By Keith Terceira
Richard “El Tigre” Abril (10-0-1, 5KOs) joins the growing list of Cuban National champions making a splash in the world of professional boxing. The Cuban native out of Isla De Pino has not had the benefit of the mass media marketing that some of his fellow teammates have but Abril has performed on the undercard of two world title fights including Hatton - Urango in Las Vegas.
Coalition Boxing of Coral Gables, Florida confirmed to BoxingScene.com this weekend that Abril has signed a contract to take on Columbian sensation Breidis Prescott (18-0,17KOs) replacing Juan Carlos Rodriguez on this weeks ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. With a few hundred amateur fights between these two and a couple of dozen knockouts this show is stacking up to be a barnburner that will introduce two young new names to the American fight fan.
Prescott is into his second year of holding the WBC FECARBOX title and has been the Columbian light welterweight title holder. The belt will be on the line according to Coalition President Lou Navarro whose group handles Juan Urango as well.
Abril’s list of amateur achievements includes a Cuban National Champion Gold medal and a Silver in the Cuban Team tournament. Three years ago he turned pro with little fan fare, quickly going through several of the light welterweight and lightweights that Florida had to offer including a first round KO of Derrick Samuels
No stranger to ESPN, Richard early in his career defeated another former prospect Troy Harden winning a four round decision after dropping Harden to the canvas for the first time in his career.
Prescott is making his first USA appearance on the Luis De Cubas promotion in Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial Arena has predicted through his camp that “El Tigre” will be his 18th knockout.
Abril who began fighting at 140 has dropped to the 135 division after taking a year to focus on his training, coming back strong at the later weight recently by defeating the tough journeyman gatekeeper lightweight Marty Robbins easily over eight rounds. This will be Abril’s first foray into the 10 round realm and true to the aggressive approach to his career Abril has not picked an easy entrance.
