BOXING WORLD EXPECTING A WAR TO EMERGE IN GLENDALE, AZ TONIGHT
April 20, 2024
Simon Ruvalcaba
Tonight’s Top Rank Boxing Main Event on ESPN from Glendale, AZ between Raymundo “Sugar” Beltran and Jose “Sniper” Pedraza for the W.B.O. Lightweight title has all of the ingredients to be a memorable battle! The ingredients to a great fight is two fighters that hit and aren’t afraid to get hit, check mark for both Beltran and Pedraza. Add the spice of an electric hometown atmosphere for Beltran along with the everlastingly rich Mexico vs Puerto Rican boxing rivalry and we have the potential for a real treat tonight on free t.v.!
Judging by their most recent performances, they both have the skill level to defeat the other and at the same time showed the vulnerability to fall into each other’s game plan depending on how momentum swings?
Raymundo Beltran 35-7-1 (21) finally realized his championship dream in Reno, Nevada back in February with a close but unanimous decision over Paulus Moses. While some ringside media had the bout a draw or leaned slightly towards Moses, I thought Beltran dominated most of the last 6 rounds to get the nod. Currently on a 6 fight winning streak with his last defeat being in 2014 against Terrence Crawford. Beltran is not facing a special talent such as Crawford. The 37 year old is towards the end of his career, will tonight be the night that he slows down? Has winning the title made him feel accomplished or has it kept him hungry?
For the 29 year old Pedraza 24-1 (12) who’s only loss was to the specially talented Gervonta Davis, Pedraza will not be facing such a fast moving target in Beltran. June 6th on the Terrence Crawford-Jeff Horn undercard, Pedraza rallied to earn a unanimous decision over Antonio Moran. In a bout were most ringsiders had Pedraza down after 6 rounds, he bit down and picked up the pace to catch up and pull away down the stretch on the same day that thoroughbred Justify won the Belmont Stakes to won the triple crown.
I look for this bout to be even through 6 and whoever can make the 2nd half adjustments should pull away for a decision victory! But it will be exciting throughout to see it all play out with two determined fighters!
The co-feature is just as intriguing as unbeaten Isaac Dogboe 19-0 (13) makes the first defense of his W.B.O. Super Bantamweight title that he won in thrilling, come from behind fashion over Jesse Magdaleno back in April. He defends against Japan’s Hidenori Otake 31-2-3 (14) who, at 37, will be looking to become the oldest Super Bantamweight champion in boxing history. I think Dogboe is riding high with confidence and should get through? Enjoy the fights everyone!
About the Editor
Army Veteran and former Professional Boxer Simon Ruvalcaba started boxing at the age of ten and Had a 71 fight amateur career which featured a 139 lbs. 1998 8th U.S. Army Boxing Championship out of Camp Casey, Korea and a spot on the prestigious Army Boxing Team at Fort Hood, TX. After a journeyman pro career of 18 fights, which included sparring sessions with many champions and contenders including Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker, Simon started writing and has contributed to many publications and websites including fighthype.com, pound4pound.com, Tahoe Daily Tribune (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Nevada Appeal (Carson City, NV). He has also been the Boxing Instructor for Ken Shamrock and The Lions Den and was MMA and Bareknuckle star Paige VanZant’s first boxing coach!
Born and Raised in South Lake Tahoe, California he now resides in Sun Valley, Nevada and spends as much time as possible with his Sons Gabriel and Oscar! Beyond boxing, Simon is an all around sports fanatic and is passionate about the teams that he roots for. Simon also works as a Sportsbook Supervisor for Caesars Sportsbook in Lake Tahoe.
