Guevara, Claveras Trade Barbs During Open Workout
Apr 9, 2015 • 9:27 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
It remains to be seen how the trash talk translates into in-ring action, but Pedro Guevara and Richard Claveras are certainly doing their part to drum up interest for their upcoming showdown. Guevara makes the first defense of his 108 lb. title this Saturday at home in Mazatlan, Mexico.
The prospect of hitting the road to face a newly minted titlist doesn’t have Claveras shaken in the least bit. The unbeaten contender—fighting for his first title and also outside of his native Philippines for the first time in his career—has been bold in his insistence that the belt will change hands this weekend.
None of this has been lost on Guevara, who takes tremendous pride in fighting at home for the first time since winning the crown.
"Nobody will come to disrespect my house," said Pedro Guevara during a public workout Wednesday afternoon in Mazlatan. “This is my belt and it’s staying with me.”
Guevara (24-1-1, 16KOs) won the title with a 7th round stoppage of former two-division champ Akira Yaegashi last New Year’s Eve on the road in Japan. The win was his sixth straight, claiming a belt in his second try. The lone loss of his career also came in a title fight, dropping a close-but-clear 12-round decision to John Riel Casimero in their Aug. ’12 clash, also in Mazatlan.
In fact, each of Guevara’s two previous fights at home resulted in the lone blemishes on his ledger. Some 15 months before falling short to Casimero, Guevara was held to a 12-round draw versus Mario Rodriguez, who eventually went on to capture a strawweight title.
While Guevara is the betting favorite, Claveras believes history can repeat itself. His opponent has proven vulnerable at home, not to mention the fight comes one week after his countryman Jonathan Taconing boldly marched into Mexico to score a 10th round stoppage of former strawweight titlist Ramon Garcia.
The win preserved an already due shot at the very title at stake this weekend, with this weekend’s challenger believing it will be leaving Mexico by night’s end.
“On Saturday, I am guaranteeing my 13th career knockout,” claims Claveras (12-0-2, 12KOs). “I am coming with all of my will to take this belt home with me.”
Guevara believes Claveras will bring home a souvenir… just not his title.
"The only thing that he will bring are bruises from my punches,” promises Guevara.
The bout airs live on Televisa, as part of the network’s
Sábados de Box
series.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
