Weekend Preview

by Pedro Fernandez

BONILLA GOES FRIDAY

Although the Saturday night card featuring four title fights on SHOWTIME will go up against HBO' BAD broadcast, Don King and the Las Vegas Hilton have a Friday night card topped by WBA fly guy Jose Bonilla of Venezuela defending the WBA 112 lb. laurels against Hugo Soto of Argentina.

Also on the USSB broadcast will be Mexican ladies champ Laura Serrano vs Israh Gingrah of Atlanta. These are both talented women with world class skills. Two other fights will be part of the United States Satellite Broadcasting card that is shown on USSB backyard dishes only starting at 10 PM ET.

HBO's GETTING BAD IN A.C., WHILE IT'S SHOWTIME IN VEGAS!

It's hard to imagine what is going on in the world of professional boxing when TV networks decide to go at or around the same time. HBO goes with Boxing After Dark tomorrow night as unbeaten Michael Grant, 27-0, (19 KO's), takes on Obed Sullivan, 29-2-1, (20 KO's), in the 12 round main event.

The other bout featured on the Boxing After Dark broadcast will also feature another heavyweight who has never lost in Chris Byrd, 21-0, (14 KO's). The native of Flint, MI will meet undefeated Cuban national Eliecer Castillo, 14-0, (10 KO's) in another dime.

SHOWTIME IN VEGAS

Unfortunately when a fighter gets the shaft as an challenger in a title fight, he rarely gets a second crack. But tomorrow's SHOWTIME card is topped by a rematch mandated by the WBA when the World Boxing Association 154 lb. champ Laurent Bouduani defends his belt against Guierllmo Jones in the main event.

The Frenchman, now 36-2-1, (30 KO's), appeared confused when he fought the elongated 6'4 154 lber. from Panama in February on SHOWTIME from Albuquerque.

But he is better prepared so says his promoter Luis Acaries. And he will need to be as Jones, 22-1-1, (19 KO's), is no slouch. At 25 years of age, he is six years the junior to the champion Bouduani, and has a pretty good jab to match his octopus like reach.

OTHER TITLE ACTION

Former U.S. Olympian Tim Austin, 17-0, with 16 KO's, is now the IBF bantamweight (118 lb) champion. The Cincinnati resident will meet #1 rated Adrian Kaspari, 9-0, with 9 whackers!

IBF cruiser king Imamu Mayfield will put the belt and a 17-1, (13 KO's) record on the line against rough and tough veteran Saul Montana (31-6, with 27 KO's) of Los Angeles.

Two other title fights will be part of the SHOWTIME telecast. The highlight will be a defense by WBA 118 lb. champ Nana Konadu of Guana. Nana, 38-3-1, (31 KO's) is one heck of a fighter, and should he prevail against Filipino Don Don Conception, 12-1-1, with 8 KO's, promoter Don King would like to pair the IBF and WBA titlists on a September card.

Filling out the card will be a WBO 105 lb. title defense by Eric Jamili, a fighter with a modest 11-5-1, (6 KO's). He will face tough Kermin Quardia, who at 29-2, with 19, once went the distance with unbeaten 105 lb. WBC champ Ricardo Lopez.

Pedro Fernandez

The writer has his own site at www.fighters.com and can be reached at flash@inow.com

Don't forget! Ring Talk will air for two hours this Saturday night at 11:06 PM ET LIVE from the Las Vegas Hilton where there will be a SHOWTIME/Don King card topped by the WBA 154 lb. rematch between titleholder Laurent Bouduani and Guillermo Jones. These two fought in February, with the end result being a controversial draw.

Ring Talk is heard Saturday and Sunday nights at 11:06 PM ET on the TALK AMERICA Radio Networks and LIVE in 160 + countries on the Internet at www.talkamerica.com

On Sunday night, Ring Talk airs for an hour on the "Deuce" or TALK AMERICA "2" Network beginning at 11:06 PM ET. TALK 2 also has LIVE Internet audio at www.talkamerica.com

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