Featherweight

Josh Warrington had hoped for a huge summer showdown against IBF champion Lee Selby. Instead, the unbeaten featherweight faces a tricky test against Patrick Hyland on Saturday.

The 25-year-old from Leeds, England, will have home advantage at the First Direct Arena—but his WBC International belt won't be on the line.

Hyland failed with two attempts to make weight on Friday, though the bout still goes ahead.

Also on the bill, Tyrone Nurse's defence of the British super lightweight title against Tommy Coyle. There is also an intriguing heavyweight clash between domestic rivals Dillian Whyte and David Allen, while Luke Campbell takes on former world champion Argenis Mendez.

Bleacher Report will provide live updates of the action from 8:30 p.m. BST (3:30 p.m. ET).

When: Saturday, July 30

Time: 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)

Pride And Groom

Warrington (23-0, 4 KOs) has two big summer dates circled in his diary.

The former Commonwealth and European champion may have a big fight to focus on, but he's also had to make sure preparations are perfect ahead of his wedding day in August.

He told Lee Sobot of the Yorkshire Evening Post: "My stag do will be going out for a pint with Patrick after the fight—that will be it. The wedding is three weeks on Saturday. It’s hectic but if I just stay focused on the boxing—that’s all I can do. I’ll save the stag do until I fight for a world title."

Before worrying about suits and speeches, Warrington needs to deal with Hyland, an experienced fighter at 126 pounds.

His original plan was to face Welshman Selby at Elland Road—the home of Leeds United—in an outdoor stadium fight. However, the only shots the pair have exchanged have been in the media.

Whether Warrington and Selby ever meet remains uncertain, but the former told Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Tim Hobbs of SkySports.com) he expects to fight for a major title in the near future: "The fans are all excited. They are desperate for a world title but this is the stumbling block in the way I've got to get through this and if I get through, the world title is on the horizon—it will be the next one after this."

The Yorkshireman has so far come through every test put in front of him. 

He found a way to deal with the tall Hisashi Amagasa last time out, winning for a third successive outing on points to extend his unbeaten record.

Hyland doesn't provide the same physical problems as the 5′10 ½" Amagasa, yet he can throw a spanner in the works.

For Warrington, it is all about marching on in the ring before he then walks down the aisle.

Dangerous Underdog

Hyland (31-2, 15 KOs) was last seen losing to fellow featherweight Gary Russell Jr. inside two rounds.

The Irishman's bid to win the WBC belt came to a quick and painful end. Southpaw Russell Jr. dropped his opponent to the canvas three times in a bout that lasted just four minutes and 33 seconds.

Rather than ease back in, Hyland jumped at the chance to face Warrington. He told Joe O'Neill of Irish-Boxing.com: "The big fights [are] what I want and the big fights [are] what I’m looking for."

Per Odds Shark, The Punisher is priced at 3-1 for victory, a fair price for a dangerous underdog. It should be remembered his only two defeats have come at world level—the other was a points loss to interim WBA champion Javier Fortuna in 2012.

The 32-year-old from Dublin has been a pro for over a decade, so stepping out in front of a raucous Leeds crowd shouldn't bother him too much.

Like his rival, Hyland hopes a win will lead to a challenge for a major belt.

He told Sky Sports (h/t Matt Horan of SkySports.com): "I'm very confident going into this fight, and it's a great opportunity to prove that I'm still capable of challenging for world titles."

In what is a rare occurrence in the sport these days, the two fighters have been extremely respectful to each other during the buildup to their clash.

However, the pleasantries will be put on temporary hold when the first bell sounds in Leeds. Both men know a defeat would be a disaster at this time of their careers.

Prediction

Hyland struggled to cope with Russell Jr. However, Warrington's record of just four knockout victories suggests he doesn't carry the same kind of power as the American.

He will, however, put the pressure on for as long as he's still standing. The home favourite will set a high tempo and look to outwork his rival, whose failure to make the weight limit is a red flag.

