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Prospect fights: Interesting article
www.maxboxing.com
by Doug Fischer
hat do Raul Martinez, Nestor Rocha, and Juan Manuel Lopez have in common (aside from fighting in and around the bantamweight division)? All three young, unbeaten prospects are in action this week and all three figure in part two of my potential “prospect vs. prospect” matchups.
Martinez and Rocha (both of whom are 24 years old with 15-0 records) will be featured in separate bantamweight bouts on the undercard of tonight’s Carlos Hernandez-Kevin Kelley main event from San Antonio, Texas, televised on the Versus cable network (formerly OLN).
Martinez, a native of San Antonio, takes on Colombia’s more experienced Llido Julio (33-8-1 with 29 KOs) in his first scheduled 10-round bout, the co-featured fight of the night. Southern California’s Rocha will fight in an eight-rounder on the undercard.
Puerto Rico’s Lopez (23 years old, 13-0) has campaigned at 122 pounds but will come down to the bantamweight division for his first 12-round bout this Saturday in the co-featured fight to a DirecTV Pay-Per-View card headlined by WBO 108-pound titlist Hugo Cazares.
Before we get started with part two of this feature that debuted last week, here (again) are my rules:
The participants of these matchups must be unbeaten (draws, no contests and no decisions are OK), must be under 30, and cannot hold, have held or previously fought for any of the four major world titles (WBA, WBC, IBF or WBO).
So you won’t find middleweight champ Jermain Taylor (28 years old, 25-0-1) or WBA title-holding studs like Mikkel Kessler (27 years old, 37-0) and Edwin Valero (24 years old, 20-0) in any of the matchups below.
Unbeaten fighters who have already locked in title shots, or will be fighting in ‘title eliminators’, are not included in this list, either.
For example, Germany based heavyweight standout Ruslan Chagaev (27 years old, 21-0-1) is ineligible because he’s fighting John Ruiz in a WBA title eliminator on Oct. 28. You won’t see southpaw standout Mike Arnaoutis (27 years old, 17-0-1), who is scheduled to face Colombia’s Ricardo Torres for the vacant WBO 140-pound title on November 18, Canada’s Steve Molitor (26 years old, 22-0), who finally appears to have a shot at the IBF 122-pound title set, and Britain’s Nicky Cook (27 years old; 26-0) who might be getting a shot at troubled WBO featherweight titlist Scott Harrison in December.
In each division, I’ll list other promising unbeaten prospects under “Ones to Watch” and in a few weight classes I’ll also suggest a top-notch undefeated prospect or contender for the winner of that divisional matchup to face under “Waiting in the Wings”.
OK, let’s get to the matchups!
118 pounds – Raul Martinez, 15-0 (11) vs. Juan Manuel Lopez, 13-0 (11)
If you’ve ever seen either of these two former amateur standouts fight, you know this bantamweight matchup is absolutely explosive. I would fly across the country and pay to get in a card co-headlined by Ruiz-Oquendo II and Byrd-Williamson II as long as Martinez-Lopez was on the undercard.
Martinez, a former two-time U.S. national amateur champ, is contemplating a drop down to the 115-pound division and Lopez, who represented Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympics in the 119-pound division, has only recently stepped down from the 122-pound weight class, but while both of these well-schooled power punchers are at bantamweight, it’s probably the best matchup among prospects that can be made in the division.
Martinez is a well-schooled but aggressive orthodox boxer-puncher who can end a fight with a single punch as he showed when he blasted veteran Alex Becerra in one round on the undercard of the Calvin Brock-Timur Ibragimov HBO B.A.D. show. Lopez, a measured and accurate southpaw striker, looked like the goods when his stopped Jose Luis Caro on the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard of the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao rematch.
Waiting in the Wings: Oxnard, California’s Jose Aguiniga (30-0 with 14 KOs). The 24-year-old Top Rank-promoted Telefutura staple is a talented and flashy boxer who is rated no. 4 at bantamweight by the WBA (presumably for his NABA title winning effort vs. Hugo Ramirez last June). However, the stocky former amateur stud has fought his last two fights weighing in at the junior lightweight and lightweight limits. If Aguiniga, who should at least be fighting at 122 or 126 pounds, can make the bantamweight limit, he’d be a perfect step-up fight for the winner of Martinez-Lopez (the winner of that match would deserve a title shot). If not, well, he’s also a good step-up fight for my junior featherweight and featherweight matchups.
