We’re back to normal operations and action stations. This week’s boxing schedule isn’t crowded, but it’s not bad for the first week of the year. What could be a better way to welcome in the new year than watching people punch each other? I can’t think of anything, but that might have something to do with my impaired brain function after New Year’s Eve.
There are two cards worth keeping an eye out for, both on Friday night. Dyah Davis and Alfonso Lopez do battle on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights season opener and Luis Ramos and Ray Beltran clash on Shobox. Happy New Year!
- Dyah Davis vs. Alfonso Lopez, Friday, ESPN2, Key West. A good fight to get the 2012 Friday Night Fights season going. Super middleweights Davis and Lopez both have something to prove. Davis (20-2-1) is the son of 1976 gold medal winner Howard Davis. Despite that, he hasn’t had it easy coming up the professional ranks and has put in some lacklustre performances, like his loss to Aaron Pryor Jr. in 2010. He was the subject of a great profile by Mark Ortega on this very website last month. Lopez’ (22-1) only previous moment in the spotlight was a surprisingly competitive loss to Kelly Pavlik in May. Whether that was due to Lopez’ busyness and grit or Pavlik’s personal issues will be up for debate until Friday evening. I’ve got a feeling I know which side Lopez will be arguing, likely pressuring the spindly Davis into a good fight. On the undercard junior middleweight prospects Steve Martinez (11-0) and Denis Douglin (13-1) are set to get it on. In the fighting sense…
- Luis Ramos vs. Ray Beltran, Friday, Showtime, Indio California. Lightweight prospect Luis Ramos should get some good exposure by fighting on Showtime during its free preview weekend. Ramos (20-0) obviously has a thing for fighting Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners since his last victory, a body shot KO, was over David Rodela. Beltran (25-5) is a classic boxing character: the good fighter who, due to a combination of bad luck and conspiracy, never reached the next level. Ramos, however, is a very good fighter with a little bit of everything but crushing power. Beltran has a proven track record of toughness though and if he can drag Ramos into a dog fight like he did to Sharif Bogere in May, then he’s in with a chance. After this, Ramos is likely ready to take on a top 10 lightweight. Lightweight prospects Michael Perez (15-0-1) and Omar Figueroa (13-0-1) are up against each other on the undercard.
- The Rest. The Ring’s number 10 flyweight, Edgar Sosa (43-7) defends some trinket against Roilo Golez (13-7) in Mexico City on Saturday.