While Warrington has gone the championship distance in his last three bouts, Hyland hasn't done 12 rounds since losing to Fortuna over three years ago.

The first half of the fight will be absorbing to watch, but eventually Warrington will take control on his way to recording yet another points triumph.

After beating domestic rival Scott Quigg in February to become a unified world champion at super bantamweight, Carl "The Jackal" Frampton found himself with options.

A rematch with Quigg—the man he defeated to add the WBA title to the IBF crown he already had in his possession—was a non-starter, considering his long-time adversary suffered a broken jaw in their bout at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.

Yet Frampton was never likely to go back over old ground, at least not right away.

The Jackal admitted as much in the immediate aftermath, per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport: "If I have to have a rematch and the public demands it, no problem.

"But I'd rather move on to bigger and better things. The world's our oyster."

In announcing he will step up to featherweight to face Leo Santa Cruz, Frampton has stayed true to his word.

The fight will take place in New York during the summer, per the Press Association (h/t the Guardian). A date and exact location, however, have yet to be confirmed.

Boxing Monthly summed up Frampton against Santa Cruz in a well-worded tweet:

Santa Cruz is definitely a big test for Frampton. The Mexican has campaigned at featherweight for his last three fights and is the holder of the WBA title at 126 pounds.

But is he better than anyone Frampton has faced before? Wins over Abner Mares and Kiko Martinez in his last two outings would suggest as much, but that point is a matter of opinion.

It should not be forgotten that Quigg was an undefeated world champion before he faced the Northern Irishman earlier this year, although Santa Cruz is ranked No. 3 in the featherweight division by The Ring magazine.

Frampton had flirted with the idea of moving up in weight before.

After climbing off the canvas twice to beat Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. on points on his American debut in July 2015, he told ITV Sport (h/t the Guardian): "I have to seriously consider whether to stay at this weight or go to featherweight. I had a lot of weight to take off during the last few days before the fight."

He stuck around at super bantam for the lucrative fight with Quigg but showed little interest in defending his newly acquired WBA title against Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, per Richard Damerell of SkySports.com.

Stripped of that belt, Frampton has made his life a little easier by switching to featherweight. While four pounds may not seem much to most of us, it is a much bigger deal for a boxer.

Fighting for the WBA belt at featherweight is also a big deal for historical reasons. Barry McGuigan—Frampton’s manager—is a former holder of the crown, adding an interesting twist to the storyline.

McGuigan lost the title on American soil in the summer of 1986. Fighting outdoors against Steve Cruz, the Clones Cyclone wilted in the Las Vegas heat, losing on points.

Frampton is confident the same doesn’t happen to him (although it seems unlikely his bout will take place outside), telling Frank Brownlow of the Belfast Telegraph:

It's a really special opportunity, the kind of fight that dreams are made of—and its an opportunity to win the World belt that my manager Barry McGuigan won in 1985.

It's 30 years since Barry lost the title in Las Vegas to Steve Cruz and now I'm fighting a Cruz for the same title in the States. It's going to bring back a lot of memories for people.

Some will be saying that Barry lost to a Cruz in America and maybe I will. But I am going there with a lot of confidence.

For Frampton to succeed, he will have to work out a way to deal with his opponent’s size advantage.

According to BoxRec, El Terremoto stands at 5’7.5” and has a reach of 69”. In contrast, Frampton is 5’5” tall, with his reach measured at 62”.

Still, the 5’8” Quigg couldn’t make the most of his height earlier this year. Chris Avalos is 5’7” tall, and Frampton stopped him in Round 5 in February 2015.

Gonzalez (5'7") was taller, too. But once Frampton focused on the task at hand, rather than trying to put on a show while appearing on a Premier Boxing Champions card, size didn't matter.

Santa Cruz—a three-weight world champion—may be tall, but he also throws a high volume of shots.

Bob Canobbio pointed out for CompuBox that the 27-year-old averaged 99 punches a round during his five fights in 2012.

Such a high work rate, coupled with his physical size, could wear down Frampton over time.

