By Eric Thomas: International Boxing Federation light middleweight champion Cory Spinks (37-5, 11 KO’s) will be returning to action on October 31st, and will be fighting on the undercard of the Joseph Agbeko vs. Yonnhy Perez bantamweight title match. Spinks, 31, could possibly be facing unbeaten welterweight prospect James De La Rosa (19-0, 12 KO’s).
I would be very surprised if the 21-year-old De La Rosa would be given the chance at a title because he’s faced mostly lesser 2nd tier fighters up to this point and he’s not ranked in the top 15 in the welterweight or light middleweight division. Spinks defeated Deandre Latimore by a controversial 12 round split decision in April, in a bout that many people felt that Latimore won.
The fight took place in Spinks’ home city of Saint Louis, Missouri. Before that fight, Spinks had lost two consecutive fights to Jermain Taylor and Verno Phillips, losing to both by 12 round split decisions.
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Ortiz and Wilder healing up from injuries
Undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympic super heavyweight Bronze Medalist Deontay Wilder (7-0, 7 KO’s) is healing up from a broken finger on the ring finger of his right hand that Wilder suffered in his last fight against Travis Allen on August 14th. The 6’7” Wilder chopped Allen down with mostly right hands in that fight, stopping him in the 1st round to record his 6th consecutive 1sat round knockout.
Wilder, 23, has knocked out all seven of his opponents with none making it to the 3rd round. Despite his incredible right hand power, Wilder is considered to be a long range project because he took up boxing late and who has only limited amateur experience. Wilder still needs to learn how to use his left hand to jab and throw power shots, as well as how to move around the ring and defend himself.
With his right hand, and long reach, Wilder has two important parts already in place in becoming a good heavyweight. However, unless he learns how to defend himself and use his left hand, he’ll be over-matched against the better heavyweights in the division like the Klitschko brothers. Wilder should start training later on this month in September and expects to be fighting again on November 11th against a still to be determined opponent.
Victor Ortiz (24-2-1, 19 KO’s) hurt his right wrist in his 6th round stoppage defeat at the hands of Marcos Maidana in June. Ortiz had an operation on his tendon in his right wrist, and should be able to fight again by December, according to Shelly Finkel. Ortiz, 22, made the mistake of trying to trade punches with the powerful Maidana early in the fight.
It paid off initially with Maidana being knocked down once in the 1st and two more times in the 2nd round. However, Ortiz was dropped as well, getting knocked down in the 1st round and then one more time in the 6th. The fight was pretty much over by the 5th round when Maidana’s huge power began to break Ortiz down and hurt him badly.
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