By Jake Donovan
Photo © Craig Bennett/FightWireImages.com

It's only fitting that the lone televised boxing action on the 4th of July features all-action middleweight contender Enrique Ornelas. Much like older brother Librado Andrade, Ornelas creates fireworks the moment he steps foot in the ring, with every fight a laborious but thrilling affair, no matter who's standing in the other corner.

All of the proof you need can be found in his last three fights. All three began as perceived showcase bouts on paper. All three quickly developed into all-out wars shortly after the opening bell.

All three were televised on Telefutura, whom hosts his fight tonight against fringe contender Daryl Salmon, which airs live from the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas (Friday, 8PM ET/PT).

The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

Salmon hasn't fought in nearly a year, with his last two fights resulting in the first two losses of his career after having won 16 straight against extremely limited competition. On paper, this one appears to be the fight where Ornelas (27-4, 17KO) gets a much-needed breather.

Then again, we're talking about Enrique Ornelas.

His last fight eventually became the notable showcase his handlers sought, but very few expected Norberto Bravo to be as competitive as he was in the early going. The former Contender contestant scored two knockdowns within the first three rounds – one official and the other erroneously ruled a slip, much to the surprise of everyone.

Bravo's grit and determination had been well documented, but was thought to be a fish out of water at middleweight after having never previously fought above 154. The disparity in size and power began to show in the fifth round, as Ornelas punished the body in wearing down his foe before finally finishing him off in the eighth round.

Though more of a struggle than expected, it was a much easier go of things compared to his previous three bouts.

Ornelas was on the verge of breaking through as a middleweight contender, right around the time big brother Librado was making a name for himself one division north. A five-fight win streak against respectable opposition, coupled with his reputation as a pure action fighter, was enough to convince Showtime to showcase him on their ShoBox series in late 2006. Unfortunately, he was matched a little too tough, falling just short against Sam Soliman.

While Soliman went on to Contender fame, it was back to the drawing board for Ornelas, who didn't fight for another nine months. Bronco McKart was brought in to help the Mexican get back into the win column, but a rivalry instead came about. McKart delivered his best performance in years, scoring an early knockdown and rallying late to eke out a split decision last summer on Telefutura.

The rematch four months later was seven rounds shorter, but just as thrilling and featured three more knockdowns. Both fighters hit the deck twice, but it was Ornelas' power that served as the ultimate equalizer, busting McKart's eardrums to where his own corner had no choice but to stop the fight after five rounds.

His win over Bravo made it two straight for Ornelas in less than three months, to which he's received a much-needed rest outside of the ring, having now went a whole four months between fights. Though on the upside, he at least enters the fight riding a winning streak.

Last year went about as wrong as it can go for Daryl Salmon (16-2, 4KO). He entered 2007 as an undefeated, though largely untested, prospect, and left as a twice-beaten journeyman.

Salmon's career began in the south before finding regular in-ring work on Indianapolis club shows. The plan was for the southpaw middleweight to fly under the radar while building up his record and honing his skills. The record-padding part was no problem; however, when matched as soft as he's been, the skills don't develop quite as fast.

Either that, or he was a protected fighter whose handlers were simply waiting for the right opportunity to cash him out.

Before they could rack up a big score, Salmon ran into scrappy journeyman William "Pete" Johnson, whose work ethic leaves a lot to be desired, but has been proven to be hell for more than a few prospects, even in defeat. Against Salmon, there would be no settling for moral victory; Johnson came motivated and ran him out of the ring en route to a lopsided decision.

The fight was supposed to a tune-up for Salmon before appearing on ESPN2. Instead, he entered his August '07 bout with "Mean" Joe Greene on the strength of a humiliating loss.

To his credit, Salmon made the most of his opportunity, scoring a surprise knockdown mere seconds into the bout. It was the proverbial 15-minutes-of-fame moment, though it barely lasted 15 seconds. Greene arose, dusted himself off and immediately took the fight to Salmon.

It was the beginning of the end - the end having Salmon face-first on the canvas as he was counted out a tick before round one could come to a close.

Eleven months later, he once again finds himself on the B-side of a televised fight against an equally hard-hitting middleweight.

Once again, Enrique Ornelas finds himself in what resembles a mismatch on paper. Tonight we found out if a perceived tune-up actually develops into just that, or if he manages to turn the 4th of July into yet another labor day.

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.