The headlining video is probably a bit rude, but we politely suggest that you sit down and read the week’s boxing schedule. It doesn’t shine resplendent like last week’s, but it’s not too shabby. By my count, there are five Ring-rated contenders in action, four of them fighting between themselves. Big time boxing is heading back to Washington D.C for an HBO double header featuring local boys Seth Mitchell and the Peterson brothers, as well as Amir Khan. There’s another chapter in Mexico and the Phillipines’ growing boxing rivalry, this time between Giovanni Segura and Brian Viloria. Mexico sure is good at having boxing rivalries. Basically, we’re going into the holidays, there’s some nice boxing on and life is good. To the fights!
- Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson and Seth Mitchell vs. Timur Ibragimov, Saturday, HBO, Washington D.C. In recent years, D.C. has been the ugly, left out cousin of big time east coast boxing towns like New York, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. It’s not for lack of fighters or an audience though, and there’s a big buzz about this card. The hardest working boxing blogger in DC, our own founder Tim, will have all the juicy live coverage and the detailed preview later in the week. England’s Khan, a super athletic and highly skilled boxer, is one of boxing’s golden children and is widely tipped to be a key part of the sport’s future once today’s big stars ride off into the sunset. He’s visiting the U.S. capital to take on local star and number six junior welter Lamont Peterson. Khan (26-1-0) will look to box from the outside while Peterson (29-1-1) can box but also doesn’t mind brawling. He’ll be looking for Kahn’s sometimes shaky chin. Also being televised by HBO is a heavyweight bout between former college linebacker Seth Mitchell (23-0-1) and former contender Timur Ibragimov (30-3-1). This probably isn’t an HBO-worthy fight, but I understand why they want to develop Mitchell, who is beginning to seem like a possible contender. Ibragimov, who lost his last fight to former cruiserweight Jean Marc Mormeck, hasn’t been in a meaningful fight since 2007. Still, he’s a step up for Mitchell, who hasn’t really faced anyone of note. On the non-televised undercard, Lamont Peterson’s lightweight brother, Anthony, fights Daniel Attah (26-8-1). Peterson (30-1-0) is a good fighter even though he’s best known for low blowing his way out of a fight with Brandon Rios last year. He should make short work of Attah. Popular Irish lightweight Jamie Kavanagh (8-0) and middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero (21-1) are also on the card. HBO will replay last week’s dramatic rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito immediately before Boxing After Dark on Saturday. (Ed.: HBO Latino also will air some of the undercard fights from that pay-per-view on Thursday.)
- Giovani Segura vs. Brian Viloria, Saturday, Manila. Former junior flyweight champ Segura is looking to make a big splash for his first big fight one division north, taking on the Ring’s number three man, Brian Viloria, in his hometown. Segura (28-1-1) was an absolute beast at junior fly, making up for a complete absence of skill with a monster punch and a never say die attitude. He took care of pound-for-pounder Ivan Calderon twice and made it look easy. Segura’s power is so badass that there’s little doubt he will carry it up a division. Viloria (29-3-0), a former junior flyweight himself, is no patsy. While he doesn’t have the H-bomb style power of Segura, he can punch. Unlike Segura, he can box, working in and out and often going backwards in order to land hard counters. This will likely be the fight of the weekend. The questions going in are whether Viloria — who was stopped once at junior fly — can take Segura’s fire, whether Segura’s seemingly iron chin can handle a bigger man’s punch and whether Viloria can do anything at all to keep Segura off him. I’d wager he puts up a bloody good fight, but eventually succumbs to the pressure.
- Juan Carlos Salgado vs. Miguel Beltran Jr., Saturday, Los Mochis Mexico. Ring Magazine’s number two junior lightweight Salgado is trying to move on from a tough hometown decision win over Argenis Mendez in September. His opponent this time out is fellow once-beaten Mexican Miguel Beltran Jr. Despite his ranking and his knockout of Jorge Linares in 2009, Salgado (24-1-1) is tough but nothing special. He doesn’t hit particularly hard, isn’t all that sharp and seemed to have stamina problems against Mendez. Beltran, from what little I’ve seen, also fits that mould but hasn’t fought the same calibre of opponents as Salgado. Perhaps fighting in his hometown will give him the motivation he needs. Maureen Shea (17-2) fights Diana Ayala (11-5-3) on the undercard.
- The Rest. In Montreal fringe super middleweight contender Aaron Pryor Jr. (16-4-0) takes on prospect Adonis Stevenson (15-1) in what is a nice level fight for both men on Saturday. Middleweight knockout artist David Lemieux (25-1) is the co-feature, looking to recover some career momentum against veteran journeyman Joachim Alcine (32-2-1) after being on the wrong end of an upset of the year contender in April.. TQBR’s man in England, Andrew Harrison will have a preview and full coverage of the British junior welterweight title bout between Ashley Theophane (30-4-1) and Nigel Wright (24-6-1) from geordieland on Saturday… Flyweight vets Alex Sanchez (31-7-1) and Eric Ortiz (32-12-3) are fighting in Florida on Telemundo on Friday night..Roy Jones Jr. fights Max Alexander (14-5-2) on a small PPV on Saturday. If you pay money to watch Roy Jones Jr. (54-8) at this stage of his career, there is no hope for you.
