The stylish chap above is Chilean boxer Hector Villarroel (or possibly Victor Reyes). They don’t make ’em like that anymore. The image is from Flickr Commons, which is a great place to browse for historical images of boxers, often with intriguing back stories. That has nothing to do with the schedule, though — this week I’ve split all the televised fights (along with some that aren’t on US TV) into individual previews. They probably wouldn’t deserve them in a normal week, but it’s just easier this way when there’s so little on. These are the lengths I go to for you.
- Shinsuke Yamanaka Vs. Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, Tuesday, Tokyo. The first fights of the week may well be the best, with the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #1 contender, Yamanaka (21-0-2, 16 KO) taking on longtime fringe contender Rungvisai (37-5-1, 16 KO). The Japanese is going to be way to big and way too hard hitting for his Thai opponent, I reckon. On the undercard, former junior lightweights Takahiro Ao (26-3-1, 12 KO) and Juan Carlos Salgado (26-3-1, 16 KO) tangle at lightweight.
- Carlos Takam Vs. Alexander Povetkin, Friday, Moscow. Wlad Klitschko victim (aren’t we all, really?) Povetkin (27-1, 19 KO) takes on Cameroon’s Takam (30-1-1, 23 KO), who’s been something of a surprise package, drawing with Mike Perez and beating Tony Thompson. Povetkin should have the skills to prevail, but if he’s out of shape Takam could test him (but is unlikely to get a decision in Moscow).
- Jose Ramirez Vs. David Rodela, Saturday, Fresno Calif. Junior welterweight prospect Ramirez (11-0, 8 KO) steps up against former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner Rodela (17-9-3, 7 KO), who is just off a four fight losing streak and is fighting well above his natural weight.
- Martin Murray Vs. Domenico Spada, Saturday, Monte Carlo. Middleweight contender Murray (28-1-1, 12 KO) looks to stay busy against fringe contender/journeyman Spada (39-5, 19 KO), who has lost every time he’s stepped up to this kind of level. I don’t see why the wild Italian be able to get it together against a comparatively disciplined opponent this time out. The TBRB’s #1 and #10 straweight contenders, Hekkie Budler (26-1-9, KO) and Xiong Zhao Zhong (24-5-1, 14 KO) are fighting on the undercard — it should be good.
