by James Slater – Former WBO super-featherweight champion Jorge Barrios of Argentina is back in action this coming Saturday night, when he takes on Nicaraguan southpaw Moises Castro for something called the interim WBO Latino lightweight title. Now aged 33, the fighter known as “La Hiena” will be having his first fight since losing on an 11th-round TKO to Rocky Juarez last September.
The fight with the 27-11-4(13) Castro is a decent enough comeback match for Barrios, but, as FightNews have reported, the exciting, trash-talking Argentine wants a much bigger fight in the future.. Calling out the lethal punching and unbeaten WBC lightweight king Edwin Valero, Barrios has made it plain he is almost desperate to fight the destroyer from Venezuela. However, first Barrios must take care of Castro, nicknamed “La Cobrita.”
Though he will be suffering from rust after almost a year out of the ring, Barrios should win, and, with no disrespect aimed at Castro, he should win well. This is not to say the Nicaraguan is a poor fighter, far from it. It’s just that Barrios – having been in superb fights with superb fighters the likes of Acelino Freitas (who can forget that classic?), Joan Guzman and Juarez – is above him in world class terms; even though he lost all three fights used here as examples. Castro has also met some good men, such as an at the time up-and-coming Wladimir Sidorenko as well as Tomas Rojas, but he lost both and he has not proved himself to be as tough a guy as Barrios.
Also, “La Hiena” is the far bigger puncher of the two, with 34 of his 47 wins coming via KO (with 4 losses and a draw). And Castro has lost his last two fights, while he’s also the visiting fighter against Barrios. Barring an upset, Barrios’ comeback as a lightweight will be a success. For now at least. But what about that fight he wants with Valero?
At a press conference to promote this Saturday’s fight in Cordoba, Argentina, Barrios hurled insults at Valero as he called him out. Calling him, amongst other things, “badly educated and homosexual,” Barrios said he wants to give Valero “a lesson,” saying he is a much better fighter now than he used to be. And there is no doubt the gutsy former champion would fight Valero with no fear whatsoever; he’s just that kind of a man. But could the 33-year-old, who has never exactly been all that hard to hit, take Valero’s awesome punches?
The fight could happen, though, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t happen this year. Unless he has other, more attractive plans, Valero could perhaps even face Barrios on the November Pacquiao-Cotto card. “El Inca” is currently down as facing a TBA on Nov. 14th, why couldn’t Valero get it on with Barrios?
If he gets his win on Saturday and then keeps talking smack to Valero, chances are good Barrios will get the fight he wants. And win or lose, you and I know “La Hiena” would try his absolute best against the man with so many quick KO’s.
Barrios-Valero, how could it possibly be dull!