However, Northern Irishman Dave McAuley believes his compatriot can rise to the challenge, the former flyweight world champion telling the Belfast News Letter: "He [Frampton] has the gift that if the fighter is awful—he will be slightly better and if the fighter is good—he will be slightly better, And if the other guy is very good—Carl will be slightly better, We have not seen the best of him and the better the fighter he faces, the better he will become."

Frampton has also shown his ability to adapt on his route to the top.

In his second of two fights with Martinez, he kept his distance and dominated with his superior boxing skills, leading to a points win. Against Avalos, he picked apart a wild puncher to force a stoppage.

Santa Cruz also coped easily with the pressurising tactics of Martinez, knocking him down twice in Round 1. The Spaniard did rally from the double setback, but he was stopped on his feet in Round 5.

For Frampton, fighting Santa Cruz is a wonderful opportunity. He can become a two-weight world champion on American soil, as well as a leading figure in a well-stocked division.

A unification fight with Welshman Lee Selby—the IBF holder—would be easy to make back in Britain before the end of the year.

The two camps have formed a working relationship, as Sanigar Events—who look after Selby—is teaming up with Cyclone Promotions to co-promote Lee Haskins' fight with Ivan Morales on May 14, per Boxing Wales.

As for the other champions at featherweight, Vasyl Lomachenko and Gary Russell Jr. hold the WBO and WBC titles respectively. It could be argued that taking on either of the duo would be a step up again from Cruz, with The Ring ranking them both above the Mexican.

If Frampton can follow in the footsteps of his famous manager and become the WBA champion, he will again be in the wonderful position of having options.

Follow @RobLancs79

Josh Warrington puts his WBC International featherweight title on the line on Saturday when he faces Hisashi Amagasa in Leeds, England.

Local lad Warrington (22-0, 4 KOs) is back on familiar turf at the First Direct Arena. His last appearance was in the venue, as he dominated Joel Brunker to win by unanimous decision in September 2015.

Now he returns to the same scene to take on Amagasa (30-5-2, 20 KOs), an experienced fighter best known for twice knocking down Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Also on the card, Stuart Hall (19-4-2, 7 KOs) takes on Rodrigo Guerrero (24-5-1, 16 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF bantamweight title that is currently held by Lee Haskins.

When: Saturday, April 16, at 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: SkyGo (UK—subscription required)

Toughest Test

Warrington claimed the Commonwealth, British and European belts in a hurry, beating Samir Mouneimne, Martin Lindsay and Davide Dieli, respectively, to claim the titles.

Now, though, he wants to be a world champion.

The 25-year-old has long been linked with a fight against reigning IBF champion Lee Selby. Barely an interview goes by without Warrington being asked about the possibility of facing the Welshman.

However, before he faces another barrage of questions about an all-British battle in the summer, he must first get past the dangerous Amagasa.

Warrington admitted at Thursday's pre-fight press conference that his Japanese opponent is the biggest test of his career to date: "He's a real challenge for me. There's as much at stake here for him as there is me.

"I've been training really hard. I'm not looking past Saturday—I'm looking forward to it."

The home favourite will have to work out a way to cope with Amagasa, who stands at 5'10 ½" tall (Warrington is 5'7"). The challenger also has 20 knockouts on his record, suggesting he hits hard at 126 pounds.

But, as Warrington added: "I've passed each test with flying colours."

He was excellent against Brunker, dominating the Australian to hand him just a second loss. The other fighter to beat Brunker? Selby, of course.

With his domestic rival retaining his IBF crown with victory over Eric Hunter at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, it is now up to Warrington to respond.

Road Warrior

For the first time in his career, Amagasa will be fighting outside of his homeland.

He needs to be prepared for a raucous atmosphere inside the First Direct Arena. Warrington's promoter, Eddie Hearn, gave the visitor an idea of what he can expect on Twitter:

Of course, once the first bell sounds, what's going on outside the ring won't matter. While the atmosphere may be a new experience for Amagasa, he can lean on the knowledge he gained in losing to Rigondeaux.

