Boxing In Mexico: Two World Title Fights On Tap Tonight

ByAlejandro Tostado

Lots of action south of the border tonight as world title bouts headline fight cards in Merida and Queretaro, with the WBC light fly and WBO flyweight crowns on the line.

At Poliforum Zamna in Merida, the Cinderella story of local hero and WBC light flyweight king Gilberto Keb Baas, 34-20-4 (21), continues as the former journeyman participates in his first title defense, facing Jose Antonio Aquirre, 35-9-1 (21).

After a long career that saw two failed title opportunities and no shortage of tough losses, 33 year old Keb Baas shocked the sport by winning a majority decision in November against reigning WBC light flyweight champ Omar Nino Romero.

Aquirre is also a veteran at 35 years of age and the Cardenas, Mexico resident will be trying to recapture his glory days of 2000-2003, when he defended the WBC minimumweight strap on seven occasions.

Since losing his belt in 2004, Aquirre has fallen on hard times, going 5-7. The first four of those losses were in world title contests but his last three were to ordinary competition and it’s a pretty good bet that Keb Bass will keep the WBC crown when the dust has settled at Poliforum Zamna, which incidentally was the site of Keb Baas’ world title winning effort.

The chief support bout in Merida sees Wilbert Uicab, 30-5-1 (18), defending his WBC silver flyweight title against Panamanian southpaw Edwin Diaz, 12-16 (5).

Diaz has won four straight but is likely out of his depth against the far more experience Uicab, who hasn’t lost over the course of his last 12 appearances.

A good lightweight clash is also on the bill as Juan Carlos Salgado, 22-1-1 (16), tangles with Guadalupe Rosales, 28-6 (16), in a rematch to their June, 2010 fight that saw Salgado win by fourth round TKO when Rosales injured a leg and couldn’t continue.

The other bill this evening takes place at Explanada Estadio Corregidora in Queretaro and features Julio Cesar Miranda, 34-5-1 (27), putting his WBO flyweight trophy up for grabs against Arden Diale, 14-5-3 (3).

Heavy-handed Miranda captured the vacant WBO title with a fifth round stoppage of Ritchie Mepranum in 2010 and has since retained twice with stoppages of Ronald Ramos and Michael Arrango later that year.

Filipino veteran Diale comes into this challenge on the strength of his upset of previously unbeaten Jermie Jabel in June to annex the vacant WBO oriental flyweight belt.

Diale is definitely on an uphill climb here in Mexico against favorite son Miranda and will be hard pressed to pull off the victory against the hard punching champion.