Mario Barrios vs. Devis Boschiero Fight Preview

By Stephen D. Donatelli

When I did the first edition of our new column, ‘Fresh Faces’ never did I think that Mario Barrios would be in a main event on National TV so quickly.  I recognized almost the same amount of talent in Junior Lightweight prospect Barrios as I did in rising welterweight star prospect, the undefeated, Errol Spence Jr.

Mario ‘The Golden Boy’ Barrios (15-0, 8koes) will take on former world title challenger Devis Boschiero (39-4-1. 21koes) in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN, Saturday, July 9th, from the Sun National Bank Center, in Trenton, New Jersey.

Barrios holds a respectable amateur record of 85-10, and won multiple state titles in Texas.  Barrios can expect the biggest test so far of his professional career when he faces the tough and grizzled veteran and former world title challenger Devis Boschiero.  An experienced fighter out of Veneto, Italy, Boschiero challenged for the WBC World Junior Lightweight title, held by Takahiro Ao, but was defeated on points, via a split decision.

Boschiero has won his last two contests by knockout, heading into this July 9th clash.  He was unbeaten in his first 34 fights, and brings the necessary experience to push the younger Barrios.

In preparation for the biggest fight so far of his young career ‘The Golden Boy’ moved his training camp from San Antonio, to Las Vegas.  On fighting his first 12 round main event, "This is what  I have worked my whole life for, to be fighting main events on national television.  I'm confident little, that I’ll be able to go through the duck.  My goad is to get the knockout, I really want to make a statement in this fight"  The tall and lanky Barrios, is not looking past the rugged Boschiero.

A win for Barrios ensures him an opportunity at the the IBF world Junior Lightweight title, held by Puerto Rico’s Jose Pedraza (22-0, 12 koes.)   When reporters asked Barrios about the current state of the division, he replied,  "It’s a very tough devision, loaded with a lot of great fighters.  I would say Lomachenko, Pedraza and Vargas, are the top dogs for now.  Salido is also up there.  Its one of the toughest divisions in boxing.  I’m hoping I acan become a champion in this division.  A victory against Boschiero puts me right there to challenge for the title.  I’m a hungry fighter and everyone will see that on July 9th."

Like I previously said about Marios, if he wants to live up to the nickname of  ‘The Golden Boy’ then these are the types of fights he must win with conviction.  Devis has never fought in the United States, but many people, including myself, don’t believe that will hinder the outcome of the bout.  The Italian would sure love to storm back to Italy after having beaten the fan favorite Barrios.  Victory for Boschiero would put him right back into the title picture.

Is this fight coming too soon for Barrios? After just 15 professional fights, is this the fight where he makes his move, and shows himself ready to challenge for a world title?  In any case, some questions will be answered on Saturday night, and something tells me that Mario Barrio is coming to prove a point.

Stephen  Donatelli is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and contributes to www.theboxingglove.com. If you would like to contact him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steved2012?fref=nf

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved.

Keith Thurman V Shawn Porter: Preview & Prediction

 By Stephen Donatelli for 'The Boxing Glove.'

I've been salivating to see this WBA World Welterweight Championship fight for awhile, now that former Welterweight Kingpin Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr. is retired, this fight could possibly put the winner at the very top, right with undefeated 'IBF Welterweight Champion' Kell Brook (36-0, 25 Kos.) Brook already won a pretty close majority decision victory over 'Showtime' Shawn Porter. Since then, Porter regained that necessary confidence by defeating Erick Bone (KO 5) and a surprising dominant victory over the typically cocky Adrien 'The Problem' Broner. On the other hand, in his last two bouts Keith 'One Time' Thurman, a dangerous power puncher, had to go the distance with the crafty, ex-champion, Robert 'The Ghost Guerrero. The exuberant punching-power of 'One Time' led to a unanimous decision in a rather one-sided bout. Then, Thurman had to settle for a 7th round TKO, due to an injury near the eye of sturdy veteran slugger, Luis Collazo, which blocked his vision. Thurman was declared the winner via TKO (69-64, 68-65, and 69-64.)

