Jorge Arce: Rating This Weekend's Fights on Their Explosive Potential

One week after Mayweather-Ortiz, and it seems like boxing took a hiatus.  With all the promoters and weight classes out there, you have to wonder how this is possible.

Anyway, it's time for this weekend's edition of rating the fights, and though there are slim pickings, there are still some fights worth watching that will be televised.

So with that said, here's a breakdown of the rankings.

1 star = Only use this as an aide to cure insomnia. Or a method of torture.

2 stars = Drink enough alcohol and this fight might entertain you.

3 stars = Decent fight. Just like most matinee movies, you won't remember it three hours after it happened, but you'll enjoy yourself while your watching it.

4 stars = Good fight. Something that will keep you on your toes every once in a while, and you'll have a smile on your face the next morning as you remember it.

5 stars = You are glad you saw this fight. It had a little bit of everything, and it will get you through Monday at work when you wonder why you need your paycheck.  It might even be something you brag about watching.

6 stars = They don't get much better than this. Your voice is a little hoarse from all the yelling, but it was worth it. It'll be hard getting to sleep, and by tomorrow you will have read every scrap of post-fight news you can find on the web.

7 stars = They don't get any better than this! Ever! Forget sleep; you won't be getting much if you get any at all. You will be refreshing news pages for new articles and breaking information, and by Friday your voice still won't sound normal.

With that out of the way, let's move on...

Vincente Escobedo vs. Rocky Juarez

This fight actually seems like a throwback to the days when Telefutura, the station that is broadcasting this fight, put on competitive matches.

Of course, this was before the program was canceled and then put together again with only Golden Boy Promotions fighters fitting the bill.

Rocky Juarez is known to most hardcore boxing fans as a man who has had multiple title shots and never won.  He was fun enough to watch, but why he got so many chances I'll never know.

Now after a four-fight losing streak in which he lost to some less-than-elite names, he faces Escobedo, who comes off a win.

Hey, that's boxing for you.

The fight itself should be fun, but don't expect a knockout from either guy.  Both are former Olympians, so their boxing is pretty decent.  Plus we should see a desperate Juarez come out for a win, which always makes fights a little more interesting.

Overall: 4 stars

This fight can be seen Friday on Telefutura. 

Jorge Arce vs. Simphiwe Nongqayi

This fight should be a travesty. Nongqayi is coming off a knockout loss in mid-2010.

It should be, but Arce isn't the fighter he once was, and Nongqayi holds a win over Arce from 2009.

Arce may have turned back the clock when he fought Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.  for one of the many titles that boxing now seems to have, but it doesn't change the fact that he has faded.

He's just been in too many wars.  It doesn't seem like Arce can be in a bad fight if he tried.  He could probably get cut and have a back-and-forth brawl with a punching bag.

He may only be 32, but Arce is reaching the end.  Even if he beats Nongqayi, this should be the fight of the weekend.

Overall: 4 stars

This fight can be seen Saturday on Fox Sports or Fox Sports Espanol.

Alexander Dimitrenko vs. Michael Sprott

It seems like British heavyweights get recycled more than a bad "black eye for boxing" pun.

Sprott is the latest challenger who the promoters of Dimitrenko have trotted out to face him.  After the Eddie Chambers' loss, Dimitrenko took a massive step down in competition.

The best way to explain Sprott is to realize that he is best known for trading wins and losses with Audley Harrison and having just lost a three-round decision to Tye Fields.

This should be an easy night for Dimitrenko.

Overall: 2 stars

This fight can be seen Saturday on Sport 1 in Germany.

Dmitry Pirog vs. Gennady Martirosyan

Pirog beat Daniel Jacobs by knockout in a decent fight to win a middleweight strap.

Then he didn't fight for eight months, and when he did it was against soft opposition in his native Russia.

Again, boxing and it's screwy rules.

Anyway, he takes a step up, though not a massive one, in facing Martirosyan.

Martirosyan has only been defeated twice, but both times have been by knockout. Mix this with Pirog's punching power, and it should be a quick night for Pirog.

On the other hand, it is in Pirog's home of Russia, so the crowd should be fun, and European fights are sometimes a bit more fun than advertised.

Just because they don't have American names doesn't mean that they aren't decent fighters.

Overall: 3 stars

This can be seen Sunday on Russia TV 2.

Your Thoughts

What are your thoughts?

Any fight you are excited for?

Wishing a certain fight wasn't happening?

Let it be known in the comments below.

And as always, thanks for reading.