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| Butcher is a very promising flyweight |
Iain Butcher (2-0, 0 KO's) Flyweight
Age - 19
Boxrec Ranking - Currently unranked
Notable win(s) - None so far
Facing and Where? - Richard Voros (3-4, 1 KO) @ Sports Centre, Wishaw.
What's he all about? - Not many people will know a lot about this kid, but I've heard some good things about him in his two fights so far. They haven't been against the best opposition in flyweight journeymen Anwar Alfadli and Darren Pryce, but Butcher hasn't dropped a round in either fight and has boxed well off the back foot. He doesn't have a stoppage on his record, but in the fight Alfadli, he did score a first round knockdown. Not a massive step up in class here against a Hungarian fighter, who has won his last two, but against debutant's.
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| Contreras has punched his way through nine fights |
Age - 21
Boxrec Ranking - 245 in the World, 13 in USA.
Notable win(s) - 19/08/2011 KO 5 Manuel Sarabia @ Omega Products International, Corona, California.
03/12/2012 KO 4 Juan Sandoval @ Honda Center, Anaheim.
Facing and Where? - Daniel Quevedo (13-12-2, 8 KO's) @ Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, California.
What's he all about? - This big punching southpaw from Riverside, California is quickly becoming a fan favourite with his hard hitting style and on current form looks ready to be a serious contender in the future. Became the first man to stop Sandoval last time out with a devastating stoppage, very impressive considering the opponent had taken 17-0 Mikayl Arreola the distance before that, and also Abner Cotto early in his career. Another tough looking fight for Contreras here as he faces a guy stopped just once in his career, which was last time out against former world flyweight champion Eric Morel. Taken the likes of Leo Santa Cruz and Yonhy Perez the distance, so this looks like a good learning fight for the unbeaten prospect.
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| Vargas is starting to step up |
Age - 22
Boxrec Ranking - 8 in the World, 5 in the USA.
Notable win(s) - 08/04/2011 RTD 1 Vivian Harris @ Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada.
08/07/2011 KO 2 Walter Estrada @ Buffalo Bill's Star Arena, Primm, Nevada.
17/09/2011 SD 10 Josesito Lopez @ MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Facing and Where? - Lanardo Tyler (25-6-2, 15 KO's) @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.
What's he all about? - Vargas is a Mayweather protege and hottly tipped for a big pro career, although he nearly lost his unbeaten record last time out against the in form Josestio Lopez on the Mayweather-Ortiz undercard, sneaking a decision. He is a much better fighter than he showed on the night and I think we'll put it down to nerves. Before that he had been looking excellent form and tonight he headlines ShoBox in Vegas, so will be out to impress. Tyler has never been stopped and recently gone the distance with Wale Omotoso and Kevin Bizier, therefore Vargas needs to be on his game most definitely.
Saturday 25/02/12
Luke Blackledge (7-0, 2 KO's) Light Heavyweight
Age - 21
Boxrec Ranking - 231 in the World, 22 in the UK.
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| Blackledge is being tipped for a fight with Rocky Fielding |
Facing and Where? - Robert Studzinski (1-5, 1 KO) @ Sports Centre, Oldham.
What's he all about? - This fighter came to my notice when he beat Tyson Fury's young cousin Phill on the Fury v Pajkic undercard, and demonstrated some very solid boxing skills to take all of the rounds on the referee's scorecard. He followed it up just over a month later with another points win, and seems to be getting some good rounds in. Promoted by Steve Wood he provides great shows for fans in the North West, this talented young fighter still has a lot of work, but has done well in seven fights so far. Here he faces Welsh based Pole Studzinski, who's a pretty tough kid, but has been stopped by some pretty average fighters in the past, including a debutant last November.
Hugo Centeno Jr (11-0, 6 KO's) Welterweight
Age - 21
Boxrec Ranking - 257 in the World, 50 in the USA.
Notable win(s) - 21/04/2011 UD 4 Jovanni Rubio @ Orange County Faigrounds, Costa Mesa, California.
04/11/2011 UD 6 Hector Orozco @ Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California.
Facing and Where? - Octavio Narvaez (7-10-1, 4 KO's) @ Oceanview Pavilion, Port Hueneme, California.
What's he all about? - This tall welterweight is a talented fighter from the current hotbed of Boxing Oxnard, California and did exceptionally well as an amateur. I haven't seen a great deal of his fights, but he has boxed well in his most recent bouts and got some good rounds under his belt last time out against the tough David Lopez. Narvaez hasn't fought for over a year and did start to look disinterested in the sport towards the start of last year. He has however taken much experienced fighters than Centeno Jr the distance.
Jack Culcay (10-0, 6 KO's) Light Middleweight
Age - 26
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| Culcay |
Boxrec Ranking - 102 in the World, 1 in Germany.
