Four promising, talented super bantamweights with a combined record of 62-1-1 will share the spotlight in important fights this Friday, Sept. 21, on ShoBox: The New Generation live from Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
In the main event, Colombia’s world-ranked Jonathan Romero (21-0, 12 KOs) will seek his 22nd consecutive victory when he meets Efrain Esquivias Jr. (16-1, 9 KOs), of Gardena, Calif., for the No. 2 ranking in the IBF and the WBC Latino championship in the 10-round main event. The co-feature is just as good though, pitting Roman Morales (12-0, 6 KOs), of San Ardo, Calif., and Jonathan Arellano (13-0-1, 3 KOs), of Ontario, Calif., in an eight-round match.
ShoBox expert analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood weighed-in on the event:
“This is a classic ShoBox card with two good matchups featuring fighters in the same division,”. “The 122-pound division is very strong overall, and it is also a very strong division for young prospects. Let’s see where these guys fit in.
“Romero scored an upset win over Chris Avalos last December on ShoBox and will be looking to continue to build off that. Romero is a boxer-puncher so it’ll be interesting to see how he does against Esquivias, who’ll be in his face all night.
“Morales is back on ShoBox after an impressive debut in July. He was a good amateur and seems to be progressing as a pro, but he’s matched against a very good boxer who’s also undefeated.’’
The aggressive, switch-hitting Morales is making his second start on ShoBox at Chumash and seventh overall at Chumash since he went pro in February 2011. The good-looking youngster is fighting for the fifth time this year after fighting eight times in 2011.
Morales showed promise in his ShoBox debut, winning a crowd-pleasing, hard-fought but dominant eight-round decision over the Roger Mayweather-trained Alexis Santiago last July 20. Going eight rounds for the first time, Morales registered a knockdown in the third and combined a steady body attack with a big edge in power punching to outpoint Santiago by 80-71 on the three judges’ scorecards.
“I’ve been training really hard for this fight,’’ said the 5-foot-7, 23-year-old Morales, a former amateur standout and 2010 U.S. National Champion at 119 pounds who is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Alcantara on Aug 24.
“I just had a fight about two weeks ago and took maybe three or four days off. I still train at the San Ardo Boxing Gym at home, but I also trained in San Carlos, Calif. I was there sparring with Nonito Donaire. There are a couple local fighters in the Fresno area but mostly I travel. I go to Oxnard and Maywood (both destinations, one way, are several hours away).’
Morales is familiar with Arellano. “I know he’s kind of slick and moves around,’’ he said. “He’s a boxer – hit and move. I plan is to push ahead and put the pressure on him. I like to use good power and speed and move a lot. I keep my hands up and move forward – nothing sloppy.”
Arellano is trained by Henry Ramirez with an assist from Danny Zamora. A stablemate of Josesito Lopez and Chris Arreola, he’s won nine in a row since a four-round draw in March 2010, and is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision over Jose Beranza last June 22.
“I’ve had a good eight weeks to prepare,’’ he said. “I took a couple of weeks off after my last fight and just relaxed. I took some time off for my birthday, so I was able to enjoy that. It was the first time I wasn’t in training camp or preparing for a fight in a long time. I got back in the gym, and that’s when I found out we were on SHOWTIME.”
Regarding his style and goals, the 5-foot-6, 25-year-old Arellano said, “I’m more of a boxer-puncher. I’ve definitely gotten much smarter, just through experience in the ring. I’m being more calm and collected instead of being ruthless and reckless. In boxing, everyone has a reason why they do the sport. Growing up as an amateur, it’s fun. You have dreams and goals. But being a pro is a little different. I feel I’m fighting for completely different reasons now. I feel I’m not fighting just for myself. As much as those dreams and goals are still intact, now I’m fighting for my family. It’s more serious.
“At times when I’m in the ring, I feel like I have a complete advantage, I feel I fight for different reasons. If I’m in the ring and the guy is fighting for the same reason I am – he has a family and kids — the fights become brutal. Those are the fights that are tougher. I’m going to go in there on Friday and give it all I’ve got.”
This will be the toughest test for a slick boxer-puncher with good movement who has fought just 25 amateur fights.
