By Jake Donovan
The dominant theme in this year’s US Presidential election was change, but things remain as they’ve been as far as this weekend’s Telefutura telecast is concerned. There are plenty of familiar faces to be found in the main event and co-feature, in fact faces that are familiar with one another, in front of a venue that’s become a de facto home for one of the network’s favorite sons.
For the third time in as many fights in 2008, Tomas Villa plays the Casino del Sol in Tucson, AZ (Friday, 8PM ET/PT). The arena has become a home away from home for Villa (20-5-4, 13KO), who continues to enjoy a remarkable career turnaround. There was a time when he was all but written off, after a January ’05 points loss to Benjamin Flores left him at 9-5-3.
Looking at his resume, it appeared as if his handlers were ready to cash out. Flores was undefeated at the time they fought, as were the other four fighters to have previously claimed a win over Villa. Three more fighters with unblemished records would be lined up for Villa, all in a row.
One by one, each fighter would lose his “0”, none hearing the final bell, while Villa won more than just fights. In a year that began with his 5th career loss, 2005 would end with Villa being named Telefutura’s Fighter of the Year.
Such a career resurgence could’ve been handled one of two ways – continue to rebuild and become a formidable contender in time, or race to the top, and snatch a title shot while the stock is high.
Villa’s handlers opted for loyalty over lottery tickets. The wins have kept coming, though against lesser competition. The past three years have been spent adding wins to his record, while searching for a particular location to call home, while remaining a fixture on the Solo Boxeo circuit.
For the past 18 months or so, he’s become an adopted favorite son of the fine people of Tucson. Tonight marks his fifth straight fight at the Casino del Sol, even if not always the headlining act.
His last appearance marked his most impressive performance in well over a year. Nine straight knockouts followed his last loss before being held to a surprising draw against Fernando Lizarraga last summer. Eight months later, he was once again extended the distance, this time coming out on tap in a fever pitched battle under scorching desert heat.
But it was his knock out of Gilberto Sanchez-Leon that helped turn heads. Even more so than in his previous fight, the sweltering Arizona sun beamed down on the fighters in the outdoor venue, with ringside temperatures above 100 degrees by the time the main event began. Villa fought like a man who had no intention of going any rounds, twice dropping Sanchez-Leon with body shots in the fourth round, the second for the full ten count in becoming the first to stop the durable Mexican.
So long as he keeps winning, the argument grows tougher and tougher to keep Villa out of the junior featherweight top ten, even as loaded as the division is today.
It was the decision to build rather than pursue that allowed Villa to be in the favorable position he enjoys today. Not so fortunate in that regard is tonight’s opponent and another series regular, featherweight gatekeeper Rogers Mtwaga (24-12-2, 17KO).
The 27-year old Philly-based free swinger has thrilled many a Telefutura crowd over the years. His last fight was certainly no exception, going balls to the wall in outlasting familiar foe Aldo Valtierra. Mtwaga had accomplished as much last summer, only to test positive in the post-fight drug exam, thus changing the verdict to a no-contest.
The win this past March came drug free, giving Mtwaga his first victory in nearly two years over an opponent with a winning record.
Where he’s often fallen short is when he steps up to the contender level. He was one fight away from challenging for a major title in 2006 before getting lit up by Orlando Salido in five rounds. The knockout loss was one of only two times he’s been stopped inside the distance, though he’s since fallen short against Martin Honorio and Billy Dib.
It’s been a hard-luck career in general for Mtwaga, who’s never won more than five fights in a row through nearly twelve years as a pro.
At some point tonight, both fighters will stare across the ring and realize that one or two different moves in their respective careers, and the roles could just as easily be reversed.
With the right guidance, Mtwaga could’ve been a resurging contender anywhere from 122 to 130.
Without that very guidance, Villa would be just another lower weight gatekeeper.
With that formula, Telefutura gets another terrific crossroads bout, no matter how familiar it sounds
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.
