By Jackie Kallen
Although the Chavev, Jr. fight for this weekend was postponed, there is still a good fight card to watch on Showtime. Heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell is stepping up his game a notch by facing the banger Chris Arreola at Fantasy Springs. The fight is a turning point for both men–32 year old Arreola and 31 year old Mitchell.
Mitchell lost, but avenged, a fight against Jonathan Banks by beating him just seven months later. Arreola’s last loss was in April to Bermane Stiverne. It was a hard-fought decision but the nod went to Stiverne easily. Although he also lost to Adamek, his worst defeat was at the hands of Vitali Klitschko in 2009. He had to retire in the 10th round after never really being in the fight.
These two are close in size and not too far apart in skill and experience. It’s a hard one to call. Both men have their supporters who are predicting victory. Though Arreola is a heavy puncher, Mitchell also has a lot of power. This fight probably won’t last 12 rounds.
There are titles on the line. The WBC International Heavyweight belt and the WBO NABO Heavyweight title.
Also on the card, two tough featherweights will duke it out. Journeyman Rafael Marquez (41-8), who has fought guys like Israel Vasquez and Juan Manuel Lopez is fighting Efrain Esquivias (16-2-1) who has suffered recent losses to Rico Ramos and Jhonatan Romero. Marquez split his four fights with Vasquez–winning two and losing two. Although he is now 38 years old, Marquez may have enough left to hand Esquivias his third loss.
Speaking of Rico Ramos, the once-promising featherweight is also on the card, up against undefeated Carlos Ivan Velasquez from Puerto Rico. This is a tough fight for Ramos. The 29 year old Velasquez, who now lives in Miami, has a whopping 72% KO ratio. He is not coming to California to lose to a guy who already has been beaten three times. Ramos has lost three out of his last four and was stopped by Guillerma Rigondeaux last year in Vegas. A win for Ramos would resurrect his career. But he would have to walk into the ring as a new, re-energized man.
All in all, this is a card worth watching. The smaller guys are always exciting and everyone loves the big boys. I doubt it will be a blockbuster event. but with everyone in a boxing mood this month, it should satisfy the fans’s thirst for action.