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Weekend Preview: Alexander-Urango on HBO

Fighters Network
04
Mar

FRIDAY

MARTIN HONORIO vs. WILTON HILARIO
Rounds / weight class: 12 rounds / lightweights
Location: Temecula, Calif.
Television: ESPN2
The backdrop: Honorio (27-4-1, 14 KOs) solidified his contender status by easily outpointing then-unbeaten John Molina in a 10-round fight in November, a significant upset. The Mexican won eight rounds on two cards and nine on the third. Honorio has won three straight since Roberto Guerrero KO’d him in one round in 2007. Hilario (12-0-1, 9 KOs) is stepping up in class. The strong-punching Dominican, who lives in St. Louis Park, Minn., has fought almost exclusively in the Midwest.
Also fighting: Rico Ramos vs. Cecilio Santos, 8 rounds, junior featherweights; Mike Dallas Jr. vs. Fabian Luque, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; John Molina vs. Ricardo Medina, 8 rounds.
Rating the card: C. Honorio probably won’t have too much trouble with Hilario. However, the Dominican’s apparent power adds some intrigue. Ramos (14-0, 8 KOs) is a fighter to watch.

SATURDAY

DEVON ALEXANDER vs. JUAN URANGO
Rounds / weight class: 12 rounds / junior welterweights (title unification)
Location: Uncasville, Conn.
Television: HBO
The backdrop: Alexander (19-0, 12 KOs) delivered a break-through victory when he stopped Junior Witter to win a 140-pound title last August. The St. Louis, Mo., product, only 23, has all the tools to remain a major player in and around his weight for a long time. Getting past Urango (22-2-1, 17 KOs) won’t be easy, though. The Florida-based Colombian is as tough as they come, a relentless brawler who overwhelms most opponents. He has lost only to Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto, the latter at an unfamiliar 147 pounds. He’s coming off a 11th-round TKO over Randall Bailey in August.
Also fighting: Derric Rossy vs. Zack Page, rematch, 12 rounds, heavyweights; Steve Forbes vs. Harrison Cuello, 10 rounds, junior welterweights.
Rating the card: B. The contrasting styles of the main event fighters – and their elite status – should make for an interesting fight.



VIC DARCHINYAN vs. RODRIGO GUERRERO
Rounds / weight class: 12 rounds / junior bantamweights
Location: Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Television: Showtime
The backdrop: Darchinyan (33-2-1, 27 KOs) bounced back from his unexpected loss to Joseph Agbeko at 118 pounds by stopping Tomas Rojas in two rounds to retain his 115-pound titles. The fierce Armenian-born Austrailian said he’ll move up to 118 again if he doesn’t get a rematch with Nonito Donaire, who stopped him in 2007. Guerrero (13-1-1, 9 KOs) has never met the likes of Darchinyan. He outpointed one-time contender Luis Maldonado last July but Maldonado was coming off KO losses to Donaire and Fernando Montiel.
Also fighting: Leonardo Zappavigna vs. Fernando Angulo, 12 rounds, lightweights.
Rating the card: C+. Darchinyan is fun to watch under any circumstances but this shouldn’t’ be much of a fight.

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