Boxing In Mexico: Guadalajara, Monterrey Host World Title Fights Tonight

It’s a good night south of the border this evening as there is major level boxing in not only Guadalajara but also in Monterrey with the WBO flyweight, WBC light fly and Interim WBA super feather titles all up for argument.

We hit the ground running at Guadalajara’s Coliseo Olimpico De La UG where hometown hero Omar Nino “The Giant Killer” Romero, 29-3-2 (11), has drawn a line in the sand and is daring Colombia’s Ronald Barrera, 27-7-2 (17), to step across it.

34 year old Romero has had an interesting career since turning pro in 1995, putting early losses on the resumes of future world champs Jorge Arce in 1996, and Edgar Sosa in 2002 before going on to defeat Brian Viloria in 2006 to annex the WBC light flyweight title.

But the rematch against Viloria was declared a no contest after Romero reportedly failed post fight medical tests and there went the WBC crown from Romero’s possession.

The Guadalajara veteran got right back on the horse but was denied the top WBC spot via a split decision loss to Juanito Rubillar in 2008. A year later Romero got a do over and this time won a seventh round TD, and a WBC eliminator, against Rubillar.

Romero then challenged WBC champion Rodel Mayol twice in 2010, losing the initial clash via a third round TD in February before regaining the light flyweight green belt with a unanimous decision in June.

Tonight’s opponent Barrera brings a southpaw stance to the table along with an up and down record since joining the paid ranks in 2004.

But from 2006 to 2008, the 25 year old from Barranquilla only lost a close WBA minimumweight title bid to Yutaka Niida, a split decision to WBO minimumweight supremo Ivan Calderon, a unanimous decision against Raul Garcia in an IBF minimum eliminator before losing another split verdict to Juan Jose Landaeta for the vacant WBA Fedelatin flyweight strap.

Meanwhile, all eight of Barrera’s victories during that time frame came against fighters who didn’t have winning records, however, the Colombian still managed to get another IBF minimumweight eliminator and made the most of the opportunity, knocking out previously unbeaten Zukisani Kwayiba in two.

But all that got Barrera was a rematch last year with Garcia, who by now was full IBF champ and apparently had improved since their last meeting since he halted Barrera in six.

After a draw with a domestic rival, Barrera again found himself in a big fight, this time for the Interim WBA light flyweight tiara but going up a division has it’s dangers as Barrera was KO’d in three by Juan Carlos Reveco last December.

Undeterred, Barrera got right back in the saddle in April, going up to flyweight and stopping previously undefeated Arturo Badillo in nine for the vacant WBC Fecarbox strap.

Now Barrera is back down to light flyweight and it will probably take a minor miracle for him to lift the WBC title from Romero.

On the undercard former featherweight contender Jorge Solis, 39-2-2 (28), looks to retain his Interim super feather championship when he squares off with unbeaten Colombian Francisco Cordero, 23-0 (15).

Cordero has yet to be put in with anyone even remotely close to world class and it’s almost certain the far more experienced Solis will keep his Interim treasure.

Heading on over to Arena Solidaridad in Monterrey, we see flyweight Julio Cesar Miranda, 32-5-1 (25), looking to solidify his hold on the WBO ornament in a meeting with yet another Colombian foe, Ronald Ramos, 29-8-3 (15).

Miranda was sprung from obscurity in 2008 when he finished off previously unbeaten Omar Salado in five during a WBC flyweight eliminator but the exam administered by highly seasoned Interim champion Pongasalek Wonjongkam a year later proved to be too difficult for pupil Miranda, who was trounced on points.

Three months later and Miranda was back in another flyweight eliminator, this time for the IBF and the change of sanctioning bodies did wonders as Miranda crushed Eric Ortiz in one. But the resulting failed challenge to IBF king Moruti Mthalane last November ruined Miranda’s South African vacation after a points loss.

In keeping with the rest of this article, that didn’t slow down Miranda’s run at a world title as he won the IBF latino belt in April before jumping on the opportunity to cage the vacant WBO championship by halting Richie Mepranum in five this past June.

Ramos has been toiling mostly in his homeland Colombia against obscure opposition and a trip to Mexico in March didn’t do anything for his winning percentage as he had the unenviable assignment of facing WBA minimumweight champ Giovanni Segura in a non-title flyweight scrap that saw Ramos stopped after three rounds.

The Colombian is likely in for another bruising encounter when the bell rings for the first round against Miranda.