ESPN2 special Wednesday Night Fights on July 2nd: Mark Davis vs. Mike Farenas

Why? Because of the holiday on Friday, obviously, pinko *******s! atriot

This is actually the only televised boxing action for English speaking North American fans all week. There are no other notable cards until July 9th (another Wednesday card, this one headlined by Alfonso Gomez, on Fox Sports 1) except for three on the Australian continent and one in Russia - and none of them even more than mildly notable. Those who follow the Mexican domestic scene might be slightly excited about the Central American title bout pitting 17-0 (17) Adrian Estrella against the always fun Dante "Crazy" Jardon in his first step up - but that is only airing domestically and few north of the border are likely to have even heard of either guy.

So this is really "it". The big show this week.

...and yet of the four principles in the co-main events, three are non-Americans - who all have actually received more American TV exposure than has the single U.S. boxer in the bunch. Happy fourth! (or, er, second...)

Billy Dib is taking on Alberto Garza in chief support, and this shapes up to be a return to his championship form - which is no compliment. Dib had a very weak title run, and Garza is comparable to most of what Dib faced during it (shot Lacierva to claim the vacant belt, Eduardo Escobedo in his first defense, and Juan Antonio Rodriguez in a non-title overweight tuneup - yet clearly better than fragile Servidei with his incredibly padded zero). Based on styles, this ought to resemble those matches very closely - meaning it will be ugly, Dib will look unspectacular. Garza is a switch-hitter with sometimes very messy footwork. He is also Dib's own size, which might be important since Dib sandwiched in between his losses to Gradovich looked very poor and was held to a MD by southpaw Mike Oliver, who is much smaller. This will be fought on the inside, with a lot of tying up, time-burning jockeying for position, and liberal fouling. The result may be controversial. It will probably go the distance, unless Dib suddenly becomes a harder puncher moving up to super feather. (as Garza has been taken out a few times...)

The far more attractive pairing - and really the lone gem shining in the rough of this first week in July - is the night's main event.

Michael Farenas, the "Hammer Fist", is best remembered for his valiant back-to-back tries for a version of the WBA super featherweight title - reaching a technical draw with Takashi Uchiyama and losing a unanimous decision to Yuriorkis Gamboa five months later - proving to be quite a major handful for both champions, and knocking the latter down. Despite his world class "street cred" and being the protégé of the legendary Gerry Penalosa, however, the Filipino southpaw has yet to mount any significant heads on his trophy wall besides crafty spoiler Walter Estrada (impressive mainly because it was a first-round destruction showing off Farenas' power as he knocked Estrada out cold...although Gamboa had done exactly the same thing only months earlier, and two minutes faster...) and Nigerian journeyman Daniel Attah in a majority decision. Davis, while unknown, looms temptingly as potentially the biggest coup of Farenas' career to date.

As for Mark "Too Sharp" Davis, he is unknown and hailing from a part of the country that you don't normally associate with churning out boxing talent - but then, all of that applied to current lightweight champ Bud Crawford a little over a year ago. :deal Just saying.

Davis is a seasoned amateur who is still working out the kinks and learning on the job in transitioning into the pro game - but his ceiling is high. The kid has loads of ability - but, sadly, very little pop to go along with it. He fought mostly at lightweight and even light welter until now, though, so perhaps his punches will have more effect at 130lbs.

Stylistically, think of a young Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather. I'm serious. Not as good, of course, but he looks the part more than anyone in the game right now, IMO - and that includes supposed "Mayweather clone" Adrien Broner. Davis is far more reminiscent of PBF than Broner has ever been. He is probably quicker of hand than Broner, as well - but, again, less powerful than either Broner or the prime super featherweight Mayweather. Davis' chin has never been interrogated, and certainly not by anyone like Farenas - but against some of his past opponents he did willingly battle inside and eat a few shots for the sake of 'putting on a show', and his resistance seems okay. Farenas is more than equipped to check it for us (and shatter glass if there is any) - unless he is just completely outclassed and befuddled in a star turn coming out party for Davis...

This is just a classic, true sense of the phrase, boxer vs. puncher match up. Don't make any plans for after dark on Hump Day, and get ready for boooooooxing. :boxx (as this is the only fix you get for awhile )

 

http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=511211

Odds:

Davis 2/5
Farenas 15/8
Draw 22/1

 

Poll added.

 

Good looking prospect there, but he is green - and taking on a guy who is 8-6, so not making TV is hardly unfair. He might get some airtime though, anyway, if Dib vs. Garza or Davis vs. Farenas end very early via either KO or DQ/NC or something - being that his match is third-billed and scheduled for a TV-friendly six rounds. (half an hour including the five minute breaks for commercials)

 

Are you Pinoy? Or just because he is yet again cast in the underdog role?

He showed a lot of heart against both Uchiyama and Gamboa. :good

 

Davis (#11) vs. Farenas (#4) will be an eliminator for the vacant #2 spot in the IBF.


That means they could each be one more eliminator away from challenging either Argenis Mendez or Rances Barthelemy (pending the result of their rematch next Thursday).