The Cuban—who sits at No. 5 in the Ring magazine pound-for-pound rankings—came close to suffering a first pro defeat in December 2014.

Amagasa sent Rigondeaux, who held the WBA and WBO super bantamweight belts at the time, to the canvas not once but twice in Round 7 of their contest:

After recording the first knockdown, Amagasa celebrated like the bout was already over. Sadly for him, Rigondeaux recovered from the double setback to go on and secure victory.

Amagasa retired on his stool after Round 11. He had considerable swelling to the left of his mouth, but more importantly, the decision to drop down to super bantam had drained him to such a degree that he was unable to go the distance.

Now back at featherweight, he should feel more comfortable on the scales.

Since losing to Rigondeaux, the 30-year-old recorded wins over Patomsith Pathompothong and Nathan Bolcio in 2015.

But will Amagasa be as good on the road? If he can hand Warrington a first defeat, not only will he silence the crowd, but he'll also put himself on track for another chance at a world title.

Prediction

Warrington knows what is at stake. Amagasa would be a great name to add to his CV, and it would increase the odds of a summer showdown against Selby.

With a passionate crowd behind him, Warrington will find a way to come through and keep his world-title dream alive.

Expect the Englishman to win on points, but Amagasa will make it fun to watch for the full 12 rounds.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes used were obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.

Lee Selby makes the second defence of his IBF featherweight title on Saturday when he faces Eric Hunter at the O2 Arena in London.

The Welshman (22-1, 8 KOs) returns to the venue where he became a world champion, beating Evgeny Gradovich on a technical decision in May 2015 after the fight was stopped due to a clash of heads.

Now he heads back to the English capital looking to see off the challenge of Hunter, an American with a 21-3 (11 KOs) record that includes two defeats by disqualification.

The fight is part of a packed card that is headlined by the heavyweight clash between Britain's Anthony Joshua and reigning IBF champion Charles Martin.

When: Saturday, April 9, 9 p.m. BST (4 p.m. ET)

Where: 02 Arena, London

TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK—pay-per-view channel)

Practice Makes Perfect

⚡️⚡️⚡️ LEE SELBY Hand Speed @leeselby126 April 9th ➡️ #ANDSTILL pic.twitter.com/DXyaSMtFog

— bunsa (@sonny_slinger) April 5, 2016

Selby had his CV questioned by Hunter questioned Selby's CV, telling Sky Sports (h/t Richard Damerell of SkySports.com): "He's not really fought anyone yet. He fought (former IBF champion) Evgeny Gradovich, who has not really been the same since he fought Billy Dib. He just walked forward with his hands up."

What cannot be questioned, however, is the commitment the champion has shown to retaining his title.

The 29-year-old from Barry, Wales, has previously headed to the United States for part of his training camps, but this time he opted to stay at home.

He has been getting rounds under his belt by going up against his younger brother Andrew, a flyweight who fights for the vacant British title on May 14.

Selby also prepared for what the tricky Hunter might throw at him by travelling to Sheffield, England, to face Kid Galahad, a former British, Commonwealth and European champion at super bantamweight who is free to box again after having his two-year suspension for failing a drug test shortened by six months.

Both sparring partners were selected for a reason, as Selby told Nick Parkinson of ESPN.co.uk:

Because the fight is in the UK, I thought it was better to stay in the UK to train rather than go to America this time. He [Hunter] is a switch hitter so I've been up to the Ingle Gym in Shefield where they have a lot of switch hitters.

My brother [Andrew] is a switch hitter too so I've been working with him and sparring with Kid Galahad. It was really good sparring with Kid Galahad and that was the best place for me to train."

No stone seems to have been left unturned in preparing for his maiden defence of the IBF strap on British soil.

It is not, however, the first time he has fought as a world champion. He travelled to Arizona last October to face the experienced Fernando Montiel in his debut outing for Premier Boxing Champions.

While Selby managed to record a comfortable points victory (the scores were 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112 in his favour), he didn't quite produce a performance to dazzle an American audience.

