By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA.-Reporters from as far as 130 miles away gathered in a boxing gym surrounded by the Hollywood Hills and all were there to see Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley and Alfredo “Perro” Angulo.
In a little more than eight days Bradley moves up to welterweight to fight Argentina’s wrecking machine Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) and Angulo defends the interim WBO junior middleweight title against Canada’s Joachim Alcine (32-1, 19 KOs) at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage.
The co-main events will be televised on HBO live on Saturday July 17.
How good are Bradley and Angulo?
“He has sneaky speed,” said Bradley of Angulo.
Unknown to many, Mexicali’s Angulo comes from a lengthy amateur background that includes many international tournaments as a representative of Mexico’s team. He can box, he can move and he can counter with the best.
As a professional Angulo prefers a hunt, seek and destroy style of fighting and it’s one of the main reasons that card carrying boxing fans flock to see him fight.
“People love to see him fight,” said Tony Walker, an HBO executive with the pay-per-view branch.
One thing many fans don’t realize is Angulo and Bradley once collided in the ring as amateurs.
“Whoa it was a close fight. It was a hell of a fight,” said Timothy Bradley Sr. who remembers when his son and Angulo met as 152-pound amateurs. “He (Bradley) lost by one single point.”
Once again Angulo faces a fast mover who uses speed and slickness to gain an advantage.
“Whatever style he wants to fight is alright with me,” said Angulo (18-1, 15 KOs) whose last three opponents had a similar style including the talented Joel Julio. “I try to do something every day. If a fighter thinks he knows everything he’s going to lose.”
Angulo seldom smiles for the press and on this day it was no different. A smile for the Mexicali destroyer means in his mind that he’s soft. He’s anything but soft.
Contrary to the Mexican warrior, Bradley has a different approach.
While wrapping his own hands and preparing himself to train in Justin Fortune’s Boxing Gym the Indio based prizefighter who is the top ranked junior welterweight in the world and considered one of the top 10 prizefighters Pound for Pound, smiles generously and answers all questions crisply and brightly.
“Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world,” says Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) with no hesitation. “I think Amir Khan is the most protected fighter in the world.”
Bradley wants the big money fights where he can generate the mega millions that other elite fighters enjoy. Whether it’s Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao or Devon Alexander he wants them all. But it has to have the right price.
“People don’t understand it’s a business,” Bradley said. “Fans don’t understand. They just think I should fight this guy or that guy and not care about the money. That’s not the way it works.”
Bradley’s opponent Abregu is a concrete busting welterweight who has knocked senseless 23 of 29 opponents. He’s never lost.
Where does Bradley rank among top prizefighters today?
“He’s the complete package,” said Steve Kim, columnist for a Maxboxing.com web site based in California. “He’s one of the best fighters pound for pound.”
Many others agree.
Bradley seeks to prove that he belongs among the elite and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to fight one of those other elite boxers.
“Pacman and Floyd Mayweather, I want to fight all those guys,” Bradley said in front of more than 30 reporters. “My job is to continue to win.”
Other chatter
Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire leads a contingent of Filipino fighters on Saturday in Puerto Rico. Donaire (23-1, 15 KOs) defends the interim WBA junior bantamweight title against Mexico’s Hernan Marquez (27-1, 20 KOs). Also, Bernabe Concepcion fights Juan Manuel Lopez for his WBO featherweight title. Eden Sonsona (21-5, 17 KOs) faces Jonathan Oquendo (18-2, 11 KOs in a bantamweight clash. The Top Rank Promotion fights will be shown on pay-per-view.
Sergio Mora is off the fight card on July 23 at Pechanga Resort and Casino but now Craig McEwan steps in to face San Diego’s Danny Perez, said Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions. Mora is fighting Sugar Shane Mosley on Sept. 18 and did not want to risk cancellation should Mora get hurt. For tickets and information at Pechanga (888) 732-4264.
Canada’s Jeannine Garside (10-3-1, 4 KOs) convincingly defeated Germany’s Ina Menzer (26-1, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision in Germany last Saturday to capture the WBC, WBO and WIBF featherweight titles. Garside already had the WIBA title.
Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (32-0-1, 24 KOs) has a dangerous fight against Argentina’s Luciano Cuello (26-1, 12 KOs) on Saturday in Guadalajara, Mexico. The popular Alvarez recently signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions and is scheduled to fight on Sept. 18 in Los Angeles.
In a battle of former Mexican world champions Ulises Solis (31-2-2) won decision over Eric Ortiz (32-11-3) on Saturday in Reno, Nevada. Solis lost his title to Brian Viloria in the Philippines last year.
Mexico’s Ana Maria Torres (21-3-2, 13 KOs) knocked out Colombian southpaw Olga Julio (7-8-1) in the fourth round to keep her WBC junior bantamweight title on Saturday. The fight took place in Mexico City. Torres has not lost a fight in three years and that was a split decision lost to Korea’s Myung OK Ryu in North Korea.
Hugo Cazares (32-6-2, 23 KOs) knocked out Everardo Morales (34-15-2) in the seventh round to win his first defense of the WBA junior bantamweight world title on Saturday. Cazares is a former junior flyweight world champion. Both Cazares and Morales fight out of Mexico.
Mexico’s Zulina Munoz (23-1-1, 17 KOs) a hard-hitting bantamweight from Mexico City fights equally dangerous Mayerlin Rivas (6-1, 5 KOs) of Venezuela on Friday in Mexico City. Rivas, 22, only loss came to Sandy Tsagouris in Canada. Munoz, 22, only loss came to Alesia Graf in Germany.
Undefeated Susie Ramadan (14-0, 6 KOs) meets Jane Kuvulani (11-10-2) on Friday July 9, for the vacant WBF bantamweight world title. The fight takes place in Coburg, Australia. Ramadan, 30, fights out of Australia and Kuvulani, 34, out of Kenya.
WBC junior lightweight titleholder Olivia Gerula (12-10-2) defends her world title against America’s Brooke Dierdorff (6-4-1). Gerula is making her first title defense since beating Myriam Chomasz in France last December.
Source: thesweetscience.com
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