Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (HBO) Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs) vs. Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) (WBO 126 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Lopez 3-1. Hard to fathom Juan Ma getting licked here. Dropping $900 to win $300 on Ragin’ Rican to win.
Yuri Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) vs. Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Yuri 14-5. Former Olympic champ “exciting” and “vulnerable.” That being said, he will dazzle Rogers with speed for easy win!
John Duddy (27-1, 14 KOs) vs. Juan Astorga (14-3-1, 9 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Duddy 4-1. Got to put the ‘White” guy on the NYC bill because he sells tickets. Wish he could fight! Irish lad wins here as Team Duddy oh, so selective on opponents.
Cuneta Astrodome, Manila, Philippines
Brian Viloria (26-2, 15 KOs) vs. Carlos Tamara (20-4, 14 KOs) (IBF 108 lb. title) Odds/Prediction: Brian 4 ½ to 1. 2000 Olympian looks to be the far better man here. Would bet BV heavy, but I wonder how much it took from him to make 108 lbs?
Donnie Nietes (25-1-3, 14 KOs) vs. Jesus Silvestre (15-1, 12 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Nietes 11-5.
Jimrex Jaca (28-6-3, 13 KOs) vs. Ramadhan Weriu (13-2-1, 12 KOs) Odds/Prediction: Jaca 5-1. Call this a Filipino chalkboard as all the Pinoys look to have upper hand here.
Pedro Fernandez