Now, though, he is back at a venue where he holds a 3-0 record, having previously beaten Ryan Walsh, Joel Brunker and Gradovich, at the O2.

Wherever he goes, however, the fighter nicknamed Lightning always takes a bit of Barry with him:

50 Cent's Worth

Featherweight Hunter has received some heavyweight support ahead of the biggest fight of his career to date.

Curtis Jackson—better known as rapper 50 Cent—put out a photo on his Instagram account backing the Philadelphia boxer to become the new IBF champion.

The 29-year-old is ranked third by the IBF, per FightNews.com, but is not particularly well-known outside of his own back yard.

He has had a strange old career so far, too.

Against Luis Franco in 2010, he was disqualified for repeatedly landing low blows. Then, three years later, he was chucked out of another bout, against Mike Oliver, for hitting on the break.

Hunter has also had extended spells of inactivity—he fought just once in 2006 and then made only a solitary appearance again in 2009, while his most recent outing was a quick knockout against Antonio Escalante in May 2015.

A win in Round 1 hardly seems ideal preparation for a world-title tilt, but Hunter has not lacked for confidence in the buildup.

The American also has a chip on his shoulder after not being given the chance to perform in the pre-fight media workouts on Monday, staged at the famous York Hall venue in Bethnal Green, London. He said of the snub, per Damerell of SkySports.com:

I don't think it was fair, because I was looking forward to seeing the UK fans, interacting with them and seeing how they feel about me coming to their country to fight their champion.

I wished they had got to see me. It wasn't my fault, but they didn't invite me. I guess they didn't want to see my talent being shown. They were trying to keep me out of the loop, so the UK fans could boo me on fight night.

The British boxing fans will get to see Hunter in action soon enough—50 Cent, however, will be watching on with interest from afar.

Prediction

If Selby wants the chance to take on Carl Frampton, as he revealed to BBC Radio Wales (h/t BBC Sport), he cannot afford to come unstuck against Hunter.

His dedication to the cause means the challenger won't take him by surprise.

Selby will have to be patient, but he will eventually prove his class. Expect the champion to retain his belt with a stoppage win between Round 8 and Round 10.

Leo Santa Cruz is a Los Angeles boxer through and through, and he harbors the kind of grand ambitions one might expect from someone hailing from a city full of bright lights and big dreamers. 

"I want to accomplish many things," said Santa Cruz, per BoxingScene.com's Lyle Fitzsimmons. "I want to be a multiple world champion. I want to be, maybe, a six-time world champion. I want to move to 130 and hopefully win a title right there, then 135 and 140. I think 140's the highest I want to move up in weight."

Before Santa Cruz, nicknamed "El Terremoto," can accumulate so many titles, he has to prove he can consistently defend the ones he's already picked up in his pro career. It's not enough to just reach the top; taking on worthy challengers is part of the deal.

The 27-year-old has already done so with bantamweight and super bantamweight titles. He will look to make his first defense of his WBA Super world featherweight title on Saturday against former super bantamweight titleholder Kiko "La Sensacion" Martinez. 

As the main event on a day packed with a couple of other high-profile boxing cards, Santa Cruz is looking to prove that he can draw big crowds and strong ratings.


Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez Viewing Info

When: Saturday at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Honda Center in Anaheim, California

TV: Showtime

Live Stream: Showtime Anytime

Boxing fans who are looking to get their weekend fight fix have plenty of options Saturday. Carl Frampton is set to take on Scott Quigg across the pond in Manchester, England, with both Frampton's IBF super bantamweight title and Quigg's WBA strap on the line. In the evening, WBO super lightweight champion Terence "Bud" Crawford returns to action against Hank Lundy from Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Santa Cruz's bout is scheduled to take place at right around the same time as Crawford's, but boxing fans would be foolish to pass up on watching his fight if they have the chance.

