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By Cliff Rold - It’s not the main event this Saturday night at the Stub Hub Center. On paper, it appears to be the real fight before we get there.
Nonito Donaire-Nicholas Walters looks like the goods at Featherweight.
And that’s good for the Featherweight business.
It’s been almost eight years since Juan Manuel Marquez left Featherweight for 130 lbs., closing the door on the last truly memorable era in the division. The fantastic foursome of Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera, along with some excellent supporting cast, still cast their shadow.
The years since have seen some quality talent come and go, and occasionally some fantastic fights, but nothing ever quite came together like it did in the first half of the 2000s.
That appears to be changing.
If a new wave can truly be determined to have a start point, this emerging burst of excitement in the house that Pep built can point to a series of upsets for its origins.
In March 2013, Evgeny Gradovich announced himself a part of the scene with a win over Billy Dib for the IBF belt. A few months later in August, veteran Jhonny Gonzalez stopped undefeated three-division titlist Abner Mares for the WBC belt. In December of that year, Simpiwe Vetyeka upset the longest reigning titlist in the division, Chris John, for the WBA strap. Finally, in March of this year, former Olympic master Vasyl Lomachenko fell short in a shot at the WBO title against veteran Orlando Salido; Salido had lost the title on the scales and has since moved up to Jr. Lightweight. [Click Here To Read More]
Nonito Donaire-Nicholas Walters looks like the goods at Featherweight.
And that’s good for the Featherweight business.
It’s been almost eight years since Juan Manuel Marquez left Featherweight for 130 lbs., closing the door on the last truly memorable era in the division. The fantastic foursome of Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera, along with some excellent supporting cast, still cast their shadow.
The years since have seen some quality talent come and go, and occasionally some fantastic fights, but nothing ever quite came together like it did in the first half of the 2000s.
That appears to be changing.
If a new wave can truly be determined to have a start point, this emerging burst of excitement in the house that Pep built can point to a series of upsets for its origins.
In March 2013, Evgeny Gradovich announced himself a part of the scene with a win over Billy Dib for the IBF belt. A few months later in August, veteran Jhonny Gonzalez stopped undefeated three-division titlist Abner Mares for the WBC belt. In December of that year, Simpiwe Vetyeka upset the longest reigning titlist in the division, Chris John, for the WBA strap. Finally, in March of this year, former Olympic master Vasyl Lomachenko fell short in a shot at the WBO title against veteran Orlando Salido; Salido had lost the title on the scales and has since moved up to Jr. Lightweight. [Click Here To Read More]
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