Last week was certainly an exciting week of Boxing, a very
good week capped by the terrific Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez
fight. The big bout of the week lived up to its billing and maybe then some.
Although this week is a little lighter, it does have the potential for some
fireworks with an exciting HBO card on Saturday, March 22. The Saturday card will be
preceded by a solid ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card. Here's a
look at the major fights on TV for this week...
Friday, March 21- ESPN2
Mohegan Sun Casino- Uncasville, Connecticut
Middleweights- 10 rounds
Andy Lee vs Brian Vera
15-0, 12 KOs 15-1 9, KOs
Middleweights- 8 rounds
Aaron Pryor Jr. vs Alphonso Williams
8-0, 6 KOs
10-3, 8 KOs
Junior welterweights-6 rounds
Wayland Willingham vs Freddy Soto
13-0, 8 KOs 9-3-2
Saturday March 22- HBO
Lightweights- 12 rounds
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa- Cabazon, California
Joel Casamayor vs Michael Katsidis
35-3-1, 21 KOs 23-0,
20 KOs
The week gets started with the return of ESPN2's Friday
Night Fights. The card features mega-prospect Andy Lee. Many
think Lee could be the future middleweight champion of the
world. The Irish middleweight is 15-0, and is quickly moving
up each and every fight. He is trained by Emanuel Steward and
will be looking at his toughest test when he takes on Brian
Vera. You may remember Vera's name, because he was a
contestant on the most recent season of "The Contender". Vera
suffered the only loss of his career on the show when he lost
to Jaidon Codrington. Vera is a tough fighter with a similar
record to Lee's, except for the one loss. He has probably been
in with slightly tougher opposition then Lee, and could pose
problems for the young southpaw.
The co-feature will have another big name as Aaron Pryor
Jr looks to stay undefeated against hard hitting Alphonso
Williams in an 8 round middleweight bout. Another undefeated
fighter should make the broadcast and this is 13-0 junior
welterweight Wayland Willingham as he takes on the always
tough Freddy Soto.
HBO comes back with a free card this week. First, if you
didn't get a chance to see the tremendous Pacquiao-Marquez
bout, HBO will replay it. Then for the third straight week we
will have a Lightweight showcase. The lightweight champions
have not fared well recently. Juan Diaz was shocked by Nate
Campbell, and David Diaz had a tough time winning a majority
decision over Ramon Montano last week. Now the co-WBC champ
Joel Casamayor will take on the surging co-WBO champ Michael
Katsidis. Casamayor, the veteran of this lightweight class
will try to erase bad memories of his last fight with Jose
Armando Santa Cruz. Casamayor won a very controversial split
decision in
that fight and now steps in with an Australian monster in
Michael Katsidis.
Katsidis has been surging up the lightweight ladder with
a very impressive record of 23-0 20 KOs. Many think the hard
hitting Katsidis can upend Casamayor. Time will tell this
Saturday night on HBO.
Questions? Comments? Write Tom Dickey
3-17-2008
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