Arena Wars Upcoming Shows
October 25th
Kitsap County Fairgrounds, Bremerton, Washington
Reyes and Apostol are both coming off big wins in their last outing. After a long layoff, Reyes scored a six round majority decision victory over a tough Miklo Arnold. Apostol has not been in the ring in over a year, and his string of wins includes a close eight round unanimous decision win over Gerardo Esquivel. This bout is scheduled for six rounds, and though Apostol has yet to face defeat, Reyes’ return to the ring earlier in the year may work to his advantage, though Apostol will also be comfortable going the distance.
Agustin Tovar (3 1 1) V Gerardo Esquivel (7 7 1) 6 Rds super light
The Tovar - Esquivel bout will be one with an emphasis on experience. Esquivel has been in in the ring ten times more than Tovar, and Tovar has faced men either early in their career or making their pro debut. This fight will be at 140 pounds and that too may favor Esquivel as he fought up in weight in his last two losses. Tovar has shown the ability to control the action in a round, and he has not lost many rounds in the course of his three wins. Both men have gone the distance in each of their fights, and this six round affair should be no different.
Emmanuel Ojeda (3 0 0) V Alexis De la Cerda Landin (6 0 0) 6 Rds super bantam
When Emmanuel Ojeda steps in to face Alexis De La Cerda Landin, fans will get a look at two unbeaten fighters with a matching skill set. Both move well, though Ojeda may gain an edge in being quicker, and both have shown the ability to avoid getting caught out of position. Landin has won four of his six by way of the knockout, so Ojeda must be aware of the power punches, an area that may favor Landin. Ojeda is no stranger to being in close fight as two of his three wins have been majority decisions. Though fights scheduled for an even number of rounds may end in a draw, both of these fighters are looking to remain undefeated.
Zeljko Stipetic (1 1 0) V Dylan Potter (2 2 1) 4 Rds heavy
A little over five years ago Zeljko Stipetic lost to the future WBC Latino Heavyweight title holder Kingsley Ibeh. This will be Stipetic’s return to the ring after the long layoff. Stipetic had a decent amateur career fighting in the cruiserweight division, and his return to the Pacific Northwest puts him in play in the heavyweight division. Dylan Potter is coming off a unanimous decision win in his last outing, a fight where two of the judges said he won all four rounds. Potter has gone the distance in each of his fights, and though this bout is only scheduled for four rounds, Stipetic’s stamina will be a question after the long layoff.
Oscar Arriaga may be one of the best fighters that has yet to record a win. Now some of that has to do with the fact that the men he has faced brought a fair amount of experience to the fight. Arriaga’s first encounter with Margarito Hernandez was a case in point. Arriaga battled Hernandez and lost a majority decision that swung on the outcome of one round. In Pallares, Arriaga will have to make the adjustment to battle a left handed fighter. Pallares is coming off a majority draw in his last outing in August, and his one win came by way of a knockout.
Do not be misled by Jose Nava Ayala’s record. His two losses have come at the hands of unbeaten opponents and in each of those fights Ayala proved that he can hang with the best. He dropped majority decisions when fighting Emmanuel Ojeda and Haidon Allen. So keep in mind, according to at least one judge, he fought to at least a draw with both men. Joel Hernandez also dropped a majority decision to Ojeda, and that means that he as well scored a draw from one judge. Both men have gone the distance in each of their previous four rounders. If there is an advantage to be had, it may be that Hernandez had a lengthy and successful amateur career.
Tiziana Olmo has appeared in the ring as a kick boxer and as a boxer. And though she has yet to win in either arena, she has shown some skill in each. She dropped a split decision in her previous kickboxing bout, winning two of the five rounds. And as a boxer she battled the tough Kathryn Martinez Arnold to a four round majority draw. One advantage Olmo brought to each of those fights was being left handed as that forced her opponents to move away from her power punches. This will be Keller’s first foray in to the realm of professional kickboxing. The Washougal, Washington fighter might have an advantage with the crowd, though Olmo has also made a move to claim Washington as a home.
November 1
Salem Armory, Salem, Oregon
The seven round bout pitting Anthony Alvarado against Mike McMillian carries a number of potentially interesting storylines in addition to an undefeated fighter facing an opponent with only one loss. McMillian is a patient and skilled fighter who in each of his four fights has, despite sometimes getting off to a slow start, gained momentum through each round. Alvarado is in many ways similar in that he, in each of his wins, has made adjustments necessary to exert his dominance. Alvarado’s only loss came at the hands of unbeaten Aaron Thompson, and in that bout, two of the six rounds were close, with Alvarado winning at least one of them on the judges’ cards.
