From Dan Rafael: • Things in boxing can change swiftly. Take, for example, the makeup of the May 2 Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao HBO PPV undercard, for which Top Rank and Golden Boy are responsible. Steven Luevano will still defend his featherweight belt against Bernabe Concepcion in a Top Rank fight and red-hot junior middleweight James Kirkland will still be on in a Golden Boy fight (possibly against Michael Walker). The fourth slot was supposed to pit a Top Rank fighter against a Golden Boy fighter. The plan had been to match undefeated junior welterweights Mike Alvarado (Top Rank) against Lucas Matthysse (Golden Boy). But that fight isn't going to happen, at least not on this PPV card. Top Rank wants to keep Alvarado on the televised part of the card, but won't get its way. Instead, Top Rank and Golden Boy will each put on a prospect in a four-rounder. At least that's what Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told me Saturday morning. Top Rank will go with middleweight Matvey Korobov (the 2008 Russian Olympian who I can't get enough of). Schaefer said he'll likely put on junior middleweight Erislandy Lara, the exciting Cuban defector and 2005 world amateur champion. Golden Boy and Arena Box Promotions co-promote Lara. But Schaefer could also use another of Golden Boy's prospects, perhaps lightweight Adrien Broner or heavyweight Deontay Wilder, both of whom fight Saturday night in Cincinnati. I feel bad for Alvarado, who is ready for the bright lights of a big PPV card. I know Top Rank wanted him on, but it's out of TR's hands.
Yep, but won't be on the televised HBO broadcast in the States. Hopefully Sky will show his fight in the UK.
Luevano/Conception is a nice addition to the card. Solid stuff. Kirkland on the undercard against Mike Walker is okay-ish I guess. I'd prefer something more "oomph" ish for Kirkland but beggers can't be in choosers. Korobov and Lara are exciting prospects and I'm glad the public will get a better look at them. That said, I'd perfer to see Mike Alvarado on a showcase fight of some kind.
Another crappy undercard. Concepcion-Luevano is the only fight with a chance of being competitive. I don't know anything about Walker, but, I do know that with a possible title shot for Kirkland on June 27th against Dzinziruk in the works, they ain't putting him in with anyone dangerous. Is this really going to be much better than the Pac-Oscar card? 3 of the 5 televised fights are going to be with guys with basically no chance of being in a competitive fight. And personally, I don't care to watch Luevano. The Santiago fight aside, the dude is boring. Hopefully Antillon the night before gets put in with a decent opponent, but, I find that highly unlikely as well.
I would like to see prospect Daud Yordan from the 17 508 Islands Archipelago Indonesia he looks exciting. Also 7101 Islands Philippines already has Concepcion.Malaysia got any boxers?