By Dan Ambrose: 34-year-old former 4 division world champion Jorge Arce (62-7-2, 47 KO’s) will be back in the ring next month against 32-year-old journeyman Aldimar Silva Santos (19-7, 10 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Arce has a dream of capturing a 5th division world title at featherweight in the near future, so he’s working his way into a world title shot against one of the featherweight champions.
However, Arce doesn’t really have the frame to be fighting at featherweight, and when the time comes for him to fight one of the champions like Jhonny Gonzalez, Orlando Salido, Evgeny Gradovich, Simpiwe Vetyeka or Nicholas Walters, Arce is going to be massacred. It’s really sad that there are currently 5 world champions in the featherweight division for Arce to try and cherry pick to become a world champion in that weight class, but he’s not going to beat any of those guys even in this watered down division. The featherweight division may be watered down, but it’s not watered down enough for the soon to be 35-year-old Arce to win a title.
Arce retired in 2012 after getting annihilated in 3 rounds by Nonito Donaire. 11 months later, Arce returned to the ring to stop little known Jose Carmona in the 8th round last November.
Santos has lost 4 out of his last 5 fights against weak opposition. A competitive fight, this is not. Arce is going to have his way with Santos on March 8th and likely score an easy stoppage victory. If recent history is any guide, Arce will likely continue to fight weak opposition until he gets a world title shot against one of the featherweight champions. Like I said, I don’t see it going well for Arce at all.
“I want to fight for the world championship, but go step by step,” Arce said to ESPN. “For now, we must concentrate on our next fight and deliver a great show to the people of Nogales, which has always received me very well.”
I’m not sure how great of a show Arce can put on with him fighting a journeyman who has lost four out of his last five fights.
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