The Boxing Mismatch Report - Vol. 2
By Gabriel Montoya, from Maxboxing.com (April 29, 2011) Special to Doghouse Boxing
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This series of reports is not about singling out one promoter. It is not about being the cynical boxing writer who is sick and tired of this flesh trade we call boxing. Nor is it hardcore fan who only wants undefeated fighters facing each other and thinks that if the fighter’s aren’t the best of the best they should not be fighting. It is not a hit piece on Golden Boy or Top Rank or any other promoter. The fights pointed out or flagged may not always be the gross mismatches we saw in Volume 1. They might be worse. They might be borderline. I may even be wrong sometimes and we see an upset. Such is boxing. The series is intended as a tool by which fans of boxing (and this writer) can better understand what they are seeing on fight night. It is also here to point out the mismatches that are allowed by the commissions in boxing, who in this writer’s opinion, are truly responsible for fighter safety.

A promoter will sell me versus my 72 year old father if it would sell seats or pay per views. It is the commission’s job to make sure that fight does not happen. When they do, it is the writer’s job to say something. As I cover the West Coast beat, which for me mainly is in Southern California but also Vegas at times, I will primarily focus on the California and Nevada commissions. I could write about France but honestly, I am not as aware of how their commissions work as of the present time. Should something catch my eye, however, I will most likely mention it.

As I stated in Vol. 1, there are different types of mismatches. Sometimes, they are simply a necessary evil, for lack of a better word, as in the case of a fighter making their debut. Depending on the amateur turning pro, the first opponent can have differing degrees of difficulty. For example, you might match a former Olympian who exhibited solid power with a bit tougher challenge. The Olympian has international experience and showed he is elite among his peers. A guy who maybe had some Golden Gloves experience but was not exactly top of his class, might get someone easier, perhaps a fighter with a long layoff or coming off a knockout. As in the matches I am talking about each volume, each fighter is case by case.

There are also other standards such as the difference between an off-TV club show which can be a little raw as opposed to the main event of televised card. So a fight like Christian Favela vs. Mauricio Herrera which happens Off-TV tonight in Ontario, CA, is a little different than say the twenty-five second Frankie Gomez vs. Jason Davis fight which was a main event on prime time.

If this is some sort of a “hit” article in any way, it is aimed at the commissions not necessarily the promoters. Some promoters may feel as if I am playing favorites or picking on them but that is simply not the case. If a pattern emerges and a particular promoter feels picked on because I keep mentioning their fights, well, make better fights. That’s really all I can say.

These are all fights happening this Friday April 29, 2011

Venue: The Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.
Promoter: Thompson Boxing
The fight: Christian Favela, 28-32-7 vs. Mauricio Herrera, 16-1.

This is a classic “When is a mismatch on paper not exactly a mismatch?”

Christian Favela, a veteran journeyman, is 28-32-7. The veteran from Los Mochis, Mexico has fought 19 times in California. Of those, 16 were losses. He had two draws and a win there, too. But the record does not show the effort he gives. It does not show how many short notice in the opponents’ hometown fights he has taken. It doesn’t show that despite being the third man chosen to face Jesse Vargas, a prospect under the Mayweather Promotions’ banner back in February on a Fight Night Club, that favela may have actually beaten the young prospect yet lost a decision.

Put in the context of a club fight against Mauricio Herrera, who is 30 years old, 16-1 (the lone loss back in 2009 to Mike Anchondo) and coming off a win over Ruslan Provodnikov in January as well as a fractured cheek, the fight makes sense. The 31 year old Favela has been stopped once in his career back in 2007 in Mexico, a TKO in 9. Yes he has a ton of losses. But looking at the Vargas fight, a fight I was present at and one which I felt could have gone either way, I don’t see this as a mismatch but a fight that if Herrera is not careful in, he can lose.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the chances of that are pretty damn slim considering in something like 27 bouts outside of the US, Favela has never won.

He may not have the flash of Emanuel Augustus but Favela in some ways resembles that kind of fighter. He goes on the road, is available to fight and give solid rounds any time and has craft enough that he is not in there just as a punching bag.

Conclusion: Herrera has some issues early when Favela is most game. Then he beats him by decision in a crowd pleasing. one sided action fight. At some point, Favela will wear out as a trial horse. Taking a guy like Jesse Vargas to task says he still has some fight in him. It won’t be on this night, I think.

Venue: Reno Events Center, Reno, Nevada
Promoter: Golden Boy/Let’s Get It On Promotions
The fight: Jose Sandoval, 0-0, vs. Andrew Rempp, 1-2-1, 0 KOs

San Francisco featherweight Jose Sandoval is making his debut in a four rounder. At this point, there is not much to say about him. However, the opponent, Andrew Rempp (1-2-1 with 0 KOs) makes me wonder if anyone checked in him at the gym or perhaps the other job he has been working since his last fight in December of 2009. Rempp started his career with a TKO in one loss in August of 2008. He followed that up with a draw with Johnny Mancilla in February of the next year. Rempp’s first win came in July of 2009, a unanimous four round decision over Jose Pacheco. That loss for Pacheco was the second of what is now and possibly forever an eight fight losing streak. Rempp lost his last bout, a rematch with Mancilla in December of 2009.

Conclusion: This is a mismatch simply due to inactivity and the fact it would appear Rempp is just not a very good fighter. Mancilla shut him out except for one round on one judges’ card in the return match. However, this is a debut. Rempp has 13 pro rounds to none in this fight, a distinct edge. Logic says the kid wins but you never know with debuts.

Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV
Promoter: Leon Margules (Warriors Boxing)
The Fight: Abraham Han 12-0 with 10 KOs vs. Taronze Washington 14-14 with 7 KO wins and 4 KO losses.

Han has a kickboxing, wrestling and boxing background. As a pro coming out of El Paso, TX he has faced developmental opposition. He had a bit of a slow start to his pro career, fighting only once in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Right now, we know he understands how to fight but he has yet to face a true gatekeeper. It’s early yet.

“Yory Boy” Campas.

Conclusion: This should not last long. I understand seasoning and obviously Washington is a favorite win of somebody but this fighter at age 31 is a knockout waiting to happen again and as such, a risk.


You can email Gabriel at maxgmontoya@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gabriel_montoya and catch him on each Monday’s episode of “The Next Round” with Steve Kim or tune into hear him live on Thursdays at 5-8 PM PST when he co-hosts the BlogTalk radio show Leave-It-In-The-Ring.com. Gabriel is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

* Special Thanks
To
MaxBoxing.




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