This fight has so many variables that can play out, but I'm confident that Thurman will be the aggressor because, if he has to fight off his back foot all night, he will tire himself out. 'Showtime' Shawn Porter is a very determined fighter that gets a lot of his immense toughness from his history of being a darn good wrestler and football player. If this fight turns into a phone-booth war, there's hardly any doubt in my mind that, Porter will be able to feint and slip his way past the slight one-inch reach disadvantage.

The bottom line for me is that 'Pressure Burst Pipes.' I like Porter if he sticks to what his Dad Kenny says. I noticed when Keith Thurman fought his best opposition, he wasn't good backing up. I honestly think as long as Porter avoids the big shot from 'One Time', that he wins. It should be a very exciting and fan-friendly fight. Both fighters are come-forward type fighters and they swing for the fences when they throw. I see the fight being very hotly contested throughout and nobody dominating. I can see a knockdown or two, but I really tilt toward a decision. The fight will be even going into the championship rounds, and that's where Porter will take over, if he does not lose his concentration, like his did against Broner in round 12, and got sat on the canvas. Let's get ready, because we've been waiting, just like these two Welterweight Warriors have, and as of right now the 147-pound Throne is open! 

Final Press Conference Before Fight:

*Stephen  Donatelli is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and contributes to www.theboxingglove.com. If you would like to contact him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steved2012?fref=nf

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved.

Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto 2 Fight Preview: All Bite Again or Just Bark?

By Stephen Donatelli


On Saturday Night, 'Vicious' Victor Ortiz and 'The Beast' Andre Berto will once again scrap, and hopefully give us, appreciative boxing fans, another epic encounter that claimed the lofty 2011 Award for "Fight of the Year!" Back then, both boxers had promising careers and now in '2016,' this is basically a must-win battle if either Pugilist wants to stay on a path to regaining respected status in the deeply talented 'Welterweight' division.

"This guy doesn't even deserve a re-match, I just want to show him I can whip him again," stated the confident Ortiz. 

Things even got heated at the last press conference when Berto pushed Ortiz as the stare-down was taking place. The one problem that might happen in this encounter, is the first fight between them was so spectacular, this can easily be a deflated let down. However, I'm a firm believer in styles make fights, and anything close to their first back alley slug-fest, will suite the viewers quite well.

Therefore, I really think this fight will, at the very least, be thrilling.


In his last bout, 'The Beast' found out, the hard way, just how hard it is to land on a 'Defensive Guru', like his fight with Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr., which was billed as Floyd's retirement fight. While watching the contest, it was hard to give anymore than two rounds to the scrappy, but way overwhelmed Berto. The lackluster fight went the distance, as pretty much expected.

However, it's hard to judge how much Berto has left, because Mayweather Jr. is so skilled. On the other hand, since his surprising second round collapse against Luis Collazo, Ortiz shook that off by stopping Manuel Perez (TKO 3) and Gilberto Sanchez Leon (TKO 8!)


This is a very tricky fight to predict, but when I broke down tape and observed both boxers as of late, here is what I’ve seen. First off, I think Berto is there to be taken once again by a southpaw with good footwork. He fights from a squared-up stance much of the time, while Ortiz stays on his toes, and has a nice bounce in his movement. Another thing I noticed from the first fight, or when Berto takes a hard shot not expected, he sort of half-shuts down and goes into a cautious shell until he figures out what happened. In short, he doesn’t like the unexpected and responds poorly to it. If Berto finds his efforts to puzzle-out the southpaw stymied, he will probably slink into that shell, and give away rounds to Ortiz. What Andre obviously needs to do is get back to his 'bread & butter' & drill his main punch, which is his straight right (preferably a right-left uppercut combo) and try his best, but he won’t be able to employ it as he should.

I see the slight underdog, "Vicious" Victor Ortiz, fighting with that built up rage, and also feel he's the fresher boxer of the two. Berto will come to fight and Ortiz might suffer a flash knockdown that he brilliantly shakes off. In the end, Berto's porous defense, and inability to cut the ring off effectively, will cost him dearly as Ortiz claims a TKO in the 10th Round.

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

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