By Jake Donovan

It's out with the old, in with the older in this week's edition of Telefutura's Solo Boxeo Tecate Series. This week's telecast will be the first in 2008 NOT including Top Rank, Inc. or Golden Boy Promotions. It WILL feature a familiar match up from the past, as Rogers Mtagwa and Aldo Valtierra square off in a 10-round rematch in the evening's main event.

The bout airs live from the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, PA (Friday, 8PM ET).

It was the hometown favorite Mtagwa (22-13-3, 12KO) who emerged victorious with a split decision in their first meet last July. That was, until the Philly-based brawler tested positive for ephedra, changing the official verdict to a No-Contest.

Neither fighter has since won a fight. In fact, Valtierra (24-8, 1NC, 13KO) hasn't returned to the ring until receiving the call for this fight. It being a rematch was a blessing that fell into promoter Russell Peltz' lap. Valtierra just so happened to be standing behind opponent door #3, accepting the assignment just this past Sunday.

The Mexican journeyman is a very late replacement for David Martinez, who was forced to withdraw after suffering an ankle injury while doing roadwork last weekend. Martinez himself was a substitute for original opponent Roger Gonzalez, who suffered a rib injury during a sparring session late last month.

Are opponents beating themselves up over the thought of getting beat up by Mtagwa? Perhaps once upon a time; not so much in recent years. The transplanted Tanzanian is at a point in his career where he is losing almost as much as he is winning, his record 6-5, 1 NC (5KO) over his last twelve fights.

What can be said about Mtagwa is - win, lose, draw or no-contest - his bouts are almost always entertaining. His 12-round thriller with Valtierra gave fans their moneys worth, as did past wins Fernando Trejo (also on Telefutura), Artyom Simonyan and Alvin Brown.

The latter two (both resulting in 4th round knockouts) were perhaps the most significant wins of Mtagwa's career, as they followed a crushing knockout loss to Orlando Salido earlier in 2006. The Salido bout was originally planned for Memphis but was relocated to Indiana at the 11th hour, but chances are Mtagwa was destined to lose no matter where the fight took place.

The scenario encapsulates what he has become after 11 years in the game – a gatekeeper. Score respectable wins against journeymen; fall short against notable featherweight contenders who go on to bigger and better things. Orlando Salido and Martin Honorio both parlayed wins over Mtagwa to separate alphabet title shots against Robert Guerrero. Undefeated Billy Dib, who pitched a virtual shutout over Mtwaga last November, is in line for a May 3 dance with top-rated and fellow unbeaten featherweight Jorge Linares.

Poor Rogers Mtagwa is forced to constantly settle for the bridesmaid role.

Valtierra is willing to settle for any role other than opponent for hire. A 12-year veteran, the Mexican's career has never lifted off of the ground, primarily because he rarely wins outside of Mexico, with a record of just 2-7, 1 NC (2KO) outside of his home country.

To his credit, Valtierra makes 'em count when he does win. The biggest win of his career came in 2005, when he bumped off previously unbeaten Frankie Zepeda on ESPN2. It was a rare night where Israel Vazquez, who fought in the main event, wasn't on top of his game, which gave Valtierra's upset come-from-behind knockout that much greater significance.

The upset kicked off a three-fight win streak, before falling way short against Jason Litzau last April on ESPN2. Litzau was on the rebound after suffering the first loss of his career four months prior, before handing Valtierra his first loss in over two years.

On Friday night, Valtierra looks to win for the first time in 15 months. Other than seeking a return to his winning ways, the Mexican offers the little in the way of trying to change his luck. The fight comes against his last opponent, in the same arena, on the same network.

The only difference: Valtierra was only given five day's notice on the fight, which downgraded the main event from 12 rounds to 10 due to his inability to shrink down to featherweight in such short time. Add to the mix his being 37, nine years Mtagwa's senior, and you have to wonder if, at best, he falls just short like he did last July.

Or perhaps the post-fight drug test result was the most telling tale of the evening. That Mtagwa, after years of in-the-ring wars on and off camera, is finally slowing down. That perhaps the substance gave him an extra boost, if only for an evening. Although whether or not he willingly took ephedrine prior to the fight has yet to be determined.

What can be said without a shadow of a doubt is that redemption is on the line for both fighters. For Valtierra, it's one last chance to remain in contention for (at least) one more top-level assignment. For Mtagwa, a chance to prove that he can win clean and that aspiring featherweight contenders not yet breathe easy in assumption that he's on his last legs.

For Telefutura viewers, it's all the reason you need to park it on the couch this Friday night.

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.