SAN DIEGO – September 14, 2012 – Boxing fans are confronted with a packed dance card on Saturday night. They will need all the tools of the trade: a DVR, TiVo or the like with plenty of space; a remote with fresh batteries; two screens; eyes on both sides of their heads.
It’s a big fight weekend for Mexican Independence Day and all the action is taking place in Las Vegas a mile apart, while airing live on television at the same time.
____________________________________________
Read also: Boxing schedule weigh-ins update: Chavez vs. Martinez, undercard fighters make weight for Saturday
____________________________________________
Any other night, all attention would be on the MGM Grand Arena, hosting headliners Saul “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico (40-0-1, 29 KOs) and Californian Josesito Lopez (30-4-0, 19 KOs). But the Thomas and Mack Arena is hosting the biggest HBO pay-per-view of the year, Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez.
The two fighters weighed in a pound apart in the super welterweight division. Alvarez hit the 154-pound limit; Lopez weighed in at 153 pounds. Alvarez is naturally the much larger boxer. Lopez came up one weight class to welterweight to fight Victor Ortiz at 147-pounds, and now he’s coming up another weight class. Lopez’s surprising win over Ortiz won him the right to face Alvarez, but Alvarez is no Ortiz. He’s a much harder puncher with more weight behind him. He is a dangerous combination of patience and determination. The weigh-in only reinforced the impression this fight seems a bit of a mismatch, but Lopez will give it all he’s got and there is always the potential for a surprise.
Canelo Alvarez hits the the scale. Photo: AP/Julie Jacobson.
The weigh-in was quite civilized and friendly, with only a brief staged showdown. These fighters have mutual respect and although Alvarez is the heavy favorite, it should be enjoyable to watch.
This program has some terrific undercard matchups, on the whole better than the other package. Eric Morel and Leo Santa Cruz both weighed in at the 118-pound bantamweight limit. Jesus Soto Karass and Marcos Maidana both made the welterweight limit of 147 pounds. In the undercard match at featherweight, Jhonny Gonzalez weighed in at 125 pound, and Daniel Ponce de Leon one half pound heavier.
This is only the second fight at welterweight for Maidana. He lost his previous welterweight fight. Is the weight class too high for him? Even Maidana says he doesn’t know. Meanwhile, Soto Karass is coming down in weight from 154 pounds.
Josesito Lopez came in one pound less than the 154 pound limit. Photo: AP/Julie Jacobson.
The entire card airs on Showtime starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time/6 p.m. Pacific Time. The Alvarez/Lopez matchup is likely to get more viewers because it airs free to Showtime subscribers, a much lower price tag than the marquee fight. For additional motivation for both the fighters and the fans, viewers watching the broadcast will be able to text in their vote for the “KO of the Night” award, a $100,000 bonus given to the fighter who scores the best knockout. The winner will be announced on air before the end of the broadcast.
We will follow all the action here on Communities with a live chat covering both cards, starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time/6 p.m. Pacific. Watching or not, boxing head or newcomer, all are welcome to join us ringside and enjoy the evening with Communities. We’ll give you the inside information and post photos as they are available for those not able to watch. We want to get your commentary in the mix too.
Join Boxing fans tonight as we flip the channels and Chat Boxing!:
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
Please credit “Gayle Falkenthal for Communities at WashingtonTimes.com” when quoting from or linking to this story.
Copyright © 2012 by Falcon Valley Group
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
