By Jake Donovan
The sport’s next golden boy.
That’s how high the bar was set for 2004 Olympian and current lightweight prospect Vicente Escobedo the moment he turned pro in 2005. Expectations were so high that his presence was demanded on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins’ 20th middleweight title defense.
It was at the Staples Center where the journey began for what was supposed to reflect the future of the sport. Three years later, on the eve of another card headlined by a future Hall of Famer at the aforementioned arena, Escobedo finds himself at the crossroads, in need of a win to remain relevant in the present.
One night before Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga tangle in their loser-leaves-town match, Escobedo hopes to make a statement in his Telefutura headliner against fellow California-based prospect, undefeated Dominic Salcido.
The fight is a step up in competition for the Woodland (CA) product, one that comes as a surprise considering his rise to fame remains a serious work in progress. But as far as Escobedo is concerned, it’s a long overdue step in proving to the boxing world he’s every bit as good as the pre-season hype.
“This is my 20th pro fight; it’s time to take my career to that next level,” says Escobedo (18-1, 11KO), who breaks camp from Mexico City to arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday in what should be a busy fight week prior to his Telefutura headliner (Friday, Cabazon, CA 10:30PM ET/PT). “Fights like this are huge for me and for Telefutura. He’s a good opponent and I expect a tough fight. But by the time it’s over, I expect to be a contender.”
Many figured the young Mexican would have already reached such status by now when he first came out of the Olympics four years ago. The immediate comparison when watching him in the ring was that of his current promoter, Oscar de la Hoya; therefore, a similar blueprint was expected to be followed.
It was a road he traveled in the early portion of his career, with only two of his first nine opponents owning sub .500 records. Nine fights in, Escobedo was a knockout every time out, none lasting more than six rounds through his first year as a pro.
Then came the anticipated step up in competition for his 10th pro fight. He was ready for prime time, his handlers decided, as he found himself in the co-feature slot on a Telefutura show aired live from Sacramento. Many made the trip from nearby Woodland for his bout with the more experienced Daniel Jimenez, though the happy ending they hoped to receive from their hero instead turned into a nightmare.
It was a night that Escobedo would receive a series of firsts in his young pro career. It was the first time he was extended the distance. It was the first time he would be knocked down.
And by night’s end, it was the first time his hand would not be raised in victory.
To date, it’s the only time he wouldn’t emerge victorious in a prize fight, having since won nine straight. Not the ideal scenario, but a suitable enough alternative – and one that Escobedo doesn’t question.
“Things happen for a reason,” he says of the loss more than two years ago. “When you’re young, it’s hard to justify losing, because you want to believe you’re unbeatable. But the loss would lead me in a new direction, and allowed me to grow into an even better fighter than before I lost.”
That direction would be toward arguably the best trainer in the game today, and one of the best in all time in Mexico City-based Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain. This Friday’s fight against Salcido will be Escobedo’s sixth since hooking up with the legendary champion last year after having spent the previous years in his career with another notable trainer in Freddie Roach.
Not everyone immediately takes to every trainer’s style, especially chief seconds at the very top level. But Escobedo insists he felt at home the first time he stepped foot in Nacho’s gym.
“To be honest, we bonded right away,” says Escobedo in response to the growing period between fighter and trainer. “I knew from his years of experience with the Marquez brothers (Juan Manuel and Rafael) and Ricardo Lopez that he was more my style. Once I adapted to being in Mexico City, it was a perfect fit.”
The results speak for themselves; Escobedo has won five straight under Nacho’s tutelage, in fights spanning a mere eleven months. Friday will already mark Vicente’s fourth fight in 2008, with hopes of coming back once more before the end of the year or, at the very latest, in the early weeks of 2009.
“I have to stay busy in order to stay effective,” insists the 26-year old. “I’m the type that likes to fight every 2-3 months, only now that same activity level is coming against quality opposition. From this fight, I’d like to keep fighting every three months, and against opponents as good as or better than Salcido, take my career to that next level.”
Of course, he has to first get past Salcido, and has obviously learned from past lessons of looking too far ahead when a challenge is already staring you in the face.
“I’m ready for him and I know he’s ready for me. I read that he claimed he wanted to fight me ever since the amateurs. I never knew him back then; he didn’t make as far as I did in tournaments, so there was really never any way I could fight him.
“But I know him now… and I know he’s been talking a lot. Come September 26, he’s going to have to back up all of that talk. This fight will come down to who wants it most… I hope for his sake that he’ll want it as much as he’s talked about it.”
Greatness in the squared circle is what Escobedo wanted ever since walking into the Woodland Boxing Gym what is now literally half of a lifetime ago. For now, he’ll have to settle for redemption, knowing that a win on Friday unearths all of the previous hype that once surrounded his career.
Chente plans on living up to the old headlines. The only difference now is the manner in which he goes about his business.
“Early in my career, so much emphasis was on power. I was knocking everyone out, but ran into trouble when I couldn’t take out Jimenez. With Nacho, it’s more about bringing out my boxing abilities. I still work on strength, but boxing and punching in combinations is now my primary focus.”
It’s shown in his last several fights, has last six having went the distance. But Escobedo isn’t worried; if the right opportunity arises, he has the utmost confidence in closing the deal.
“The power’s still there if I need it. It’s just a matter of what happens in the ring. It’s about boxing smart and outlasting your competition. But I don’t worry about it, just like I don’t worry about trying to live up to what people expect of me. By doing what I do best, greatness will soon follow.”
Spoken like a true golden boy.
Jake Donovan is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.