Ones to Watch: Puerto Rico’s savvy southpaw Jose Nieves, 15-0-2 (; Japan-based Russian Sasha Bakhtin, the 25-year-old Japanese champ, 16-0 (5); South African champ Simpiwe Vetyeka, 15-0 (
122 pounds – Rey Bautista, 20-0 (15) vs. Nestor Rocha, 15-0 (4)
The perfect title for this match would be “the Bomber vs. the Boxer”. The bomber is, of course, the 20-year-old Filipino phenom nicknamed “Boom Boom”. Bautista is not just physically strong beyond his years; he’s mentally strong. Already rated no. 1 in the WBO’s 122-pound rankings, Bautista has a take-no-prisoners attitude that should make him a popular fighter outside of his current Filipino fanbase.
A matchup with the cool-as-ice Rocha is an interesting one because the Montebello, California native will not fight fire with fire when up against Bautista. He will utilize a snappy jab, lateral movement and choice body shots that will test the Filipino bomber’s patience and stamina. Rocha is obviously no power puncher, but he’s not a pushover in the ring. If he can’t outbox Bautista he will stand and deliver for however long he can last, which should make for a good fight.
WITW: Ireland’s Bernard Dunne (21-0 with 13 KOs). The Popular Dubliner, who is coming off a win over New Mexico prospect David Martinez, is ranked in top 10 of the WBA’s 122-pound ratings and has an aggressive style that would make for a good scrap with either Bautista or Rocha.
OTW: Argentina’s 25-year-old Sergio Manuel Medina, 25-0 (15), the WBO’s no. 2 contender who The Ring magazine rates higher than WBO titlist Daniel Ponce De Leon; Connecticut’s Mike Oliver, 16-0 (7); Southern California’s 20-year-old ’04 Mexican Olympian Abner Mares, 9-0 (5), Puerto Rico’s 23-year-old Jonathan Oquendo, 11-0 (6) and Brazil’s Carlos Oliveira, 18-0 (15).
126 pounds – Jason Litzau, 19-0 (17) vs. Miguel Roman, 17-0 (12)
Minnesota’s 23-year-old Litzau has been brought up very well by promoter Main Events, fighting enough on TV to let fans know he’s out there, but also keeping busy on non-televised cards, where he’s been devastating lately, blasting out sturdy journeyman Debind Thapa and veteran Nicky Bentz in two and one rounds respectively. However, the “All-American Boy” also looked extremely vulnerable in his recent outings, forgoing all defense in order to hunt for the KO. What would happen if Litzau were in with a fellow gifted prospect that possesses speed and power similar to his own? What if that prospect were more battle tested?
Mexico’s 20-year-old prodigy Miguel Roman, the WBC’s “Youth” featherweight champ, could answer those questions. Roman exhibited his notable physical strength and power in stopping journeyman Phillip Payne and veteran Cuauhtemoc Gomez earlier in the year, and showed impressive stamina in narrowly out-pointing former title holder Cesar Soto last month.
WITW: Mexico’s Jorge Solis (31-0-2 with 22 KOs). The 26-year-old national featherweight champ is a tall (5-foot-10) and rangy stick-and-move specialist co-trained and managed by Mexico’s renowned Jesus “the Professor” Rivero. The Guadalajara native is a sharp puncher with fast hands and excellent footwork. He can also crack a little bit. The winner of Litzau-Roman would have his hands full with this experienced but overlooked prospect that has fought the 12-round distance on five occasions.
OTW: Puerto Rico’s well-traveled southpaw Mario Santiago, 16-0 (11); Thailand’s 21-year-old Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, 16-0 (7), who recently bested former 122-pound titlist Yoddamrong Sithyodthong; Staten Island’s Gary Starks Jr., 16-0 (
130 pounds – Urbano Antillon, 18-0 (11) vs. Jorge Linares, 21-0 (12)
Maywood, California’s Antillon is ranked no. 4 in the WBC’s 135-pound ratings but he’s closer to 130 pounds when he’s in tip-top shape. The 24-year-old all-action fighter has been tested by the more experienced Ivan Valle and Fernando Trejo, but whether he deserved to win those tough 10 rounders is up for debate. What cannot be questioned is Antillon’s resolve and courage.
Linares, a Japan-based Venezuelan, is ranked in the top 10 of all four major sanctioning organizations at featherweight but the 21-year-old boxer is quickly out-growing the division and, in fact, has not fought at or under 126 pounds since mid last year. The popular Linares, known as “The Golden Boy” in his native Venezuela, has impressed in his last two outings, taking tough Tijuana prospect Pedro Navarrete to school over 10 rounds and out-pointing Thai veteran Saohin Srithai Condo (best know for the tough fight he gave Paulie Ayala back in ’99). Linares has also turned heads in the gyms of Southern California where he’s served as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, who was forced to bring his ‘A-game’ when in with Venezuelan, and absolutely embarrassed 122-pound titlist Daniel Ponce DeLeon.
