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By David A. Avila
When Josesito Lopez bumps gloves with Cody Crowley before engaging in their expected slugfest, no titles will be given to the winner nor promises of a future world championship bid.
It’s simply fighter versus fighter.
Canada’s Crowley (20-0) faces Southern California’s Lopez (38-8) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday April 16, knowing full well that their welterweight clash on Showtime pay-per-view will set the table for the night. Action is expected and action is almost guaranteed.
It’s not the main event, but one of those matchups devised by some evil genius to assure that fans are not left with a bitter taste should the main event between Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas fall flat.
Consider it done.
Whenever Lopez (pictured) enters the prize ring the fighter known as “Riverside Rocky” - a nickname given by master PR man Bill Caplan – proceeds to excite or surprise fans with some kind of momentous event.
Lopez, 37, is one of the longest active fighters in the sport. He laced up for the first time in February 2003. I remember seeing the skinny former cross-country runner from Rubidoux High making his pro debut at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He was not expected to win by the promoter Top Rank that night, but won by knockout.
That debut win describes Lopez’s career.
For 19 years Lopez has been facing opposition that he was not expected to defeat and would emerge victorious. Riverside Rocky indeed.
Lopez was given that moniker after defeating Victor Ortiz who had just lost his welterweight world title to Floyd Mayweather. It was expected that Ortiz would handily defeat Lopez at the Staples Center but the Riverside fighter shocked fans with a stoppage by breaking Ortiz’s jaw.
After that win Lopez was tossed in against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a super welterweight fight. For a few rounds he hung in there but was obviously overmatched against the bigger and stronger foe.
Promoters felt sorry for sacrificing Lopez to Canelo, so they decided to give him an easier fight. Next up was Marcos Maidana. This is not a joke. Lopez went from Victor Ortiz to Canelo Alvarez to Marcos Maidana.
For five rounds Lopez was out-fighting Maidana at the old Home Depot Center until the Argentine bomber connected with one of his bludgeoning sledgehammers. At the time, Maidana was not well known and nearly 8,000 Lopez supporters filled the stands. The win over Lopez set the stage for Maidana’s two fights with Floyd Mayweather.
That’s been Lopez stamp on the boxing game. Somehow, he’s always right in the middle of things.
Now Lopez faces 29-year-old Crowley a hardnosed fighter based in Las Vegas who hasn’t been given easy tests but passed with ease. The Canadian was last seen beating up Uzbekistan’s undefeated Kudratillo Abdukakhorov at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Sound familiar?
Crowley and Lopez are two of a kind. They fight and don’t care who is in front of them. Expect a rumble of epic proportions.
Of course, the main event features Errol Spence Jr. against Yordenis Ugas in what should be an interesting battle in the welterweight unification clash. Ugas defeated the great Manny Pacquiao for the WBA version back in August. Pacquiao announced his retirement soon after the fight.
Early in England
Undefeated welterweight Conor Benn versus Chris Van Heerden headlines the Matchroom Boxing card on Saturday April 16, at Manchester, England. DAZN will stream the card at 11 a.m. (Pacific Time).
Every time Benn enters the ring, he visibly improves his fight game. In his last outing the son of Nigel Benn crushed former champion Chris Algieri in the fourth round. It was the kind of Mike Tyson outcome that convinces viewers and fans to pay attention.
Also, WBC super featherweight titlist Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner makes the first defense of her title against Argentina’s Edith Matthysse who did not make weight so cannot win the title.
America’s Baumgardner captured the belt when she knocked out Terri Harper in the fourth round with a single right.
Fights to Watch
Sat. 11 a.m. DAZN Conor Benn (20-0) vs Chris Van Heerden (28-2-1); Alycia Baumgardner (11-1) vs Edith Matthysse (17-11-1).
Sat. 6 p.m. Showtime ppv Errol Spence Jr. (27-0) vs Yordenis Ugas (27-4); Cody Crowley (20-0) vs Josesito Lopez (38-8); Isaac Cruz (22-2-1) vs Yuri Gamboa (30-4).
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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