by James Slater – There’s less than a month to go until the ultra-intriguing welterweight match-up that is “Sugar” Shane Mosley Vs. Floyd Mayweather Junior will take place in Las Vegas. And though the main event is good enough to ensure fans will be content to hand over their pay-per-view cash, the under-card of a big show always helps make the occasion that much more exciting. And the still-taking-shape under-card for May 1st at The MGM Grand is looking pretty good.
All set to fight on the big WBA welterweight title fight show are: hot prospects Saul Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs and George Groves, and former WBO super-bantamweight ruler Daniel Ponce de Leon..
De Leon, the 29-year-old Mexican banger, will face the useful Cornelius Lock over a scheduled ten-rounds at featherweight. A good, solid-looking match-up, this one could well provide some thrills. Southpaw De Leon, 38-2-1(32) has won four fights in a row since his shocking, one-round loss at the hands of Juan Manuel Lopez, and a win over 31-year-old Lock, also a lefty, would help his chances of once again challenging for a major title.
Lock, 19-4-1(12) has been in some good fights before, even though he lost a couple of them. Having been stopped during his career, by Cristobal Cruz (TKO by 8 in 2004)and by Mario Santiago (TKO by 5 in 2005), Lock could be in some trouble against the powerful fists of De Leon. However, having said that, those TKO’s were a long time ago, and Lock took a long layoff after the Santiago defeat.
Beaten on points by Antonio Escalante in his last-but-one outing, Lock rebounded with an impressive 5th-round stoppage of the undefeated Orlando Cruz last September. Against the older, slower man, the Detroit boxer will be looking to get another good scalp on his record.
As for Alvarez, the 19-year-old Mexican hotshot will face Jose Miguel Cotto, brother of Miguel Cotto. Defending his NABF welterweight belt, Alvarez will score his biggest win if he can see off the once-beaten 32-year-old next month. The experienced Cotto has been in with good men like Juan Diaz (a points loss), Ivan Hernandez and Prawet Singwancha (a draw for the WBA 135-pound title), and Alvarez must be given credit for stepping up in class whilst still a teenager. This fight could well be the pick of the under-card on May 1st.
As for Groves and Jacobs, both guys will face as yet unannounced foes. Both unbeaten, the super-middleweight and the middleweight will be looking to stay that way. 22-year-old Groves, who sensationally won the Commonwealth title at 168-pounds in only his ninth fight, on the Haye-Ruiz card last week, is especially thrilled to be featured on such an illustrious show.
23-year-old Jacobs, now 19-0, also fought recently; having won in one-round on March 27th. He too will be looking to shine on the big bill. It will be most interesting to see who Groves and Jacobs get to share the ring with them.