Thursday on Fox Sports 2 we are treated to some boxing before the huge spectacle that is “The One” card. Televised will be Hugo Centeno Vs Julian Williams, Badou Jack vs Marco Antonio Periban and Shawn Porter vs Julio Diaz 2, as they try to settle what they started back in December of last year when Porter and Diaz fought to a Draw.
The first matchup will be a ‘Someones 0 has got to go’ fight as Hugo Centeno Jr (19-0) takes on Julian Williams (13-0-1) in a 10 round clash. Both guys had something to say at the presser earlier in the week. “I’ve been training extremely hard for this fight and I come to win,” state Hugo Centeno. “When I get in the ring, I’m here to take this victory.”
Julian Williams feels he is the best contender in the junior middleweight division and let us know it stating “I trained extremely hard for this fight and I’m fighting a decent fighter in Hugo Centeno, but I come to win. I’m the best prospect at 154 pounds. Thursday night will be no different. I plan on putting on a spectacular performance and getting a win.”
Next on the card is Badou Jack (15-0-0) versus Marco Antonio Periban (20-1-0) and is for the NABF super middleweight title. Jack is going to have a tough time trying to remain undefeated against Periban and this fight may outshine the main event. If you don’t know Periban he fought Sakio Bika back in June and it was a hell of a fight but Bika walked away with a majority decision victory. Periban touched on his fight with Bika at the presser saying “I am very well prepared and come Thursday we are going to come out with a victory for all of Mexico. We are ready for this fight. We are closer to the title. That title escaped my hands. Obviously it was a little slip but the judges really affected me in the fight with Sakio Bika. But we gained experience and we’re very motivated. I want to remind you, this is not the first time I fought a Mayweather fighter. When I fought Shujaa El Amin [Formerly Dion Savage] he lasted 15 seconds.” Badou Jack didn’t have much to say and simply responded, “(Periban) is a good fighter, but Thursday night I will be victorious, I had a great camp and I’m in great shape. Bring it.” This fight will be a war, just remember you heard it here first.
In the main event Shawn “Showtime” Porter (21-0-1) will look to erase that ugly draw against Julio Diaz (40-8-1) and it will be for the vacant USBA title. Porter seemed eager to wipe the split draw from the publics mind, saying “This is a big week for me. I’m very excited. This is my first time fighting here in Vegas, the main event on the card. It doesn’t get any better than that. I had a great camp. Can’t wait to bust this joker up again, take care of business, and set the record straight.” Julio Diaz like Periban is coming off a spirited and close loss. Diaz took on Amir Khan and almost upset the UK super star. Diaz put down Khan in the forth but Khan would hold on to win a narrow unanimous decision victory. During the press conference Diaz guaranteed a knockout when he said “A couple of years ago, the boxing world retired me, supposedly I was done, but here I am still headlining shows. I never gave up and I kept on working hard and I’m still here. The first time around, we had a good fight. I was coming back, gaining my confidence. Right now I think I’m where I need to be. I’m very excited and I’m coming with everything. This fight, we will not need judges. Anyway it goes, it’s not going to a decision. I guarantee you that.”
I don’t know a out you boxing heads but I’m loving these fights that are now on Fox Sports 1 and 2. They fill the boxing hole in our hearts as Friday Night Fights is off for the rest of the year. Thank you for reading and being a fan of the sweet science.
