an upset? Stranger things have happened. If they don’t happen here, maybe fans get the Darchinyan-Nonito Donaire rematch which is increasingly overdue. In terms of choices on Saturday, this is the TIVO show if it’s not over by the time Alexander-Urango’s opening bell sounds.
Pick Deuce First: Martin Honorio vs. Wilton Hilario (Friday, ESPN2, 10 PM EST/7 PM PST)
Finally, there’s a show which isn’t in competition with another and it’s on ESPN2 so, well, unlike the Fox Shows one can actually count on this being on. How is this one going to go? Honorio (27-4-1, 14 KO) is coming off a career turning win against young John Molina and finds another promising youngster here. Hilario is 26, unbeaten in twelve fights, and won nine inside the route. Sounds good on paper but the author can’t recall having seen Hilario in the ring before so these eyes will be as curious as anyone else who can say the same. Considering the nature of Friday Night Fights so far in 2010, it’s a safe bet we get something good.
For BoxingScene’s latest full divisional ratings, log on to: https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/view.php?pg=boxing-ratings
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