An indefatigable pressure fighter with a wide variety of punches, Santa Cruz makes for great television. His 12-round, majority-decision win over Abner Mares in August for the vacant WBA title was a nonstop slugfest. According to CompuBox, the two boxers combined for 2,031 punches, landing 599 of them.

Martinez makes for an underwhelming first opponent for Santa Cruz after becoming a three-time world champion, halfway to his stated goal. The 29-year-old has fought (and lost to) big names such as Quigg and Frampton in the past, and he is a hard hitter with a 63 percent KO rate. He also promises to challenge Santa Cruz, per Sherdog.com's Bernard Fernandez: 

I had been scheduled to fight for the European [featherweight] title. When this opportunity came up, I decided to give up the European title to come to America to fight Santa Cruz. Now, more boxing fans will get to see me. I will not take one step back. I will come forward the whole fight. I have a lot of respect for Leo Santa Cruz. He’s a great fighter who’s clearly one of the best featherweights in the world and a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter. Leo and I are true warriors, so this will be a brutal fight, but I have what it takes and I will be victorious.

If he comes out swinging and doesn't dance around, a brutal fight is a certainty, but victory would seem unlikely. Santa Cruz is a heavy favorite to win the bout, garnering steep 1-50 odds on Odds Shark. Martinez's line is at 14-1.

It isn't helping matters that Martinez will also be without his regular trainer for the bout, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times: "Gaby Sarmiento experienced visa problems attempting to leave Spain this week, Martinez said Wednesday, and he’ll be replaced by veteran Southland trainer Robert Garcia."

Add that to distinct height and reach advantages for Santa Cruz, and, well, you have all the trappings of a one-sided affair. Even if the bout is briefer than most Santa Cruz bouts—he has 17 knockouts in 32 career bouts—the fighting on display should be intense. He Cruz has no problems moving forward and playing the aggressor, and he can quickly descend on opponents with his relatively long frame.

He'll have to exercise caution against the hard-hitting Martinez, but his speed and volume can make up for any deficit in power. 

Assuming Santa Cruz defeats Martinez, fans might wonder if he's going to make a quick move up the ladder in order to get a bead on his stated goal of winning titles in a wide swath of weight classes. As Fitzsimmons noted, he has the lanky frame to make his lofty dreams a reality: 

Indeed, at a shade past 5-foot-7, he's just a half-inch shorter than reigning WBO reigning 140-pound kingpin Terence Crawford, and actually Stands about an inch taller than the division's outspoken WBA champion, Adrien Broner. The WBC champion at 140, Viktor Postol, is an anomaly at 5-foot-11, while IBF/IBO ruler Eduard Troyanovsky is, like Crawford, a more reasonable 5-foot-8.

However, Santa Cruz suggested he wants to stick around in the featherweight class and prove himself against some of the biggest names in the sport.

"We’re hoping to fight at least three times,” Santa Cruz said, per the Orange County Register's Damian Calhoun. “If everything goes right (next weekend), I want to call out the winner of Scott Quigg-Carl Frampton, (IBF champion) Lee Selby, WBA champion (Jesus) Cuellar, (WBC champion) Gary Russell. ... There are some good opponents out there.”

The winner of the Quigg-Frampton bout would be the ideal next opponent for Santa Cruz. It would have a broad, global appeal and potentially set him on a path to wide-reaching fame and stardom. His frenetic style is a pleasure to watch, and he boasts a killer hook.

Even though he's not a particularly hard puncher, one can imagine Santa Cruz's bravery, work rate and rags-to-riches story winning over fans of any division, perhaps even as high as 140. 

Odds updated as of Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 a.m. ET.

Heavily favored Diego De La Hoya took care of business Friday night against Arturo Badillo in the featherweight main event at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles.

De La Hoya (14-0, eight knockouts) won with a knockout in the fourth round after a vicious left hook to the body that eventually ended Badillo's night. However, that wasn't the only left he landed well, via Golden Boy Promotions:

At one point in time, this fight might have been closer. Badillo (20-10, 19 KOs) fought for the 2011 World Boxing Association super flyweight belt, but now has lost six fights in a row and nine out of his past 10.

