Former Olympians Scrap Tonight in Southern California
Two 2004 U.S. Olympians are furthering their careers tonight in southern California. Sadly, they won’t be fighting on the same card and their matches take place at around the same time some 225 miles apart. Lightweight Vicente Escobedo headlines the Carson, Calif. Home Depot Center card while southpaw super middleweight Andre Dirrell is the draw at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez. You won’t be able to travel to both.
For our money we would go to Carson to see Escobedo (16-1) face wily Argentine vet Roberto David Arrieta (27-12-4). Escobedo dropped his first big match in 2006, a split decision loss to Daniel Jimenez and his confidence hasn’t been the same since. But none other than Oscar de la Hoya, his promoter, believes that he could still be the next Oscar de la Hoya.
Oscar explained in a front page Sacramento Bee story, “He’s a skinny guy, a shy guy. He has charisma. He reminds me of me when I was young.” Escobedo may have the good looks, the bilingual charm, and the headlining power but does he have the skills?
In the Bee article a “longtime boxing observer” wasn’t so sure: “He needs to show more desire, more ganas, in the ring.” We will see tonight. If you get Telefutura the fight begins at 8 p.m. EST. Doors open in Carson at 4:30 PST. So why would we travel to Carson instead of the lovelt Santa Ynez, you ask? After the fight the Norteño band Los Tucanes de Tijuana are playing and we here at www.jabandgrapple.com enjoy Norteño especially the more illicit type that Los Tucanes have been known to play.
Image details: Anthony Hanshaw v James North served by picapp.com
In the other fight Andre Dirrell, a 2004 bronze medalist, puts his undefeated 14-0 record on the line tonight against his toughest opponent thus far: Anthony “The Tyger” Hanshaw (21-1). In his last bout Hanshaw fought ably against Roy Jones, Jr. but lost. These two rust belters - Dirrell is from Flint, Mich., Hanshaw from Massillon, Ohio - are so evenly matched that the fight odds are are toss up.
Since Dirrell has yet to be fully challenged no one knows exactly which fighter will show up: the talented bronze medalist or the fighter who ran from Curtis Stevens in his last fight and faced a torrent of boos from the crowd.
SC from badlefthook.com certainly has his own opinion stating that Dirrell’s running tactics makes “Floyd (Mayweather, Jr.) look like Mickey Ward. Here’s hoping Anthony Hanshaw beats Dirrell so that we can stop having to endure Dirrell fights.” Graham Houston, the fightwriter.com, is more sympathetic stating that Dirrell “has the boxing ability and the hand speed to overcome the severe test that awaits him.” and that “how Dirrell copes will show whether or not he has what it takes to get to the top.”
Turn in tonight on Showtime at 11:00 p.m. EST to find out if Dirrell can rise to the challenge and not run. Doors open at the Santa Ynez Chumash Casino at 5:30 p.m. PST.
Escobedo Photo: Newscom
Tags: Andre Dirrell, Anthony Hanshaw, Chumash Casino, Home Depot Center, lightweights, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Olympic Boxers, Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones Jr., Rust Belt Fighters, showtime, Telefutura, Vicente EscobedoRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Boxing
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