MEXICAN MAULER IN TOUGH TONIGHT
Los Angeles, CA– Considering that Saturday night may be the day of reckoning for former light flyweight and flyweight champion, Los Mochis Mexico’s Jorge “Travieso” Arce (51-4-1, 39 KOs), it is time to reflect on a career that through the highs and lows was filled with excitement and intrigue. No “little” prizefighter has garnered the attention this man has in recent times.
LITTLE GUY NOT ONE THAT IS CAMERA SHY Arce had some memorable ring entrances, most notably when he rode his way to the ring on horseback sucking on his signature lollypop. While there is some gimmick to Jorge, there’s no gimmick once he steps into that ring. Win or lose, from the first clang of the bell Arce’s all business.
FORECASTED OUTCOME NOT GOOD FOR ARCE
Tonight’s in Showtime’s main event I anticipate the fairytale to come to an end when Arce faces rugged and rejuvenated Armenian puncher, WBC/WBA/IBF super flyweight (115 lbs) champion Vic Darchinyan (31-1, 25 KOs) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
HAD SHOCKING FIGHT WITH CARBAJAL
One of his most memorable matches was one that he actually lost. It was his third defeat as a professional in a then WBO light flyweight title defense against the most popular fighter under 126 lbs. at the time in Michael Carbajal (49-4, 33 KOs). “Manitas De Piedra” (Little Hands of Stone) was well past his prime, and years removed from his legendary trilogy with Humberto Gonzalez (43-3, 31 KOs). In what appeared to be a once sided rout in favor of Arce, Carbajal pulled off a shocking come from behind 11th round knockout victory.
ARCE TOOK NO PRISONERS FOR YEARS
The resilience of “Travieso”, was apparent from then on as he went on a 26 fight win streak which saw him in memorable wars with Hussein Hussein (31-5 24 KOs) and in a solid victory over Rosendo Alvarez (37-3-2, 27 KOs) before losing to then World super fly king Cristian Mijares (36-4-2, 15 KOs) by lopsided verdict. During that seven year period he captured the WBC light flyweight (108) title before a stint as the WBC interim flyweight (112) title.
TWO FIGHTERS GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
Arce, has struggled in his latest efforts, most importantly in two of his last three outings; a TKO win against a relative novice in Rafael Conception (11-2-1, 8 KOs), and a razor thin majority decision against Devid Lookmahanak (18-3, 9 KOs). In contrast Darchinyan has been on a tear, recently unifying the super flyweight titles by knocking out Cristian Mijares last time out. The easy to find Arce, who is also known for a propensity to bleed in his fights will have his hands full with the awkward but hard punching Armenian. And while I see this as a one-sided contest, it’ll be interesting and exciting however long it lasts.
Kevin Perry
Note: Mr. Perry is a Los Angeles, CA based writer featured exclusively at www.RingTalk.com Comments regarding his work can be left below.