Weekend Preview: Vargas vs. Salido, Other Weekend Boxing Action
Weekend Preview: Vargas vs. Salido, Other Weekend Boxing Action
By Jonathan SnowdenMost casual fans likely have no idea there is some serious boxing action this weekend. It's their loss. You, as an informed reader of Flo
By Jonathan Snowden
Most casual fans likely have no idea there is some serious boxing action this weekend. It's their loss. You, as an informed reader of FloBoxing, know better.
And if not, you soon will.
No, there are no big names competing. There are no Canelos, Cottos or even Khans.
But there are rising stars galore and even a bout that might end up in consideration for best of the year. Read on for a run down of what's worth watching, what you can skip and my best guess about who will win—and why.
Network: Estrella TV
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Zachary Ochoa (14-0) vs. Luis Jose Gonzalez (11-3-1)
Interest Level: Medium/Low
Golden Boy Promotions is presenting a pair of boxing cards this week.
This is the one you can skip without feeling too bad. Esquivas is game —no doubt about that—and Rios has his work cut out for him. You might even see the underdog win.
And that’s kinda the problem with this fight, at least from a matchmaking perspective. Between getting totally demolished by Robinson Castellanos and barely getting past Andrew Cancio in 2014, Rios’ stock plummeted. He rebounded in a lot of people’s eyes by impressively beating Jayson Velez, but Esquivas’ style is likely to present serious issues.
Main Event Prediction: Efrain Esquivas by 9th Round KO
Network: Spike TV
Promoter: Raynelo Management/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Emmanuel Rodriguez (14-0) vs. Alberto Guevara (24-2)
Interest Level: High
Way back on the undercard of Mayweather/Maidana II, Mickey Bey returned from the scrap heap to "win" a world title in a much-contested decision victory over Miguel Vazquez. The fight was terrible, the punch stats close, and the scoring all over the place.
But when it came time to defend against his mandatory challenger, Denis Shafikov, something happened. Blame Al Haymon, blame Mickey Bey, blame whoever. Bey never got on the plane to Macau, had his belt stripped, and spent 15 months on the sidelines.
He’s back now, fighting for the very belt he gave up against a fighter who is honestly a stiffer opponent than the one he ducked. Barthelemy is taller, faster, more active, and probably hits harder—and that will end up being too much for Bey.
Main Event Prediction: Rances Barthelemy by Unanimous Decision
Network: ESPN
Promoter: GYM Promotions
Undercard bouts: Eledier Alvarez vs. TBD, Bryant Perrella (13-0) vs. David Grayton (14-0)
Interest Level: Medium/High
How did Ezequiel Maderna earn this great opportunity on national television? Primarily by losing.
That may sound cynical, but losses to Edwin Rodriguez and Tommy Oosthuizen comprise the entirety of his significant non-domestic career.
In fairness, Maderna hasn’t been KO'ed despite being hit hard. If the purpose is to get Beterbiev some work, this is a man who could push the fight, possibly even to a decision. As outstanding as Beterbiev has looked on occasion, he’s had some defensive lapses and looked robotic at times.
Maderna isn’t likely to make him pay, but might look like something other than a heavy bag.
Main Event Prediction: Artur Beterbiev by Unanimous Decision
Network: HBO
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Julian Ramirez (16-0)vs. Abraham Lopez (20-0-1)
Interest Level: High
Some fights, especially between technicians, are for purists. This one is for the pure violence.
Salido seems compelled to go to war, even when it seems he could outslick a foe. He's had quite the up and down career as a result, most recently taking part in a pair of violent contests with Roman Martinez and a 2014 Fight of the Year contender opposite Terdsak Kokietgym.
Vargas himself is no stranger to excessive brutality. He won a wild brawl with Takashi Miura last year on the Alvarez/Cotto undercard and has delivered plenty of devastating KOs along the way.
Salido seems almost timeless, but his style of fight will invariably take a toll. Against a larger, mobile, strong puncher like Vargas, this could easily be the night where all those years of excitement finally add up. Vargas’ power late in the fight, demonstrated against Miura and Tomlinson, suggests that if Salido’s gameplan is the usual “slowly grind opposition down,” he could wind up well behind on the cards and possibly in a bad position coming into the last quarter of the fight.
Ramirez/Lopez, the chief undercard attraction, is built for ESPN Friday Night Fights in an era where that show no longer exists. That's a backhanded compliment if there ever was one.
Main Event Prediction: Francisco Vargas by 11th Round KO
Most casual fans likely have no idea there is some serious boxing action this weekend. It's their loss. You, as an informed reader of FloBoxing, know better.
