Boxing Preview: Marvin Quintero vs. Tyrone Harris

ByMichael Worden

For every young fighter trying to make their ascension up the rankings ladder, there is a crafty and hard hitting veteran looking to make their name by knocking him down.

This is exactly the stage that is set for the lightweight bout tonight at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, CA, as the highly touted Mexican prospect Marvin Quintero, 16-1 (12), attempts to take a step up that rankings ladder against the heavy handed Tyrone Harris, 23-5 (12).

Many in the boxing community have been drawing comparisons between Quintero and future Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera.

While that may be a bit premature, his most recent victories over Wes Ferguson, 20-4-1 (6), and Nick Casal, 19-4 (15), have shown that Quintero is maturing as a fighter and utilizing both his power and boxing abilities in the same manner that his fellow countryman did in the early stages of his career.

Quintero is riding high off of twelve straight victories since his lone defeat; however his opponent will be far and away the toughest test to date.

Although Harris was stopped in his last bout, his resume reads like a who’s who of some of division’s top fighters. With bouts against names like Urbano Antillon, 26-1 (19), Damian Fuller, 30-6 (14), Koba Gogoladze, 20-3 (8), and former world titlist Stevie Johnston, 42-6 (18), Harris is far and away the more experienced fighter.

The bout marks Quintero’s first foray into the lightweight division having fought the majority of his other bouts between featherweight and super featherweight. The question that has many wondering is whether or not Quintero’s power will transfer up the weight division.

While the fight is only Quintero’s fourth bout outside of Mexico, it will be his second on American television as it will headline Showtime Sports’ ShoBox telecast.

Starting off a packed undercard, the heavy handed Freddy Hernandez, 24-1 (18), faces the Cuban native Hicklet Lau, 20-19 (9), in a welterweight bout that could provide a great deal of fireworks.

Hernandez is riding a string of eight wins since his only loss at the hands of Golden Johnson, 25-8-3 (18), in 2005. Among those victories includes a decision over Ben Tackie, 29-11 (17), and most recently a win over the popular Norberto Bravo, 27-17 (15).

In what could shape out to be the most interesting bout of the evening, two undefeated bantamweight prospects square off as David de la Mora, 16-0 (11), takes on local favorite Christopher Martin, 15-0-2 (3).

While on paper the power edge appears to be in de la Mora’s favor, the vast majority of his bouts have come against much weaker opposition and the slick boxing ability of Martin could prove to be the deciding factor in the bout.

Another bantamweight fight pits undefeated prospect Chris Avalos, 10-0 (8), against Missouri native Andre Wilson, 11-2-1 (9).

Rounding out the evenings fights the big men will also get into the action as undefeated heavyweight Bowie Tupou, 18-0 (14), takes on journeyman Demetrice King, 14-17 (12), in an eight round clash.

The event is promoted by Gary Shaw, LLC. Tickets for the event are still available at the Pechanga Resort and Casino box office or by calling (877) 711 2946.