With the holidays upon on us and December 25th just around the corner, I feel that I have been a really good boy this year. Ok, a couple of trips to Sam’s Haus Frau doesn’t help my case but other than that, I am a picture perfect case of goodness. With that said, here is my gift list that I am sending to Santa. Being that I am stationed in the San Diego-Tijuana region, all of these fights include a local fighter. Many of these fights if not all can be made and some of them are already in the works so with out further ado, enjoy:
1. Erik Morales (51-6, 35KOs) vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38KOs) According to the ever churning boxing rumor mill, this fight is practically set for April 16th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After Morales took a two and a half year hiatus immediately after his controversial loss to David Diaz in his quest for a fourth title in as many divisions, he came back this year and strung together three wins against above average competition. His last win was over former WBC super featherweight champion Francisco Lorenzo this past Saturday in his hometown of Tijuana. Marquez of Mexico City, on the other hand has kept fighting and more importantly, winning against elite opposition. His only recent loss has been at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. at welterweight. At 135 lbs which is the division the fight will be made at for either Marquez’s WBO or WBA or both titles, Marquez has been lethal. Even though I see it being a huge event of the Mexican boxing fans and fans of the sport in general, unfortunately I don’t think “El Terrible” has enough in the tank to be able to pull off the record breaking win.
2. Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27KOs) vs. Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25KOs) after his loss to Manny Pacquiao this past November, talks immediately turned for the “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito to face his Puerto Rican nemesis Miguel Cotto in a rematch of their ’08 war. Many speculate that since Margarito was caught with illegal hand wraps prior to his bout against Shane Mosley six months after his destruction of Cotto, it only makes sense that he used something against the Boricua. Talks have surfaced of this fight happening in June in New York City on the eve of the Puerto Rican parade, a traditional date for Cotto to fight. For me, Margarito has Cotto’s number and will beat him 98 out of 100 times they fight so the only reason I look forward to this fight is for Margarito to give Cotto another beating. The challenge I much rather see the “Tornado” in is against WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez of Argentina. Margarito ten years ago handed the southpaw Martinez his first loss. If you were to watch the film which can be found on youtube, you can see that Martinez is the same type of fighter, mobile and quick fisted. Has he learned enough in the time since their first fight to be able to beat Margarito or has the former three time welterweight champion deteriorated after all his wars to give Martinez a chance? We will have to wait and hope that this fight gets made soon.
3. Antonio DeMarco (24-2-1, 18KOs) vs. Brandon Rios (26-0-1, 19KOs) this fight has World War III written all over it and it seems as these two fighters are in a collision course aimed at each other. The former WBC interim lightweight champion DeMarco has more experience as earlier this year he challenged for the full-fledged title against the late Edwin Valero, falling short and quitting in the ninth round. Since then, DeMarco rebounded back with an impressive 2nd round KO of former title challenger Daniel Attah last summer. Rios has looked impressive in his last two outings, a knockout of Anthony Peterson on HBO and then another KO of Omri Lowther on the Pacquiao-Margarito under card. Both fighters are scheduled to fight in the same night on a split location Showtime show on February 26th. Rios will be taking on WBA champion Miguel Acosta while DeMarco is challenging WBC Silver champ Reyes Sanchez for his old interim title. With current WBC champ Humberto “Zorrita” Soto possibly in a rematch with Urbano Antillon in his next bout, it is only fitting that DeMarco and Rios match up if each wins their next assignments. It will interesting to see if the outspoken and brash Rios makes the subdued and respectful DeMarco come out of his shell with thrash talk that is sure to come from Rios. Since styles makes fights, the always charging Rios and the hard hitting southpaw DeMarco are sure to put on a show.
4. Mercito Gesta (20-0-1, 10KOs) vs. Vicente Escobedo (22-3, 14KOs) 2011 is set to be a break out year for “No Mercy” Gesta. In the Philippines for the holiday season in a well deserved rest, the 23-year-old southpaw had a banner year in 2010, winning three out of four fights by KO and picking up the WBO NABO Youth lightweight title on the way. A big fight has been promised to the lighting quick Gesta to start off the New Year by his promoter Don “War a Week” Chargin. Whispers of former lightweight champion Jose Alfaro have been heard but for my money, I much rather see him against former Olympian Vicente Escobedo. Even though Alfaro is a former world champion and was stopped by DeMarco in ’08 on Showtime and fought Erik Morales earlier this year in a high profile match-up, Alfaro is not really known in the boxing world outside of his native Nicaragua. On the other hand, Escobedo is a former Olympian and an early hope of Golden Boy Promotions who for a time was touted as the next “Golden Boy” for his boxing style, good looks and bilingualism. I think that Mercito has a better than good chance against either fighter and with Escobedo being the higher profile fighter, he seems to be the obvious choice for me. With Chargin as a consultant for Golden Boy Promotions, Escobedo’s promoter, I see this fight an easy one to make and would love to see it on a HBO Boxing After Dark broadcast.
5. Christopher Martin (21-0-2, 6KOs) vs. Michael Franco (17-0, 11KOs) Chula Vista’s Martin has been fighting in his hometown for some years now but became a sleeper hit this year with his impressive win over Chris Avalos on Showtime’s ShoBox back in August. Avalos, who was being primed as one of the network’s next big stars, got a rude awakening when Martin not only out boxed him but was willing to trade with the heavy handed fighter. Since then, Martin has gone back to fighting on Telefutura and in my opinion, did not capitalize on the win by going after another high profile opponent although it might not be to any fault of his own since none might have been offered. Because of that, I think a match up against the undefeated Franco is a step in the right direction for Martin. Franco, who used to be promoted by Martin’s promoter, Don Chargin, is now a free agent but is rumored to have hooked up with Top Rank. With such a big name promoter backing him up, it is only a matter of time for Franco to get a big stage to show his wares and I think that Martin should get the call. As with Avalos, I have no doubt that Martin would pull off the upset, even at Franco’s weight of 126 pounds. Martin tends to fight to the level of his opponent and although I don’t think Franco is as tough as Avalos, I think it will be a great match-up for a Telefutura main event or even another ShoBox assignment with Martin on the “A” side.
6. Antonio Orozco (9-0, 5KOs) vs. Pavel Miranda (16-6-1, 8KOs) Orozco is the newest shining star in the San Diego-Tijuana region. He has the whole package, boxing skills, speed, power in both fists, a good amateur pedigree and a great team with trainer Carlos Barragan and manager Frank Espinoza. The fact that he is young and bilingual only adds to his marketability. Espinoza, who was voted 2007′s Manager of the Year and knows a thing or two about making world champions, is not afraid to put his fighters in tough and I think Pavel Miranda from across the border in Tijuana is a great test for Orozco. Miranda, who fights out of the Azteca Gym and came up at the same time as Juan Carlos Burgos, is a tough and tested fighter who has fought the better opposition. When I first saw Miranda and Burgos fight on the same card in Tijuana years ago, I thought Miranda was the one with the better skill set but I was wrong as his career has stalled and now has become nothing more than an opponent. Despite Miranda’s advantage in experience, I am confident that Orozco can stop him and in impressive fashion. The only obstacle in making this bout at the Nokia Live or better yet as a main event here in San Diego is the close relation that Barragan’s CYAC gym has with the Azteca Gym. I know that Orozco and Miranda have sparred each other and I hope that the rest can see some of the action.