Avila Perspective Chap 370 West Coast Boxing, Ali Act, and DAZN

Temperatures range between 80 and 100 degrees on the West Coast and boxing cards are busting out from Los Angeles to Las Vegas this weekend.

Three shows take place on back-to-back days.

First, DMG Promotions presents a lengthy fight card called “Night of Champions” at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, Calif. on Friday March 27. Heavyweights are the main event and pits Andrii Novytskyi (15-0) against Alexander Flores (21-5-1) in a scheduled 10-round fight. Triller and Fox Deportes will televise the card that begins at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, at the same location, ProBox.TV arrives with its own high level brand of prizefighting. Just last week we saw Lester Martinez perform on a ProBox card in San Bernardino. This time they present featherweight contenders Bryan Acosta (20-2) against Ronny Rios (34-5) in a 10-round main event at Thunder Studios, in Long Beach, Calif.

The ProBoxTV boxing show can be watched on YouTube or Facebook or the web site.

One interesting fighter to watch is Dominic Salcido (18-5) who has been away for almost 13 years. He will be fighting hardnose veteran Cameron Krael (21-29-3) of Las Vegas in a super welterweight clash.

Salcido, 42, was a regular on the Thompson Boxing shows in the Inland Empire beginning in 2003. Back then he was a super feather with very fast hands and feet. He also had good power. In many ways he was like a California version of England’s Amir Khan.

His first loss was to Olympian Vicente Escobedo in 2008. His sister Marilyn Salcido also was a professional boxer and very good.

 

Las Vegas

A showdown for the WBC super welterweight pairs Sebastian Fundora against former welterweight champion Keith Thurman on Saturday March 28, at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Amazon Prime pay-per-view will stream the TGB Promotions card.

Fundora (23-1-1, 15 Kos) stands 6-foot, 5-inches tall and can hit an opponent from across the boxing ring. Thurman (31-1, 23 Kos) has the job of trying to figure out how to defeat him and take the world title away.

It’s been seven years since Thurman last held the WBA welterweight title and lost it to the great Manny Pacquiao in July 2019. And now he needs to find a way to get past that extremely long arm span of Fundora who has the power to turn his lights out.

Thurman, 37, at one time was one of the best fighters in the business but injuries and an assortment of reasons have kept him on the sidelines. He was supposed to fight Tim Tszyu for the title, but injury forced him out. That’s how Fundora grabbed the title as a replacement for Thurman and now here we are.

“This is a great man, a great champion. And were making a great fight. He made it happen,” said Thurman adding that Fundora could have fought someone else after their initial fight date was postponed due to an injury. “Sebastian Fundora has had some great wins in the last two years. He has evolved to become a greater champion than he was before. That’s what it’s all about.”

According to Las Vegas odds Fundora is -450 to win by decision.

“Expect the ‘Towering Inferno’ to burn Las Vegas down again. That’s all,” said Fundora when asked what to expect in the title fight on Saturday.

Also on the Las Vegas card, is Brian Mendoza who is the only fighter to defeat Fundora and he did it by knockout three years ago in Carson, Calif. Mendoza (23-4, 17 Kos) fights Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez (11-1, 8 KOs) in a super welter showdown. Tellez was upset by Germany’s Abass Baraou last summer. Both Mendoza and Tellez need a win to climb up the ladder.

Promoter Tom Brown, said that aside from the Fundora-Thurman fight other super welterweight fights will provide sterling action.

“It’s the hottest division in boxing. I believe Sebastian is the best super welter in the world today,” Brown said.

 

Ali Revival Act

US House of Representatives passed the Muhammad Ali Revival act this week by a large margin. Next step is the US Senate.

Sadly, the bill actually reverses many of the items proposed by the original Muhammad Alu Act that was sponsored by the late John McCain in May 2000. First, in the original Ali Act it was stated that promoters could not also be managers for a fighter they represent. This new act erases that element. Now fighters can be taken advantage by promoters acting as manager and promoter.

Congress was fooled because it was sponsored by the widow of the late Muhammad Ali who only knows it bears the name of her husband. It was also sponsored by Mike Tyson which is puzzling.

Dana White is one of the main sponsors of the act and is the head of Zuffa, which is part of a joint venture with Sela and TKO Holdings, a publicly traded company based in Las Vegas. Basically, Zuffa is making sure those invested in their stock get their money after investing.

The Act promised $200 a round minimum which is basically about $50 dollars more a round than in most states. But what the Act doesn’t say is the top end will be controlled by Zuffa to more or less emulate the UFC model in MMA. Just last year many former UFC fighters sued and won an anti-trust lawsuit against UFC for more than $350 million for taking away the fighter’s right to seek higher purses elsewhere.

The Revival Act will now go to the U.S. Senate.

 

Golden Boy and DAZN

Golden Boy Promotions announced Tuesday a new multi-year deal was signed with DAZN.

“We’re firing on all cylinders right now,” said Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. “No one builds champions like we do. It’s a special formula mixed with a fighter’s talent, discipline and star power. As we approach a decade with DAZN, we’re going to keep setting the tone for the sport in 2026 and shaping the future of boxing.”

The signing by Golden Boy now gives DAZN partnerships with Top Rank, Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions and gives them a stranglehold on pro boxing.

“This renewed agreement strengthens our shared commitment to growing the sport globally and giving fans unmatched access to unforgettable fight nights. We’re excited for what comes next,” said Peter Oliver, CEO of Global Sports, DAZN.

 

Fights to Watch

Fri. Fox Deportes 6 p.m. Andrii Novytskyi (15-0) vs Alexander Flores (21-5-1).

Sat. ProBox.tv/YouTube 3 p.m.  Bryan Acosta (20-2) against Ronny Rios (34-5).

Sat. Amazon ppv 5 p.m. Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1) vs Keith Thurman (31-1); Yoenis Tellez (11-1) vs Brian Mendoza (23-4).

To comment on this article in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE.