Weekend Boxing Preview: Berto-Quintana Highlights Strong Weekend

Friday, April 9

Simphiwe Norgqayi (16-0 6 KO) vs. Malik Bouziane (13-1 1 KO) (IBF 115 lb. title)

For starters your read that right. Bouziane has one knockout on his ledger. Outside of that Norgay should win this fight rather easily. 

If you known his name it's because he beat Jorge Arce in his last fight pretty easily. For his first defense he is going on the road to his opponents home country, in a non-televised fight.

(www.boxing1.de)
Jan Zaveck (28-1 16 KO) vs. Rodolfo Ezequiel Martinez (36-3-1 12 KO) (IBF 147 lb. championship)

Unlike the other 147 pound title fight this weekend, this one is a total joke. Zaveck is a weak titleholder and is facing an even weaker opponent.

Martinez has not beaten anyone of note to warrant this shot at the title. He recently lost to Edvan Dos Santos Barros (10-9-1 overall) who is 2-7-1 in his last 10. He's also  lost to Keith Thurman and Alexis Camacho in that span.

How the IBF can claim Zaveck is one of the top welterweights with all the good ones running around is a total joke.

Audley Harrison (29-4 16 KO) vs. Michael Sprott (32-14 17 KO) (Heavyweight)

This is a rematch for the European title. Harrison is looking to cash in on winning Prizefighter .

Sprott knocked Audley out in their first fight but is only 2-4 since then. His fights have been horrible to watch and this shouldn’t be much different. Hopefully the winner of this fight gets nowhere near a heavyweight title.

Saturday, April 10

(HBO)
Andre Berto (25-0 19 KO) vs. Carlos Quintana (27-2 21 KO) (WBC 147 lb. Title)

Saturday sees a very good card that was put together by HBO. Berto will be facing another crafty left hander in Quintana.

You have to give Berto credit for taking this assignment after his life and death struggle against Luis Collazo. Quintana has shown flashes of being a top welterweight but always seems to fall short.

Quintana has taken the 0 from Paul Williams and Joel Julio, and he would love to add Berto to that list. If Quintana shows up in shape and ready to go this fight could be a toss up. This fight is a step down from Berto-Mosley but still a very good fight.


Celestino Caballero (33-2 23 KOs) vs. Daud Yordan (25-0 19 KOs) (WBA interim 126 lb. title)

This is the fight I am really looking forward to this weekend.

Caballero is a top 10 fighter pound-for-pound. Yordan is unknown but looked very good for two rounds against Robert Guerrero.

Many people think this is going to be a toss-up fight but Caballero should pull this one out. I think that he is simply the better talent and he is moving up to 126 so he can get a piece of Juan Manuel Lopez.

Caballero is too focused to let this one slip away. Word is if he wins he will go on to fight Yuriorkis Gamboa.

The 126 pound division is heating up even more.

Guillermo Rigondeaux (5-0 4 KO) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (30-7-3 21 KO) (122 lb.)

Speaking of the Cubans, Rigondeaux continues his fast climb up the ladder. He will be facing former title challenger Lopez.

Lopez is 0-2-1 in his last three and is past his prime, but this is a solid step up for Rigondeaux. His camp realizes the time is now for the 29 year old.

This card starts at 10:30 p.m. on HBO.

(ESPN2)
Orlando Lora (26-0-1 18 KO) vs. David Estrada (23-6 14 KO) (147 lb.)

For whatever reason ESPN decided to air Friday Night Fights on a stacked Saturday instead of Friday. At any rate this card isn’t very solid. The main event pits the largely unknown Lora against Estrada.

Lora has not faced anyone of note while Estrada has faced every notable in the 147 pound division. His losses are to Ishe Smith, Shane Mosley, Kermit Cintron, Andre Berto, Jesus Soto Karass, and Luis Carols Abregu.

Do not be surprised if Estrada walks out with a win. I cant find one name on Lora’s record that I know.

Victor Fonseca (17-0 9 KO) vs. Andre Wilson (11-3-1 9 KO) (122 lb.)

Fonseca is also a prospect but he is a better one. He has fought and beaten Al Seeger, Rey Lopez, and Marco Pastrana. Wilson is 0-2 in his last two fights but is another solid step for Fonseca.

This card starts at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

(FSN)
Mark Melligen (17-2 13 KO) vs. Norberto Gonzalez (18-1 12 KO) (147 lb.)

This fight is a very intriguing one. Melligen was on a roll, winning 10 straight without a loss since 2007 before finally losing to Michael Rosales last year.

He quickly rebounded with a knockout win over an undefeated prospect. Gonzalez has beaten everyone he has faced except top line prospect Antwone Smith. Both can pop and this could turn out to be a decent scrap.

Lamont Peterson (27-1 13 KO) vs. Damian Fuller (30-6-1 14 KO) (140 lb.)

Peterson is looking to get back on his feet after the loss to Bradley, while Fuller has lost his last two. This will also be Fuller's first fight since 2008. Peterson should win this one with ease.

Check your listings to see if this is airing live. If airing live it starts at 10:00 p.m.

Cristian Mijares (38-6-2 17 KO) vs. Francisco Arce (30-5-2 21 KO) (115lb.)

After looking totally washed up, Mijares has beaten some no-hopers in his last two. Although Arce isn’t the best around he is a fringe contender and will prove if Mijares has lost it.

Since losing to now IBF titlist Simphiwe Nongqayi he has won two against no-hopers. This fight should be interesting and will prove if Mijares still has what it takes.

NOTES:

Saturday
HBO 10:00 p.m. Mayweather-Mosley 24/7

WBC No. 8 heavyweight Manuel Quezada was upset last night against journeymen Jason Garven.

It appears Timothy Bradley will fight against Marcos Madiana in his next fight.