So many times, we miss out on great fights due to name recognition. We as fans of this sport need to broaden our horizon in terms of fights we watch, and fighters we pay attention to.
Just because HBO isn’t pushing any certain fighter down your throat shouldn’t mean you can’t watch him. Which brings me to the point of this week’s fight.; this Friday, July 20, in what should be a can’t miss main event on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast), the Glendale, Art Hovhannisyan, the Calif.-based Armenian faces always-dangerous, hard-hitting former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Miguel Acosta (29-5-2, 23 KOs) at The Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif.
We should all remember the former champion Miguel Acosta for his power and his ring generalship, or at the very least his fun, while it lasted fight vs. Brandon Rios. Acosta showed heart in the Rios fight but ultimately fell victim to the harder punching, bigger man.
Friday Acosta has something to prove coming off of a lost to the man that beat Brandon Rios and was a victim of what some are calling one the worse decisions in boxing, that man being Richard Abril. Acosta is being looked at as a stepping stone for the younger Art Hovhannisyan (14-0-2, 8 KOs), who is a six-year pro, who remains highly regarded as top prospect with a fan friendly style. He kind of reminds me of a bigger Vic Darchinyan, not because of the way they fight but because of the way they look.
Art Hovhannisyan will defend his undefeated streak against his first boxer of high skill and talent. This will be his step up and his opportunity to promote his name by having Acosta on his resume. Currently ranked as the 40th best super featherweight in the world, Hovhannisyan needs to capitalize on this chance to move up the rankings. After looking just ok in his last outing, he fought a technical draw with Cristobal Cruz in an entertaining bout on Aug. 5, 2011; a fight that was stopped at 2:36 of the fourth round due to a accidental head butt that opened a bad cut on Cruz’ forehead. Cristobal Cruz is also the guy that got stop in one round vs. Javier Fortuna.
This division is stacked from top to bottom but to remain on TV, you must win and impress. My prediction is that Hovhannisyan will be too strong and too much for Acosta. Also that the carrot of an Acosta win secures the 14th spot in the divisional rankings, will be motivation enough for the “Lion Heart”.