Miklo Arnold (11 3 0) V Brandon Watley (1 4 0) 6 Rds super light
Miklo Arnold is looking to regain some of the momentum he was building prior to his loss to Andres Reyes. Arnold will enter the fight with a big advantage in ring experience having fought more than twenty fights as an amateur and this will be his fifteenth fight as a pro. While Arnold has three knockout wins on his record, his strength in the ring more often comes from his quickness and deft combinations. Brandon Watley’s record is a little deceiving in that he has faced tough opponents. In this fight Watley will bring a height and reach advantage that may keep Arnold from getting in close and unloading body shots.
Jeremiah Sierra (4 3 0) V Joseph Aguilar (6 3 1) 6 Rd middle
The first thing to know about the fight pitting Jeremiah Sierra against Joseh Aguilar is that neither man is afraid to face tough opposition. Sierra is coming off a loss to unbeaten Andrew Murphy on Murphy’s home turf, and in much the same manner, Aguilar dropped decisions to Joh Easter in Las Vagas and Devontae McDonald in Medford. Prior to the losses, both men were riding four fight win streaks. Sierra, being a left hander, means hat Aguilar will have to make a few adjustments to the way he moves, though Aguilar is familiar fighting southpaws as he has faced them in two of his previous three fights.
Iosefa Esera and Nick Mills faced each other in July in a bout in which Mills claimed the unanimous decision win. This rematch may appear to be coming quickly, though Esera appears convinced that he learned enough in their last meeting to make adjustments to come out on top in this one. Mills is a methodical heavy puncher, and that means that Esera will have to move about the ring more, relying on quick footwork to avoid Mills’ right hand power. This will be Esera’s fourth fight this year, while for Mills, it will be his second after a five year layoff.
Jose Garcia (4 0 0) V TBA 5 Rds super welter
The problem facing Jose Garcia is one that comes outside of the ring. He is unbeaten, with all four wins coming by way of the knockout, and that makes other fighters rather leery of entering the ring to face him. While Garcia’s wins have come at the expense of fighters who may not have outstanding records, he has fought men that have a fair amount of ring experience. This could be a fight in which Garcia steps up to face a tough opponent and proves that his four wins have been well earned.
Alan Hernandez fought to a split draw in his last outing in July. The positive take away from that fight was that on one judge’s car he won three rounds while on another he won two rounds. That is certainly an improvement after bring on the losing end of unanimous decisions in his previous two fights. Devon Jackson will be making his professional debut as a boxer after appearing in the MMA ring.
Vasyl Yakymiuk comes into the fight against Keano Moyer after winning in his professional debut, scoring a unanimous decision win over Cesar Pineda in a hard fought four rounder in August. Yakymiuk, in his last fight showed the ability to throw heavy punches, though the difference in that fight came when he began to step in close and throw combinations to the body. Moyer has been out of the ring since November of ’24. He may need a fast start to counter Yakymiuk should he start as he did in his last fight, throwing heavy and quick from the opening bell.
Pedro Torres brings an unbeaten record to the ring to face Brandon Hughes. Torres’ three wins have been impressive as he won all four rounds in fighting Oscar Arriaga; scored a third round TKO in a win in Tijuana; and took a majority decision when facing Brnadon Watley. In each of his previous fights Torres has used his reach advantage to keep his opponent off balance while allowing him to step in to throw body shots. Hughes has yet to lose a a pro, having scored a draw and having his opponent retire after two rounds in Hughes' debut. Hughes started his amateur career on a roll, then faced a string of losses in clsoe decisions.
November 7
Muckleshoot Casino
Cameron Sevilla Rivera (10 8 4) Alonzo Sanchez (5 0 0) 6 RDs light heavy
Cameron Sevilla Rivera returns to the ring after a two year layoff to face Alonzo Sanchez who is riding a five win streak. While Sanchez has had little trouble in rolling over his opponents, Sevilla Rivera will match p well with him. Both men are heavy punchers and while that may not show up in the rate of knockouts, they have broken down opponents with solid body punches. Sevilla Rivera will have to shake off any ring rust early as Sanchez wastes little time in stepping toward his opponent and throwing punches.
