Boxing Preview: Three Title Fights Tonight In Mexico

Big night of fights this evening with three world title bouts taking place on two different cards south of the border.

We kick things off at Coliseum Don King in Texcoco where WBC light fly supremo Gilberto Keb Baas, 35-20-4 (22), looks to retain his title for a third time when faces the challenge of Adrian Hernandez, 20-1-1 (12).

After a career full of disappointments, Keb Baas shocked Omar Nino Romero last October to take the WBC green belt and defended it in February against Jose Antonio Aguirre.

Now, the Yucatan veteran must stave off the challenge posed by former NABF strapholder Hernandez, of Toluca, Mexico.

The pair have already scrapped once, with Hernandez winning via fourth round stoppage for NABF, WBC Continental Americas and WBC International light fly honors.

Revenge will obviously be on the mind of Keb Baas, but Hernandez will likely have the edge in confidence from their first meeting and also has won his last seven appearances.

Over in Mexico City, Foro Polanco hosts two WBO title contests focusing on the all action lighter weight classes.

Two heavy-handed 105 pound southpaws tangle for the WBO minimumweight strap as Mexico’s Raul Garcia, 29-1-1 (17), meets Filipino banger Rommel Asenjo, 20-2 (16), over twelve scheduled rounds.

Garcia is by far the more experienced man here, having held the IBF minimumweight strap over four defenses before getting soundly outpointed last year by undefeated South African Nkosinathi Joyi in Cape Town.

The 28 year old bounced back to win the Interim WBO title last October but could only manage a split decision against unheralded Colombian challenger Luis De La Rosa.

Garcia must put on a better performance against 21 year old Ansenjo, nicknamed “The Little Assassin”, if he is to walk out of Mexico City as the WBO champ.

Ansenjo is riding a 15 fight win streak and during that span has won the WBO Oriental minimum belt twice but has faced a list of little known opposition and has only gone twelve rounds once.

The Filipino’s chief advantage here will be his youth but he will be stepping up many levels in competition and is the definite underdog.

The other title bout on the bill is also for a WBO bauble, in this case the Interim light flyweight hardware, as titlist Jesus Geles, 12-1-1 (5), rematches Ramon Garcia Hirales, 15-2-1 (8),

Last time out, ex-Colombian flyweight boss Geles unseated southpaw Hirales, who had previously made two defenses of the Interim crown, by split decision in Colombia.

This time, Mexico’s Hirales should be the fav to get his old belt back.