BUSY ACTION ALL OVER THE GLOBE TONIGHT!
April 19, 2024
Simon Ruvalcaba
For those that say Boxing is dead, it is showing on a day like today that boxing is alive and well all over the globe! First, Congrats to Gabriel Flores Jr who won a unanamous decision in Vegas last night to improve to 7 and 0! He has appeared on The Punchline podcast and big things are still to come in his career! Now for a look at tonight’s action!
Belfast, Northern Ireland:
For the I.B.O. Featherweight title, ‘The Filipino Flash’ Nonito Donaire goes into hostile territory in his attempt to add another title to his Hall of Fame Career against local hero Carl Frampton. Donaire, a 5 division world champion is a heavy underdog but in my gut and heart, hoping to see him have enough for one more great night! It’s hard not to root for a longtime friend.
Also on the card Zolani Tete defends his W.B.O. Bantamweight title against former 2 time champion Omar Narvaez. I’m going to go with Tete in a good scrap.
Prospect watch on the undercard is British Light Heavyweight Ryan Hatton (no known relation to Ricky) who looks to improve to 3 and 0 in his young career. The 21 year old Hatton has a degree in Sports Science and is signed to promoter Frank Warren.
Liverpool, England:
Amir Khan in his first fight of a 3 fight deal with Eddie Hearn faces confident Phil Lo Greco who will have Fernando Vargas in his corner for this one. Although Khan’s chin always leaves you watching his fights. I think Hearn knows what he’s doing matching Khan up with Lo Greco in this one? It is stage one of the eventual mega fight against Kell Brook. I think Khan outboxes Phil and possibly even stops him late?
Brooklyn, New York (Showtime):
A crossroads showdown with Adrien Broner versus Jessie Vargas in a catchweight Welterweight showdown. It is a pick em fight and as the promotion has gone on, I’m liking Vargas’s chances even more. Despite that, I’m not gonna ignore my initial thoughts on the bout and go with Broner by decision.
Also on the card Gervonta Davis vs Jesus Cuellar for the W.B.O. Jr. Lightweight title. I think Davis has a new chip on his shoulder that is going to unleash a hungry and determined performance and make this a more dominant victory then I think most are anticipating?
The bout that I look to steal the show tonight is the interim W.B.C. Middleweight title bout between Jermall Charlo and Hugo Centeno. The Charlo brothers can fight and the Houston take no crap attitude outside the ring has added to the publicity of any Charlo fight. I think he backs up the talk against a game Centeno? I like Charlo by mid round stoppage.
The stacked card has Brooklyn’s own female Featherweight sensation Heather Hardy looking to go 21 and 0. Heavyweight prospect George Arias seeking to improve to 11 and 0, and undefeated Jr. Middleweight Chordale Booker aims to go 10 and 0 in his backyard! Enjoy the fights and look for a weekend recap on Monday!
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.