And if not, you soon will.
No, there are no big names competing. There are no Canelos, Cottos or even Khans.
But there are rising stars galore and even a bout that might end up in consideration for best of the year. Read on for a run down of what's worth watching, what you can skip and my best guess about who will win—and why.
Ronny Rios (25-1 , 10 KOs) vs. Efrain Esquivas (17-4-1, 10 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 3rdNetwork: Estrella TV
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Zachary Ochoa (14-0) vs. Luis Jose Gonzalez (11-3-1)
Interest Level: Medium/Low
Golden Boy Promotions is presenting a pair of boxing cards this week.
This is the one you can skip without feeling too bad. Esquivas is game —no doubt about that—and Rios has his work cut out for him. You might even see the underdog win.
And that’s kinda the problem with this fight, at least from a matchmaking perspective. Between getting totally demolished by Robinson Castellanos and barely getting past Andrew Cancio in 2014, Rios’ stock plummeted. He rebounded in a lot of people’s eyes by impressively beating Jayson Velez, but Esquivas’ style is likely to present serious issues.
Main Event Prediction: Efrain Esquivas by 9th Round KO
Rances Barthelemy (24-0, 13 KOs) vs. Mickey Bey (22-1-1, KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 3rdNetwork: Spike TV
Promoter: Raynelo Management/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Emmanuel Rodriguez (14-0) vs. Alberto Guevara (24-2)
Interest Level: High
Way back on the undercard of Mayweather/Maidana II, Mickey Bey returned from the scrap heap to "win" a world title in a much-contested decision victory over Miguel Vazquez. The fight was terrible, the punch stats close, and the scoring all over the place.
But when it came time to defend against his mandatory challenger, Denis Shafikov, something happened. Blame Al Haymon, blame Mickey Bey, blame whoever. Bey never got on the plane to Macau, had his belt stripped, and spent 15 months on the sidelines.
He’s back now, fighting for the very belt he gave up against a fighter who is honestly a stiffer opponent than the one he ducked. Barthelemy is taller, faster, more active, and probably hits harder—and that will end up being too much for Bey.
Main Event Prediction: Rances Barthelemy by Unanimous Decision
Artur Beterbiev (9-0 ,9 KOs) vs. Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (23-2, 15 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 4thNetwork: ESPN
Promoter: GYM Promotions
Undercard bouts: Eledier Alvarez vs. TBD, Bryant Perrella (13-0) vs. David Grayton (14-0)
Interest Level: Medium/High
How did Ezequiel Maderna earn this great opportunity on national television? Primarily by losing.
That may sound cynical, but losses to Edwin Rodriguez and Tommy Oosthuizen comprise the entirety of his significant non-domestic career.
In fairness, Maderna hasn’t been KO'ed despite being hit hard. If the purpose is to get Beterbiev some work, this is a man who could push the fight, possibly even to a decision. As outstanding as Beterbiev has looked on occasion, he’s had some defensive lapses and looked robotic at times.
Maderna isn’t likely to make him pay, but might look like something other than a heavy bag.
Main Event Prediction: Artur Beterbiev by Unanimous Decision
Francisco Vargas (23-0-1 , 17 KOs) vs. Orlando Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs)
Key Info
Date: June 4thNetwork: HBO
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions
Undercard bouts: Julian Ramirez (16-0)vs. Abraham Lopez (20-0-1)
Interest Level: High
Some fights, especially between technicians, are for purists. This one is for the pure violence.
Salido seems compelled to go to war, even when it seems he could outslick a foe. He's had quite the up and down career as a result, most recently taking part in a pair of violent contests with Roman Martinez and a 2014 Fight of the Year contender opposite Terdsak Kokietgym.
Vargas himself is no stranger to excessive brutality. He won a wild brawl with Takashi Miura last year on the Alvarez/Cotto undercard and has delivered plenty of devastating KOs along the way.
Salido seems almost timeless, but his style of fight will invariably take a toll. Against a larger, mobile, strong puncher like Vargas, this could easily be the night where all those years of excitement finally add up. Vargas’ power late in the fight, demonstrated against Miura and Tomlinson, suggests that if Salido’s gameplan is the usual “slowly grind opposition down,” he could wind up well behind on the cards and possibly in a bad position coming into the last quarter of the fight.
Ramirez/Lopez, the chief undercard attraction, is built for ESPN Friday Night Fights in an era where that show no longer exists. That's a backhanded compliment if there ever was one.
Main Event Prediction: Francisco Vargas by 11th Round KO