Antillon and Linares would test each other in different areas. Linares, a careful, thinking boxer who does everything by the book, could conceivably pick apart the often defensively sloppy Antillon. However, Antillon would get in the chest of the young prospect and test his heart like no other fighter has. It would be the bull vs. the matador and it would likely entertain fans in the U.S. or in Japan, where Linares (who is promoted by Akihiko Honda's Teiken Promotions) has fought most of his fights. Antillon, who is promoted by Top Rank and trained and managed by Rudy Hernandez, whose brother former 130-pound champ Genaro Hernadez was managed by Honda, also has ties to Teiken and even fought in Japan in his second pro bout.
OTW: Mexico City’s 21-year-old Juan Carlos Salgado, 15-0-1 (12); Kansas resident and NABO title holder Marcos Ramirez, 22-0 (15); 20-year-old Kansas-raised Oxnard resident Brandon Rios, 11-0 (9); Rialto, California’s 22-year-old Dominic Salido, 8-0 (5); Connecticut’s 20-year-old Matt Remillard, the 10-0 (7) WBC “Youth” champ; Britain’s 21-year-old Kevin Mitchell, 21-0 (15); Manchester’s 21-year-old John Murray, 18-0 (9); and Sweden’s L.A.-based 25-year-old Shadi Hamsho, 8-0 (1).
135 pounds – Anthony Peterson, 20-0 (15) vs. Alex de Jesus, 10-0 (7)
Memphis, Tennessee’s Peterson is extremely talented but also very young. However, none of my “Ones to Watch” in the lightweight division are over 23 years of age, and the skills and confidence of the Washington D.C. native are far beyond his years. The Shelly Finkel-managed lightweight is one of the busiest prospects in the sport (10 fights last year; six this year so far) and this activity has helped Peterson quickly develop his aggressive but technically sound boxing style and also garner a fast-growing group of fan and media supporters.
Puerto Rico’s 23-year-old de Jesus, who fights rugged Dominican journeyman Antonio Ramirez tomorrow night on a Telefutura-televised card from San Juan, does not have the pro experience that Peterson has quickly amassed (in fact, he’s never fought past six rounds in his 10 pro bouts) but his amateur experience is considerable. De Jesus, nicknamed “El Pollo” by his family because he was a small child but given the moniker “Whitaker” by his amateur peers because the southpaw boxed like the legendary “Sweet Pea”, was a silver medalist at the 2003 Central American/Caribbean Games and the ’03 Pan-Am Games before representing Puerto Rico at the 2004 Olympics. And at 5-foot-9 with a 72-inch wingspan, de Jesus has comparable height and reach to Peterson, who was a 2003 national Golden Gloves champ.
The combination of amateur experience, technique, skill and power than both Peterson and de Jesus bring to the ring ensures an intriguing fight.
OTW: Puerto Rico’s 23-year-old Roman Martinez, 12-0-1 (7); Britain’s 19-year-old ’04 Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan, 9-0 (7); Chula Vista, California’s 23-year-old Anthony Salcido, 9-0-1 (6); Puerto Rico’s; the Bronx’s 21-year-old Jorge Teron, 12-0-1 (
140 pounds – Demetrius Hopkins, 24-0-1 (10) vs. Mike Alvarado, 15-0 (10)
Just 25 years old with 25 pro fights under his belt, Hopkins has flashed the kind of poise and precision in his recent fights that suggest that the Philadelphia boxer is ready for a title fight. Perhaps what the nephew of Bernard Hopkins, who is ranked no. 6 by the IBF and 15 by the WBO, needs is a showdown with an undefeated power puncher to convince the sanctioning organizations that he’s deserving of a no. 1 or 2 ranking. The last time Hopkins faced an aggressive unbeaten fighter (Al “Speedy” Gonzalez) the result was an entertaining technical decision victory that tested him a little bit.
Alvarado, a Finkel-managed prospect from Denver, Colorado, would figure to press Hopkins more than Gonzalez did. The 26-year-old former wrestling standout possesses the size and physical strength of a welterweight and has managed to walk down and either knockout or control most of his 15 opponents in a manner that reminds some of Kermit Cintron (another former wrestling star). However, Alvarado’s close points win over Hilario Lopez last April exposed the methodical and somewhat stiff nature of his style. It figures that any boxer gifted with fast hands and footwork will give him trouble, and quick mitts and feet are what Hopkins specializes in. Still, the two would make for an interesting match of styles.