Aaron Thompson (6 0 0) Jose Cervantes (3 2 0) 6 RDs super welter
Aaron Thompson is making waves in the super welterweight decision as he super welterweight division. He has yet to lose a fight, and looking at the judges’ scorecards shows that he has lost only two rounds in his six fights. He as quick hands and his footwork matches that as he moves well to keep opponents off balance. Joee Cervantes has been in tough in his five fights, and his three wins have come by way of the knockout, so he has power to counter Thompson’s quickness. Even in his two losses, Cervantes made the fight close, losing one by split decision.
Jahelel Brito Carrillo (2 3 1) Sirdarious Smith (1 8 0) 4 RDs bantam
Jahelel Brito Carrillo needs to face an opponent like Sirdarious Smith after dropping his three fights. But then, Smith has also dropped his last three, so this may be a battle of which man is able to gain momentum early. Smith has a slight edge in ring experience, and he has perhaps faced tougher competition while Brito Carrillo has an advantage in that he is fighting near home.
Ryan Bailey (1 5 1) Keith Berry (3 3 0) 4 RDs heavy
Ryan Bailey began his professional career with a unanimous decision victory, and since then, while at times showing boxing skill, has fallen on hard times. He can stand in close and throw hard body shots, and when he fights from the center of the ring, he has the ability to dominate his opponent. Keith Berry won his last fight, in July, by TKO after a six year layoff. Berry’s three wins have all come via the knockout, and while Bailey has shown that he can take a punch, he will have to move well to avoid Berry’s power right.
Josue Cadena (6 0 0) Jerrell Lane (0 0 1) 4 RDs super light
Josue Cadena has been in tough in all six of his fights and in each he has shown the ability to come out on top, often dominating his opponents. Of his six fights, three have gone to the judges’ scorecards, and in those three Cadena has lost only two rounds. Jerrell Lane will fight for the second time as a professional. He dropped his previous fight in a split decision, one judge scored the fight even.
Dedrick Crocklem (4 0 0) Deljerro Revello (3 8 0) 4 RDs super feather
Deljerro Revelle brings a two win streak into his fight with unbeaten Dedrick Crocklem. Crocklem brings three good sized advantages into the fight. First, as a left hander he will present a challenge for Revello. Second, he has won three of his four fights by knockout. However, perhaps a heavier advantage will be the fifty eight fights Crocklem had as an amateur.
November 8
Victoria, BC
Brandon Colantonio (6 1 0) Jaye Byard (8 4 0) 8 RDs heavy
Jaye Byard began his professional career dropping his first for fights. Then, in May of ’22 he began his eight fight win streak, all eight coming via the knockout. In each of his fights Byard has faced tough competition, and in each he has exerted dominance. In this WBC USA Heavyweight title fight he will face once beaten Brandon Colantonio. While Colantonio claims only one win by knockout, he has shown the ability to break down his opponents using quick and hard body shots. One of these Canadian heavyweights will walk out of the ring wearing the championship belt.
Jessica Camara (14 5 1) Lenka Volejnikova (3 4 1) 6 Rds light
The lightweight battle pitting Jessica Camara against Lenka Volejnikova is a real international affair. Camara will make the trek west from Montreal, while Volejnikova will travel from Prague. Both women bring impressive amateur records into this bout. Camara has the edge in professional bouts, though both women are coming off a loss entering this fight. Both women are rated number one in their country in their weight division, and that adds some intrigue to the bout.
Dashon Johnson (22 24 3) Stephane Fondjo (14 1 1) 6 RDs super middle
When Dashon Johnson enters the ring to face Stephane Fondjo, it will be his fiftieth appearance in the ring as a professional. However, he also has ring experience in the UFC, and has held the NABA super middleweight title. This will be his return to the ring after a three year layoff. In Fondjo, Johnson will encounter a fighter that carries knockout power, scoring nine of his fourteen wins by knockout. To counter Fondjo’s power, Johnson will have to rely on his fast hands to land hard body shots.
Harkerat Nijjar (5 0 0) TBA 6 RDs super middle
Finding a fighter willing to step in to face unbeaten, and so far perhaps untested, Harkerat Nijjar can present a challenge to a match maker. Nijjar has strung together five knockout wins, the last three against tough opponents in Mexico. Nijjar will also have the advantage of rerunning to familiar surroundings in his native Canada.
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