28.08.05 – By Jim Amato: In recent weeks it has come to light that Ohio’s Craig Weber will meet the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez on September 17th in Phoenix, Arizona. Craig has earned this fight with a decision win over Angel Manfredy and a knockout over former champion Frankie Randall. Will he defeat Chavez and end J.C.’s “Adios Tour”? That remains to be seen. I honestly feel that Craig is a formidable opponent for the once great Chavez.
It was not that long ago that another young Ohio boxer was making a name for himself in the welterweight division. His name was Ken Sigurani and he hailed from hard core boxing mecca of Youngstown, Ohio. Nicknamed “The Cobra,” he was a slick boxer who knew his way around a boxing ring.
After a fine amateur career, Ken turned pro in 1994.He won his first eighteen bouts and appeared to be on his way to fistic stardom. Disaster struck in 1997 when he was matched with former IBF featherweight titleholder Antonio Rivera. Ken was caught early and stopped in the very first round.
Ken would bounce back to score four straight victories and this led him to a match with Julio Cesar Chavez. In three months Chavez was to challenge Oscar De La Hoya for the W.B.C. welterweight title. Ken started well but Chavez powered his way to third round stoppage victory and a fateful date with De La Hoya. In his very next fight Sigurani would face the one and only Hector “Macho” Camacho. Kenny fought the fight of his life but in the end Camacho won a disputed split decision. A draw verdict would have been more fair to Ken.
The Camacho affair was Ken’s last fight. He had lost only three of 25 battles in his respectable career and all of his losses were to former champions.