by Cliff Rold
If one doesn’t hate Floyd Mayweather, doesn’t spend their money just praying to see Money get his comeuppance, the ending of Mayweather-Victor Ortiz has probably already faded to its rightful place in the memory. As the main event of one of the most entertaining pay-per-view cards in year, boxing fans could walk away saying they got their money’s worth from top to bottom.
This weekend, there isn’t anything to pay to see unless one is heading to a live show. Good luck with that; the pickings are slim. That doesn’t mean nothing is going on as the drum roll begins for Sergio Martinez-Darren Barker.
Wait. What?
Okay, whew…Nishioka-Marquez. Never mind. Yep, there are still enough cards to say…
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: #7 (at 122) Jorge Arce vs. #8 (at 115) Simphiwe Nongqayi (Saturday, Fox Deportes, 10 PM EST/PST)
Mexico’s Arce (57-6-2, 44 KO) has accomplished much in his career. He was a lineal champion at 108 lbs., an alphabet titlist in three classes, an interim titlist in two others. Currently, he holds a belt at Jr. Featherweight. One thing he has never done is avenging a defeat. Opportunity knocks this weekend. Then undefeated, Nongqayi upset Arce at Jr. Bantamweight in 2009 in clear fashion. Now the South African, inactive since being stopped for his only career defeat last July, moves up two classes and attempts to pull the upset again. Keep an eye on this one. It might be some real drama.
Pick Last Chances: Vicente Escobedo vs. Rocky Juarez (Friday, Telefutura, 11:30 PM EST/PST)
One was supposed to be a star from the disappointing 2000 U.S. Olympic Team and had a Silver medal to build on. The other made an early exit from the 2004 Games and has been a stalwart battler who never quite got over the pro hump. Juarez (28-8-1, 20 KO) is the former and enters on a four-fight losing streak. With a draw before the streak began, Juarez hasn’t had his hand raised in a ring since 2008. The latter is Escobedo (23-3, 14 KO), still waiting for a name win. Both men share the trait of losing to some of the best, but it has been losing all the same. What will they do against each other, knowing that a win could give them just enough value for another payday? The answer will be told in the ring and should be worth tuning in for.
For televised boxing in the U.S. and there isn’t a ton worth seeking out on YouTube but note Heavyweights Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Boytsov are both in action. As noted, business picks up a week from now and, hey, an Arce fight is usually worth an adrenaline rush.
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