That wasn't the case Friday night, however, as this one belonged to De La Hoya, the cousin of former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya.

Diego posed with Oscar (who also is his promoter) after the victory, via Golden Boy Promotions:

Weighing in at 126.0 pounds, De La Hoya controlled most of the match against the 124.5-pound Badillo in his first fight of 2016, per Boxingscene.com: "De La Hoya broke down Badillo with punishment to the body, round after round, until a hook close [sic] the show in the fourth which sent Badillo down for the full count."

The 21-year-old victor talked the strategy that led to his win, per BoxingNews24.com:

At first, the excitement got the best of me and I was trying to look for a knockout but in the second round I realized I was going to play in to his game. I decided to change the pace and take my time and just play to safe. By the third round, I realized he was getting tired and that’s when I decided to take advantage and dedicate the third round to knocking him out.

Badillo, who has not won a fight since 2013, acknowledged De La Hoya was just too much for him, per BoxingNews24.com:

I knew about Diego de la Hoya’s fighting style, and I was prepared to fight a very tough opponent. I felt comfortable in the ring in the first couple of rounds. I don’t feel hurt, but that shot in the liver really harmed me. Unfortunately, those things happen and all I can do is go back to the gym and train for my next fight.

De La Hoya obviously takes after his cousin as he continues to be one of the rising stars in the sport. It's most likely only a matter of time before he starts to take center stage and fight for championships just like Oscar.

WBO featherweight champion Vasyl "Hi-Tech" Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KO) will defend his title against Romulo Koasicha (25-4, 15 KO) on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The bout is the co-featured fight on the undercard of Timothy Bradley vs. Brandon Rios.

When: Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9:30 p.m. ET

Where: Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation

Lomachenko has only had five professional fights, but he's already one of the 10-15 best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Some will wait for Lomachenko to face and beat more notable competition, but after watching the 27-year-old Ukrainian in action against Orlando Salido and Gary Russell Jr., Hi-Tech passes the eye test with flying colors.

Salido earned the split-decision victory in March 2014, but Lomachenko was coming on with a vengeance in the second half of the fight. He simply ran out of time. Against Russell Jr.—one of the most physically gifted fighters in the sport—Lomachenko proved to have comparable speed, better punching accuracy and superior footwork.

He secured a majority decision in that bout to win his world title in June 2014.

Koasicha is a rugged, 24-year-old Mexican fighter getting his first shot at a world title. As if he didn't have enough to worry about with Lomachenko, Koasicha must also quickly acclimate himself with the brighter lights associated with a televised Las Vegas bout.

He's never fought in the United States before, and just one of his previous bouts has taken place outside of Mexico. That was a lopsided unanimous-decision loss to Lee Selby in May 2014. 

The Last Time Out

Lomachenko Stops Rodriguez (May 2, 2015, Las Vegas)

Gamalier Rodriguez showed grit and determination in lasting eight-plus rounds with Lomachenko, but ultimately, the champion's speed and skill overwhelmed him. A combination forced Rodriguez to take a knee in the ninth round. Seconds after looking to his corner for a potential rescue, Rodriguez didn't respond to referee Robert Byrd's count.

He didn't look as badly hurt as he was frustrated and mentally broken. Lomachenko put on an incredible display of footwork, level-changing punching and hand speed. This was a fight that probably never should've been made. Rodriguez was clearly outclassed.

Koasicha Too Much for Avila (July 24, 2015, Mexico City)

Koasicha used a relentless assault on the body to chop down Guillermo Avila en route to a seventh-round TKO win. Avila was game, but he simply couldn't match Koasicha's power. 

The latter's left hook to the body was especially effective, as he floored Avila on two occasions with this punch. In the victory, Koasicha showed great balance and looked every bit the part of a lean boxer-puncher in the featherweight division.

That said, he's about to step into the ring with an opponent whose talent level is beyond anything he's seen in his career.

