by James Slater – Light-middleweights Alfredo Angulo and Joel Julio are set to rumble on April 24th on HBO, possibly with heavyweight contender Chris Arreola sharing the card against an as yet unannounced foe (whispers say it could be former cruiserweight titlist Tomasz Adamek, assuming “Goral” gets past the upset-minded Jason Estrada on Feb. 6th). Fighting for the interim WBO light-middleweight title Angulo won last time out, when he smashed Harry Joe Yorgey to painful defeat inside just three rounds, Angulo and Julio could put on a great action fight.
Mexico’s 27-year-old Angulo, 17-1(14) is a fine pressure fighter who has genuine punching power; while 25-year-old Julio of Colombia, 35-3(31) is also heavy-handed and aggressive. With the styles of the two men being what they are, the April fight promises to deliver! But who will win?
Angulo has bounced back well from his sole pro loss, on points to Kermit Cintron back in May of last year. Crushing Gabriel Rosado inside a couple of rounds in August of 2009, and then taking Yorgey out in impressive style also, the Mexican warrior is back looking like a genuine future world champion.. But in the thrice-beaten and once stopped Julio, “El Perro” will be meeting a tough test indeed.
Though he was banged around and eventually TKO’d after 6 rounds by the unbeaten James Kirkland in March of last year, there is no reason to write the 25-year-old off. Losing to the hugely promising Kirkland (who, as we know, subsequently fell foul of the law and had his career derailed) is no disgrace at all, and Julio is still fresh enough to come again. Knowing this, and how a win over Angulo would put him right back up there, we could see the best of the fighter who has fought in world class before – losing on points to the avoided Sergiy Dzinziruk in a WBO 154-pound title challenge in late 2008.
Between them, Angulo and Julio have 45 KO’s or stoppages, and it really is tough to see this one going the distance. Angulo has to be made a slight favourite, due to his recent, ruthless performances – but the younger man has fought the better opposition (also having been in with Carlos Quintana down at welterweight, and holding wins over Carlos Vilches, Cornelius Bundrage and Ishe Smith), is blessed with a slightly longer reach and has a point to prove. These factors will serve to make Julio Angulo’s toughest opponent since Cintron in my opinion.
You can expect fireworks, but I have to sit on the fence with this one as far as any other predictions go. Look for a war in April!