Jose Reynoso

By David A. Avila

Here we go again.

Just one week after Josesito Lopez woke up boxing fans nationwide to the ever-growing talent pool of the Inland area, now it’s Jose “El Nino” Reynoso’s turn to show what fighters from Riverside County can do.

Reynoso (16-3-1, 3 KOs) challenges Russia’s hard-hitting, no nonsense fighter Ruslan Provodnikov (21-1, 14 KOs) on Friday June 29, at Omega Products International in Corona. Thompson Boxing Promotions and Banner Promotions are staging the event. ESPN2 will televise.

Ironically, Provodnikov’s only loss came at the hands of another Riverside County prizefighter Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera. So he will be fully prepared and is now trained by Freddie Roach.

Roach knows Reynoso or maybe he doesn’t. The last time the famed trainer was on the other corner his fighter Dean Byrne of Ireland knocked down the Riverside boxer several times. Then the fight got tough. Since that defeat in 2009, Reynoso has reeled off seven fights without a loss and has been a much better fighter since Roach last saw him.

Reynoso has learned his quirky southpaw style gives opponents fits and he is never under prepared for anyone. Stamina is one of his strengths. Provodnikov also can fight all night long and has never been stopped.

Can Reynoso follow in the footsteps of Lopez who last week stopped former world champion Victor Ortiz, or Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley another Riverside County boxer who pulled off a shocking upset over Manny Pacquiao? Well, maybe it was an upset to people outside of the area.

In a junior featherweight match, San Diego’s Christopher Martin (23-2-3, 6 KOs) encounters Mexicali, Mexico’s Roberto “Azabache” Castaneda (20-1, 15 KOs) in the semi-main event. Martin is trying to get back into the win column after suffering two losses and a draw this past year. Castaneda is making his first appearance in this country.

Another bout includes a rematch between Maywood’s Lissette Medel (6-1-1) and Las Vegas boxer Tatina Anderson (5-1-1) in a junior lightweight fight. Both fought to a four-round draw a year ago in Primm, Nevada. 

Fantasy Springs

IBF junior middleweight titleholder Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage (31-4, 18 KOs) defends against Cory Spinks (39-6, 11 KOs) in a return match on Saturday June 30, at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio. Bundrage took the title from Spinks nearly two years ago.

Both come from the Midwest. Spinks hails from St. Louis and Bundrage from Detroit. Perhaps this was the best neutral site for the fight.

Bundrage, 39, formerly participated in the Contender reality television series in 2006. Though he didn’t win he proved to be very strong and captured the world title last year by knocking out Spinks in his hometown of St. Louis.

Golden Boy Promotions is the host for the fight card so it may be they are priming the winner of this fight to meet one of their many other junior middleweights.

Several other good match ups are scheduled.

Cuba’s Erislandy Lara ( 16-1-1, 11 KOs) faces Mexico City’s Freddy Hernandez (30-2, 20 KOs) in another junior middleweight bout. The 10-round fight could produce the winner to meet the victor of the Bundrage-Spinks main event. It’s a loaded division and Golden Boy has several of its fighters like James Kirkland, Alfredo Angulo and WBC titleholder Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in its vast stable ready to go.

Lopez

After Riverside’s Lopez defeated Victor Ortiz last Saturday, the CEO of Golden Boy Richard Schaefer said that his performance proved him ready to fight “Canelo” Alvarez. But will it happen on September 15 in Las Vegas as planned? That’s the question.

Rival promoter Top Rank has announced it will stage a world title fight on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas between Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Can Las Vegas host two world title fight cards simultaneously?

More Golden Boy

Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya announced he will attend the fights at Fantasy Springs on Saturday June 30. He will also be available for autographs and photos. The boxing card will be televised on Showtime.

Fights on television

Fri. ESPN2, 7 p.m., Ruslan Provodnikov (21-1) vs. Jose Reynoso (16-3-1).

Sat. Showtime, 9 p.m. Cornelius Bundrage (31-4) vs. Cory Spinks (39-6).

Sat. Telefutura, 11 p.m., Michael Perez (15-1-1) vs. Eric Cruz (13-9-3).