Notable win(s) - 31/07/2010 TKO 4 Ionut Ilie @ 02 World Arena, Hamburg.
19/11/2010 UD 8 Alexey Ribchev @ Universum Gym, Hamburg.
03/12/2011 KO 1 Giammario Grassellini @ Hartwall Arena, Helsinki.
Facing and Where? - Salvatore Annunziata (15-5-4, 3 KO's) @ Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart.
What's he all about? - This Ecuadorian based in Germany was a 2009 World Amateur Gold Medallist and has looked very impressive as a pro so far. He's done 10 rounds already in his short career, and last time out seriously impressed by knocking out Grassellini in a round. Here he faces another Italian opponent in southpaw in Annunziata, who has taken German prospects Marcos Nader and Dominik Britsch the distance in the past. Culcay has got some serious knockout power, but the amateur pedigree also backs him up.
Craig Evans (5-0, 1 KO) Super Featherweight
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| Evans needs to get more active |
Age - 22
Boxrec Ranking - 407 in the World, 21 in the UK.
Notable win(s) - 16/07/2011 TD 5 Scott Moises @ Echo Arena, Liverpool.
Facing and Where? - Marc Callaghan (19-28-1, 4 KO's) @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.
What's he all about? - Really talented Welsh boxer coming through, who trains with Lee Beard, but does need a lot more fights to progress. Not been seen since October and has had a relatively stop start to his career so far. Is full of class and is yet to lose a round as a pro, also been hearing that his power is starting to improve. Callaghan is awkward and has plenty of experience, so don't expect an easy night for Evans.
Frankie Gavin (11-0, 8 KO's) Welterweight
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| Has Gavin got his focus back? |
Age - 26
Boxrec Ranking - 57 in the World, 6 in the UK.
Notable win(s) - 19/02/2011 TKO 7 Michael Lomax @ York Hall, Bethnal Green.
21/05/2011 UD 12 Young Muttley @ 02 Arena, London.
16/07/2011 SD 12 Curtis Woodhouse @ Echo Arena, Liverpool.
Facing and Where? - Kevin McIntyre (30-8, 9 KO's) @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.
What's he all about? - "Funtime" is back after a very bad few months, which saw him pull out of a fight at very late notice and end his short training spell with the Tibbs camp in London. To be fair he has had some problems outside the ring and hasn't really settled down, which is why he struggled to get going in his last two fights, where he nearly got beat by Woodhouse. He's back living and training in Birmingham now, and hopefully that will spark him back into life, he's had a seriously long amount of time outside the ring. McIntyre is a former British champion and was recently the Celtic champion, which certainly makes this a really interesting bout, Gavin will have to be on his game.
Lewis Rees (2-0, 2 KO's) Light Welterweight
Age - 22
Boxrec Ranking - Currently Unranked
Notable win(s) - 21/05/2011 TKO 2 Sid Razak @ O2 Arena, London.
Facing and Where? - Tony Pace (1-3, 0 KO) @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.
What's he all about? - This has the makings of a really good All Welsh fight as both guys are talented fighters, but obviously the focus has to be on Rees, who has made an impressive start to his pro career. He was a really talented amateur, winning Welsh titles, but like Craig Evans who I've spoken about, he has been very inactive and hasn't been seen since September. This is going to be a competitive bout as Pace is tough and has gone the distance with Ronnie Heffron.
Liam Smith (8-0-1, 4 KO's) Welterweight
Age - 23
Boxrec Ranking - 236 in the World, 18 in the UK.
Notable win(s) - 17/09/2011 KO 3 Barrie Jones @ Echo Arena, Liverpool.
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| Will Beefy have an opponent on Saturday night? |
Facing and Where? - TBA @ Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff.
What's he all about? - "Beefy" was supposed to fight Laszlo Komjathi this weekend, but the Hungarian pulled out today (Friday) with an injury and it leaves Smith in a bit of doubt. It's disappointing for Liam because he has been in really good form of late and seems to have really stepped up since joining Gallagher's Gym along with his brothers. He's stopped his last three opponents with this busy and powerful style, and seems to be really improving at the moment.
Christopher Pearson (2-0, 1 KO) Middleweight
Age - 22
Boxrec Ranking - 602 in the World, 119 in the USA.
Notable win(s) - 06/01/2012 UD 4 Cleven Ishe @ Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California.
Facing and Where? - Jeremy Wood (1-4, 1 KO) @ Scottrade Center, St Louis, Missouri.
What's he all about? - Good middleweight prospect who I've already featured this year, where he had to work a little bit hard for a four round points win over Ishe. I watched his debut and he looked a seriously good fighter, stopping the man in the other corner in a round. He's got some good amateur experience under his belt and his promoters seem to really want to give him plenty of big bill experience. His opponent Wood hasn't been stopped since his debut and has gone the distance with two unbeaten fighters in that run.
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