Philadelphia Attitude
Philadelphia boxing is looking to make a statement in the next week. Super featherweights Mickey Bey (18-0-1, 9K0s), of Cleveland, OH, and John Molina, of Covina, CA, face off Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Topping the card is super middleweight Farah Ennis, (21-1, 12K0s), of Philadelphia, PA, who will face Badou Jack (14-0, 10K0s), of Stockholm, Sweden, in a 10-rounder. This looks on paper to be one of Ennis’ toughest fights, but it also will be Jack’s toughest.
One mutual opponent is Grover Young, of Memphis, TN. Young lost to Jack by unanimous decision in March of 2012, two months after he was stopped by Ennis. I think Ennis is better all-around. Everyone at home will be watching the Showtime Extreme telecast at 10 pm.
On the undercard that night, another local Philadelphian fighter, middleweight Latif Mundy (10-6-1, 4K0s), will box up-and-coming undefeated Luis Arias (5-0, 3K0s), of Milwaukee, WI.
Arias is 23 years old with lots of potential. He has an extensive amateur background, winning the 2008 and 2010 US National Championship, capturing a gold medal at the National PAL Championships, taking bronze at the AIBA Youth World Championships and earning silver at the National Golden Gloves. He turned pro late last year and is wasting no time facing viable opponents.
Mundy is well-known for his veteran mindset. With being a Philly fighter comes the attitude. Philadelphia fighters will fight anyone and Mundy has faced fellow-Philadelphian Gabriel Rosado as well as Ossie Duran, of Ghana, Matt Korobov, of Russia, and Patrick Majewski (twice), of Poland. Mundy needs a win; Arias needs to get by. Mundy will be playing his role of the gatekeeper.
That same night on ESPN2 at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH, Mr. ESPN himself, Philadelphia’s Hank Lundy (22-3-1, 11K0s), goes to war with Ajose Olusegun (31-1, 14K0s), of Nigeria, in a junior welterweight contest. Olusegun’s only loss was to murderous-punching Lucas Martin Matthysse, of Argentina, and it took Matthysse 10 rounds to do it. Hearing that may lead people to believe that Lundy has no shot, but this is boxing so don’t write anyone off too quickly. The word in Philadelphia is that Lundy has been on weight for the last few days and that he looks better than ever in the gym. It should be an entertaining night. Then again, anything involving Lundy is about the entertainment. Philly fight fans should be glued to the TV on Friday night.
Next Wednesday, July 24, Philly’s Jamaal Davis (14-9-1, 6K0s) continues to build his resume, which already includes WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, of Brooklyn, NY, Ossie Duran, Joel Julio, of Colombia, Rosado and Majewski. Next up is former WBA junior middleweight champ Yuri Foreman (30-2, 8K0s), of Brooklyn. Davis (right) and Foreman collide at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City and it’s another must-win fight for Davis, who could land a decent-money fight, despite his less-than-glittering record, if he pulls off the upset.
Davis is the definition of Philadelphia attitude; just take a look at who he has fought; he is not scared to fight the best. Good luck to Davis; the pressure is on!
The author is a Temple University graduate who is now a part of Peltz Boxing. Follow us on twitter @Peltzboxing and BAM @BAMboxinginc.