Boxing Prospects

Arena Wars January 24

Salem Armory

Main Event for Arena Wars Heavyweight Title
In what will be one of the intriguing heavy weight bouts early in the year, Canadian Brandon Colantonio (6 1 1KO) will face Esera Iosefa (4 1 1KO) in a five round fight. Colantonio stepped into the ring in November to face Jaye Byard for the WBC USA Heavyweight belt, thought the bout was stopped and ruled no contest in the fourth round. Iosefa won a split decision over Nick Mills in his last bout. While each man has only scored one knockout in their previous fights, don’t mistake that for lack of power. In each of their previous fights they have shown the ability to box strategically. Iosefa is tough in close, while Colantonio uses his reach advantage to keep opponents moving.

Co Main for Arena Wars Middleweight Title
Middleweights Anthony Alvarado (6 1 1KO) will step in to face Christian Aguirre (9 13 4KO) in bout scheduled for six rounds. Alvarado’s only loss came by way of a unanimous decision at the hands of Aaron Thompson. Since then, Alvarado has won two, scoring unanimous decisions in each. While Aguirre has gone the distance in each of his last two bouts, he lost both by unanimous decision. Both men have a common opponent in Mike McMillian, Aguirre lost a six rounder to him, while Alvarado won a seven round fight. Aguirre will have the advantage in ring experience, and that he carried knockout power early in his pro career, though Alvarado has shown that he has the ability to go the distance against some tough men.

Featured Bout
In what looks to be one of the more exciting fights on the card, Emmanuel Ojeda (3 1) will face Vasyl Yakymiuk (2 0 1KO) in a four round featherweight bout. If previous bouts foreshadow what might occur in this, expect non stop action. Yakymiuk is a pressure fighter whose fast hands land with power. Ojeda is a good defensive fighter, though he too has shown quick hands and good foot movement to avoid getting caught. Ojeda’s sole loss came to unbeaten Alexis de la Cerda Landin, and Ojeda went the distance. Prior to that fight Ojeda had shown that he could control the action in a round by stepping in close and unleashing effective body shots. Yakymiuk has dominated the action in his two bouts, scoring a second round knockout in his last outing and winning three of four rounds in his professional debut.

Jose Garcia-Ponce (5 0 4KO) will face Brandon Watley (1 4 ) in a super welterweight bout scheduled for six rounds. Garcia-Ponce has looked sharp in each of his pro fights, dispensing the initial four opponents by knocking them out. Watley has gone the distance in each of his five bouts, and the test for him will be to avoid Garcia-Ponce’s power. Watley dropped a close majority decision in his last outing while Garcia-Ponce went the distance to score a unanimous decision in a five round bout. Watley’s win came in a six round bout; this will be Garcia-Ponce’s first time fighting a six round bout.

Arena Wars Featherweight Title
Featherweights Anthony Cruz Herrera (4 0) and Devon Jackson (1 0) will step in to the ring to battle in a fight scheduled for five rounds. Herrera is coming of a split decision win over Blaiwas Eaglepipe, a fight in which he showed his physical toughness. It was physical toughness that propelled Jackson to his initial win as a professional, a unanimous decision in his professional debut. Herrera will have an advantage in rounds fought, facing veteran opponents, and amateur bouts. However, Jackson will likely enter the fight with adrenaline flowing after the excitement he felt after winning his debut. Adding to his credentials, Jackson has an MMA win against UFC flyweight champion Josua Van

Jeremiah Sierra (5 3 2KO) will step in to the ring to fight Gerald Powell-Wood (1 0) in a f bout scheduled for five rounds. Powell-Wood scored a spilt decision win in his first pro fight, one in which he was one round from claiming the unanimous decision. Sierra is coming off a fourth round TKO win against Joseph Aguilar, a fight in which the left handed Sierra used his skill and strength to score the win. Powell-Wood will have to make the adjustments necessary in fighting a southpaw, while Sierra will look to continue to land heavy with his left, forcing Powell-Wood to step in close to negate the power punches.

A four round feather weight bout will see Alan Hernandez (0 3 1) facing Derick Funkhouser (0 2) looking to score their first win as a professional. Both of these men have faced tough opponents, and though they have yet to record a win, do not be lulled into thinking they are not tough fighters. Funkhouser’s previous opponents have a combined record of ten wins and no losses. Hernandez has gone the distance in each of his four fights.