A Saturday press conference is in the works for smack-talkers Adrien Broner and Paulie Malignaggi.
Weekend Preview: Great matchups in L.A.
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JI-HOON KIM vs. AMETH DIAZ Rounds / weight class: 12 rounds / lightweights Location: Laredo, Texas Television: ESPN2 The backdrop: Kim (20-5, 17 KOs) is an all-action, big-punching bundle of fun to watch. The South Korean has knocked out his last 10 opponents, including Tyrone Harris in five rounds in his last fight. This will be his fourth fight in the U.S. Diaz (27-9, 19 KOs) has lost all four of his fights outside the U.S., three by knockout. He’ll probably put up spirited resistance as long as he lasts in this fight. Also fighting: Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Emanuel Augustus, 10 rounds, junior welterweights Rating the card: B. The main event should be fun to watch because both are action fighters. Agustus also is entertaining. And Provodnikov is a legitimate prospect. SHARIF BOGERE vs. ILIDO JULIO Rounds / weight class: 10 rounds / junior welterweights Location: Fort Worth, Texas Television: Telefutura The backdrop: Bogere (15-0, 9 KOs) has built up a nice record against journeyman. Ilido Julio (40-17-1, 35 KOs) isn’t a world beater but he represents a small step up in competition for the Las Vegas-based Ugandan. Bogere had a successful amateur career in Africa before immigrating to the U.S. Also fighting: Jermell Charlo vs. Josh Burns, six rounds, junior middleweights Rating the card: B. SATURDAY ISRAEL VAZQUEZ vs. RAFAEL MARQUEZ Rounds / weight class: 12 rounds / featherweights Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles Television: Showtime The backdrop: The Vazquez-Marquez trilogy is among the best in boxing history. Some argue the fighters’ wear and tear should preclude a fourth meeting but they’ll probably put on another good show. The more compelling matchup, even if that seems impossible, might be Perez vs. Mares. Perez, a young 31, is a rangy brawler who breaks his opponents down and Mares is a gifted boxer who also has an aggressive nature in the ring. Bottom line: Two great fights. Also fighting: Yonnhy Perez vs. Abner Mares, 12 rounds, for Perez’s IBF bantamweight title. Rating the card: A. Enjoy. Also: Saturday – Teon Kennedy faces Jose Angel Beranza in a 12-round junior featherweight fight in Atlantic City, N.J., on gofightlive.tv; Shawn Porter faces Bobby Kliewer in an eight-round junior middleweight fight in Tunica, Miss., prizefighttv.com; Vitali Tajbert defends his WBC junior lightweight title against Hector Velazquez in Rostock, Germany. |