WITW: South Africa’s Isaac Hlatshwayo (25-0 with 9 KOs). The 28-year-old boxer, who made a splash in America by out-pointing Nate Campbell at lightweight, is scheduled to meet once-beaten Kendal Holt in November. Should he beat the New Jersey-based prospect, the IBF, which currently ranks the South African at no. 8 at junior welter, would likely move him forward making him a target for hungry young guns like Hopkins or Alvarado.
OTW: Canada-based Cameroonian Herman Ngoudjo, 14-0 (9); 22-year-old prodigy Lamont Peterson, 18-0 (; Michigan’s Lorenzo Reynolds, 15-0 (7); Philly’s ’04 U.S. Olympian 25-year-old Rock Allen, 9-0 (6); Coachella, California’s Timothy Ray Bradley, 15-0 (9); the Bronx’s 26-year-old Joey Rios, 14-0 (6); Colorado’s Adrian Mora, 15-0-1 (
147 pounds – Andre Berto, 14-0 (12) vs. Shamone Alvarez, 15-0 (10)
Berto, a two-time national PAL champ and national Golden Gloves winner who represented Haiti at the ’04 Olympics, has one of the most explosive-looking builds in boxing and the speed and power to go with his physique. His first-round stoppage of Taronze Washington in Las Vegas last December was almost scary.
However, the 23-year-old power hitter might be too strong for his own development. Berto has yet to fight past six rounds and most of his 14 bouts have ended before the fourth round.
The 29-year-old Alvarez is a late comer to the sport having turned pro at 25 and he carries a mature attitude into the ring. The Atlantic City native takes care of business in the ring but he’s not in a rush to take everyone’s head off, which isn’t to say the southpaw can’t punch. In his last fight, Alvarez, a part-time social worker, stopped young journeyman Marteze Logan, who has gone the distance with Paul Williams, Mike Arnaoutis and Vivian Harris among others.
The questions? Can Alvarez go rounds with Berto? How will Berto deal with a composed southpaw with pop in his hands? Neither fighter has fought in a 10-round bout. It’s time both men stepped up and a bout with each other would make for a compelling 10 rounder. Alvarez is nicknamed “The Truth” but a fight with Berto would prove who really deserves that moniker and who deserves to advance to contender status.
OTW: Mexico’s Michel Rosales, 11-0 (10); Scotland’s 23-year-old Kevin Anderson, 17-0 (11); Russia’s Vladimir Zykov, 17-0 (3); New Jersey’s 25-year-old Henry Crawford, 12-0-1 (5); Venezuela’s 24-year-old southpaw Nelson Linares, 12-0-1 (6); and Mexico’s Ivan Alvarez, 8-0 (7).
154 pounds – James Kirkland, 15-0 (13) vs. Yuri Foreman, 21-0 (
If you haven’t seen Austin, Texas native Kirkland fight, do yourself a favor and make it a pint to watch the 22-year-old southpaw’s next televised bout. Kirkland is one of the most aggressive and confident prospects on this list, gifted with fast hands, brutal punching power, incredible physical strength and a killer instinct reminiscent of a prime Terry Norris.
However, like Andre Berto, getting quality rounds is a challenge for Kirkland. He’s never fought past four rounds in a pro bout, and word from the gym is that his phenomenal power and speed taper off after a few rounds of sparring. So what happens if someone can take him past five or six rounds?
Foreman doesn’t have a fraction of the power or physical strength that the Texan possesses, but he could probably box an eight-rounder in his sleep. The former amateur standout from Israel by way of Belarus (now living in Brooklyn) is a stick-and-move specialist. This amateurish style does not make his bouts all that exciting to watch but it makes the 26-year-old a difficult outing for a fighter who is accustomed to whacking guys out in one or two rounds.
Foreman’s footwork could neutralize Kirkland’s power, however, the Texan’s relentless aggression and hand speed could very well set up a one-punch finisher. It’s an interesting fight that would push the winner into the lower top 10 of the sanctioning bodies’ junior middleweight ratings.
OTW: Australia’s Daniel Dawson, 24-0 (16); Glendale, California’s 20-year-old U.S. 2004 Olympian Vanes Martirosyan, 10-0 (6); Mexico’s 25-year-old Alexis Camacho, 11-0 (10); and Ireland’s James More, 8-0 (6).
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