Mares-Moreno tops full Saturday boxing schedule
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
November 9, 2012
It was announced last week that Donaire will return to the ring on Dec. 16 against Mexican fan favorite Jorge Arce, marking the fourth time Donaire will step in the ring in 2012, a remarkable feat in today's game. On that undercard, fellow 122 pounder Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba faces his stiffest test as he meets Thailand's Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym.
With all of this action taking place within a few weeks of each other, fight fans are hopeful it will eventually lead to determining who the best is at the weight. Though Mares and Moreno are promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Donaire and Rigondeaux are promoted by Top Rank, many are optimistic we will see the two sides work together on putting the winners in with each other.
A reason for that optimism might be due to a fight that takes place on HBne the #1 contender to Saul Alvarez for his 154 pound belt. Lara is promoted by Golden Boy and Martirosyan by Top Rank, and the fight marks the first time the two sides have worked together since a late 2011 bout between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Daniel Ponce de Leon.
The Las Vegas undercard features promising featherweight contender Mikey Garcia facing former titleholder Jonathan Victor Barros of Argentina. Garcia is trained by brother Robert Garcia, the likely Trainer of the Year when 2012 wraps up.
In Los Angeles, the televised Showtime undercard features bantamweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz making his first defense against Victor Zaleta; as well, junior middleweight Alfredo Angulo returns for the first time since a long stint in a deportation center derailed him.
He'll fight unheralded Raul Casarez in a tuneup, which also marks the first time Angulo will be trained by Bay Area trainer Virgil Hunter, who trains 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward among others.
Also at the Staples Center, Nathan Cleverly of the UK defends his light heavyweight title against Shawn Hawk. Golden Boy is said to be interested in matching Cleverly with Bernard Hopkins in the UK sometime in 2013. Cleverly is expected to get past Hawk with ease and look spectacular in his US television debut.O late 2011 bout between Yuriorkis Gamboa and Daniel Ponce de Leon.
The Las Vegas undercard features promising featherweight contender Mikey Garcia facing former titleholder Jonathan Victor Barros of Argentina. Garcia is trained by brother Robert Garcia, the likely Trainer of the Year when 2012 wraps up.
In Los Angeles, the televised Showtime undercard features bantamweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz making his first defense against Victor Zaleta; as well, junior middleweight Alfredo Angulo returns for the first time since a long stint in a deportation center derailed him.
He'll fight unheralded Raul Casarez in a tuneup, which also marks the first time Angulo will be trained by Bay Area trainer Virgil Hunter, who trains 2004 Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward among others.
Also at the Staples Center, Nathan Cleverly of the UK defends his light heavyweight title against Shawn Hawk. Golden Boy is said to be interested in matching Cleverly with Bernard Hopkins in the UK sometime in 2013. Cleverly is expected to get past Hawk with ease and look spectacular in his US television debut.
Though it is a full night scheduled for Saturday, the Mares-Moreno bout is the one many are looking forward to the most. Mares won the tough bantamweight tournament Showtime staged that completed last year and he's managed to stay undefeated despite a ridiculously tough run of opposition.
Despite that, many are picturing Moreno to upset the apple cart. He's a smooth operator in the ring, a stylish boxer who knows how to use the ring to his advantage. Moreno will be moving up to 122 after a long reign at bantamweight, so it will be interesting to see how the new weight will affect him.
Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy has said that if Mares wins, he will walk to Las Vegas and knock on Top Rank's door to make a fight between Mares and Donaire. One can only hope that whatever the outcome Saturday night, Donaire's future features the winner.
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