By Jim Dower: Former World Boxing Council flyweight champion Jorge Arce (52-6-1, 40 KO’s) will be fighting Indonesian Angky Angkota (23-4, 14 KO’s) this Saturday night for the vacant WBO super flyweight title at the Restaurante Arroyo, in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
This is the perfect opportunity for the 30-year-old Arce to pick up another title by beating the little known Angkota. Even if Arce does win, it’s hard to imagine it meaning all that much because Vic Darchinyan holds the WBC and WBA super flyweight titles and is considered to be the best fighter in the division. Darchinyan dominated Arce in a 2009 bout, stopping him in the 11th round.
Unless Arce wants to fight Darchinyan again, the WBO title might not mean as much. With the four different titles available at every weight class, it really helps out aging fighters like Arce to extend their career. Arce has lost two out of his last three fights, and is coming off a 12 round decision loss against Simphiwe Nongqayi for the vacant International Boxing Federation super flyweight title in September 2009.
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Williams pulls out of Chisora fight
Danny Williams (41-8, 31 KO’s) has officially pulled out of his February 13th fight against Derek Chisora due to illness. Apparently, Williams, 36, has a viral infection and is too ill to take the fight. A replacement opponent will have to be found to fight Chisora. Promoter Frank Warren is currently working on finding a replacement opponent to step in and fight Chisora in place of Williams. In October, Williams lost a disappointing three round decision to Carl Baker in the Prizerfighter tournament.
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Sylvester vs. Lyell on Saturday
International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester (32-3, 15 KO’s) takes on number #14 ranked IBF middleweight contender Billy Lyell (21-7, 4 KO’s) this Saturday night at the Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Sylvester, 29, will be making his first title defense against the 25-year-old Lyell and will have home advantage in this bout. Sylvester captured the IBF middleweight crown, which was vacated by long time champion Arthur Abraham last year when he moved up in weight to the super middleweight division, last year with a 12 round split decision win over Giovanni Lorenzo in September. Sylvester, a pure boxer with excellent skills, previously was beaten by a lopsided 12 round decision in a failed attempt to take Felix Sturm’s WBA middleweight title in November 2008.
Lyell, a fringe contender, has for a long time been considered a tough a fighter but one that lacks the power needed to get him to the very top. Lyell gave James Kirkland all kinds of problems in an 8th round stoppage loss in February 2007. Lyell also gave Vanes Martirosyan problems last year before losing an eight round decision in February.
In April 2009, Lyell defeated previously unbeaten John Duddy by a 10 round split decision in a shocking win that spoiled Duddy’s unbeaten record. Lyell could give Sylvester some problems in Saturday’s fight, but it’s doubtful that Lyell will win unless he can somehow knock Sylvester out, because the German will be fighting at home in Germany.