By Cliff Rold
The very best.
To be known as such in your weight class is high praise. Two of this week’s best headliners know the feeling right now. Another would love to experience the feeling again, if only for a moment, before he’s done.
Each will lead a different card this week and it’s going to be a busy one with five cable televised outings and one pay-show featuring David Tua. Choices are inevitable. Which ones should be made?
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: #1 Timothy Bradley vs. Luis Abregu (Saturday, HBO, 9:45 PM EST/6:45 PM PST)
While Manny Pacquiao may still be the lineal champ at 140, it’s a matter of time before he abdicates that position. When he does, the leading man in the race for best Jr. Welterweight in the world is WBO titlist Timothy Bradley (25-0, 11 KO). Bradley returns for the first time since 2009…at Welterweight for a non-belted tilt with the undefeated Abregu (29-0, 23 KO). Abregu isn’t the most refined pugilist, but he’s determined and possesses height and power advantages over a Bradley who isn’t a banger one seven pounds south. This B.A.D. show isn’t a one-off either. Former Jr. Middleweight titlist Joachim Alcine (32-1, 19 KO) makes only his third start since losing via knockout to Daniel Santos in 2008. The knockout threat will be there big time in the form of Alfredo Angulo (18-1, 15 KO). Angulo is always entertaining…but the last time he really stepped up, he was out boxed by Kermit Cintron. Alcine is a wee slicker than Cintron and this has the look of a fight which could go anywhere from twelve seconds to twelve rounds and be interesting the whole way. Combine action possibility with fighter status and this is probably the best bang for anyone’s time buck this week.
Pick (Both) Friday: Guerrero-Smith or Judah-Santa Cruz (Friday, ESPN2 and Showtime)
At 9 PM EST on ESPN2, former World Welterweight champion Zab Judah (38-6, 26 KO) will go head to head with a man who should have, at least briefly, held the World Lightweight title in 2007. Judah knocked out Cory Spinks in 2005 to rule 147 for a short time before a shocking upset to Carlos Baldomir. Jose Armando Santa Cruz (28-4, 17 KO) is a Baldomir level type who upset Joel Casamayor in 2007 for the honors at 135 lbs. only to have a pair of inept scorecards deny him his due. The defeated man here has few options, the winner at least one more day. It’s good theatre. Right around the time it ends, ShoBox will be kicking off at 11 PM EST with one of the best of a wildly talented crop of newcomers at Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight. Fernando Guerrero (18-0, 15 KO) has speed, power, and just enough vulnerability early in his career to make one wonder if this could, finally, be the night when Ishe Smith (21-4, 9 KO) breaks through for a big win. These are a pair of shows worth staying home for.
Pick Espanol: #1 Fernando Montiel vs. Rafael Concepcion (Saturday, FSE, 10 PM EST/PST)
As an encore to his career best unification win over Japan’s Hozumi Hasegawa, WBC/WBO Bantamweight titlist Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KO) was supposed to face former Flyweight beltholder Eric Morel. Morel has pulled out late with an injury leaving the man who was first slotted for this date. Concepcion (14-4-1, 8 KO) pulled a big win over AJ Banal in 2008 but was outclassed by veteran Jorge Arce and Nonito Donaire since. He should be similarly outclasses here but Montiel has never been lacking when it comes to fighting down to the level of his foes. Could the penchant mean fireworks Saturday? At the least the ol’ DVR should be fired up to find out.
Back in seven.
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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
