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Miguel Cotto Vs Canelo Alvarez: UNDERCARD REVIEW – Guillermo Rigondeaux Added!

GRBy “The Commissioner” Alan J. Kindred

This Saturday night in Las Vegas Nevada the mega-fight that needs no hype or introduction, Miguel Cotto versus Saul Alvarez, for the lineal RSR Middleweight world championship, will also feature a very strong 8 fight undercard, including a showcase fight of RSR’s #1 Pound for Pound fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux. It is unfortunate that not all of these bouts will be on the televised portion of the PPV card. Those in attendance in Las Vegas will be pleased to know that the card is solid from top to bottom.

In a 4 round Lightweight bout, Texas born, undefeated Hector “El Finito” Tanajara, 3-0, 2 KO’s will take on Jose Fabian Naranjo, 3-1-1, 1 KO, out of Mexico. Tanajara was the national amateur champion for 2015, and figures to be a Lightweight prospect to keep an eye on.

In a 4 round Heavyweight bout, Chinese born, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, Zhilei Zhang, 5-0, 3 KO’s, takes on Juan Goode, 6-2, 5 KO’s, out of Michigan. Zhang standing at 6’6, 260 pounds, will have a significant height advantage over his opponent, although Goode has a slight edge in professional experience. Zhang will be looking to make a statement in front of an American audience, wanting to prove that he is a heavyweight prospect to be reckoned with.

In a 4 round Junior Featherweight bout, highly touted Puerto Rican prospect, Alberto “El Explosivo” Machado, 11-0, 9 KO’s takes on Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey, 8-4-2, 6 KO’s, out of New Jersey. Despite Luckey’s modest record, he is battle tested and is considered a step up from most of Machado’s opponents.

In a 6 round Super Flyweight bout, we have a rare battle of undefeated prospects, as Jose Martinez, 15-0, 10 KO’s, out of Puerto Rico will take on Oscar Mojica, 8-0, 1 KO, out of Texas.

In 10 round Junior Featherweight bout, RSR World Champion and P4P #1, Guillermo Rigondeaux, 15-0, 10 KO’s, of Cuba will take on Drian Francisco, 28-3-1, 22 KO’s, of the Philippines, in a non-title showcase fight. Francisco has a decent record, but after a recent early round KO loss, is thought to be on the down side of his career. It is also a short notice fight, likely geared to have Rigondeaux look spectacular. After being off for nearly a year and having great managerial and promotional frustrations plaguing most of his career, he is entitled to a tune up if you ask me. I think most hardcore fans are just happy he is being televised live, and is getting the chance to fight. Rigondeaux is hoping to impress, looking to shake off his misgiven “boring” tag. He would like nothing more than to land a high profile, big money fight with the winner of British stars Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton’s fight.

In a 10 round Featherweight bout, which should feature good action, RSR #10 Jayson Velez, 23-0-1, 16 KO’s, out of Puerto Rico, takes on RSR #16 Ronny Rios, 24-1, 10 KO’s, out of California. The winner of this bout could set themselves up for a world title opportunity.

In a 12 round Bantamweight bout, with the IBF world title at stake, IBF world titlist and RSR #4 Randy Caballero, 22-0,13 KO’s, out of California, defend his world title against “Interim” IBF world titlist and RSR #7 Lee Haskins, 32-3, 14 KO’s, out of the United Kingdom. Caballero has been inactive for over a year, while Haskins has lost just once in his last 18 fights over 8 years. An intriguing tactical battle is expected.

In a 12 round Super Lightweight bout, with the WBC world title on the line, WBC world titlist and RSR #2, Takashi Miura, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s, out of Japan, will look to make his 5th defense of his world title against RSR #8 Francisco Vargas, 22-0-1, 16 KO’s, out of Mexico. This fight has the recipe to steal the show with a possible fight of the year type battle.

The main event is not to be out done however, as it is a PPV main event that is all but a guarantee to deliver on its promise of fireworks, action, and drama. In a 12 round Middleweight bout (Catchweight 155), with the RSR Lineal World Championship at stake (and vacant WBC world title for Alvarez only), RSR Lineal World Champion Miguel Cotto, 40-4, 33 KO’s, out of Puerto Rico, will defend his world championship for the 2nd time against RSR #1 (at 154) Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 45-1-1, 32 KO’s, out of Mexico. As well as the Lineal world championship at stake, this bout is the next big name rival fight, in a long list of rivalry fights between boxing super powers Mexico and Puerto Rico. Can it live up to great fights like Sanchez vs Gomez? That remains to be seen. No one will leave the arena or their living room unhappy if it does. An outstanding main event along with a very solid undercard make this a must see PPV for any boxing fan.

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