What's at Stake

Lomachenko is seemingly biding his time. There are a few potential fights for him on the horizon, namely a scrap with former WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters. Lomachenko would likely have to go up to super featherweight to make that fight, as Walters lost his title on the scales in his last bout with Miguel Marriaga.

There's also the possibility of facing WBO super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. The two men have similar amateur backgrounds and dynamic skill sets. Per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Lomachenko would've preferred to fight Rigondeaux instead of Koasicha, but when that didn't happen, he took what promoter Top Rank Boxing delivered to him.

"I don't know much—nothing, really—about my opponent," Lomachenko said. "My promoter, Top Rank, made the match, and I am good with it. I will be ready and am anxious to get back into the ring."

If Lomachenko has a slip-up against Koasicha, he won't have to worry about chasing Walters or Rigondeaux. Doubts about his legitimacy will be rekindled, and he'll again have to prove himself worthy of being called elite.

Koasicha has the opportunity of a lifetime. The 24-year-old Mexican is getting a shot at a legitimate world title in his American debut. A win would undoubtedly change his life. A strong showing would even present a whole new set of opportunities.

Prediction

Koasicha is not a tomato can, but he's also not on Lomachenko's level. The body punching is an intriguing element in this fight, but it's hard not to imagine Lomachenko changing angles and disturbing any rhythm Koasicha attempts to establish.

Count on another virtuoso performance from Lomachenko as he coasts to a lopsided unanimous-decision win.

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Lee Selby enjoyed a winning debut on American soil. The scorecards suggest it was an easy night against Fernando Montiel, but in truth it was anything but for the Welshman.

The IBF featherweight champion will return home to Barry, Wales, with the belt still in his possession, though he may not be in a rush to return to Glendale, Arizona.

He was awarded the bout by scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 116-112, moving his record to 22-1 (8 KOs).

Yet the table had been set for Selby to do more than just defend the title.

He had wanted to put on a show in his first outing since signing a promotional deal with Al Haymon. It was the chance for him to announce himself to the rest of the featherweight division live on ESPN.

Montiel seemed the ideal man to impress against, too.

While he is a former three-weight world champion, the Mexican had never reigned at 126 pounds, and at the age of 36, he was seen as past his best.

Montiel was a decent name to add to the CV. He would pose enough of a threat but was not seen as a serious danger to spoil Selby’s best-laid plans.

However, Selby was forced to work much harder than many expected. Lauded after systematically breaking down Evgeny Gradovich in May, he must have had Americans wondering what all the fuss was about.

The 28-year-old was not pleased with his display, as he told Owen Rawlings of BBC Wales Sport:

I am not happy, I can box a lot better. It was my first fight in America and I wanted to impress, but I did not perform as I thought I would.

...

It was hard to find my range and land cleanly on him due to his experience.

I've got to take confidence from it. He's a top fighter so I've gained a lot of experience and dug deep when I had to.

So, what went wrong?

First, Selby found himself in a rather unusual situation.

When he won the title by beating Russian Gradovich, it was on a Saturday night in front of a sizeable crowd at the O2 Arena in London. His maiden defence, however, took place at the Gila River Arena. Nope, I'd never heard of it beforehand either.

The bout also took place on a Wednesday night in front of a small audience that favoured Montiel, considering Arizona’s close proximity to Mexico.

The lack of atmosphere, coupled with his over-eagerness to perform, led to Selby struggling with both his accuracy and timing.

At one stage, he suffered the embarrassment of falling forwards onto the canvas when a shot was so wayward it caused him to lose his balance completely.

Normally comfortable boxing off the back foot, Selby was reactive rather than proactive. The jab was flicked out rather than pushed right into Montiel's face.

He was also caught with the left hook on far too many occasions. There never seemed a danger of a knockdown occurring, but better fighters—bigger featherweights—would have taken note.

It should not be overlooked, however, that Selby’s struggles were not all of his own doing.

Montiel may have had a disadvantage in terms of size (5'4" compared to Selby's 5'8 ½"), but he had the upper hand when it came to experience.

Cochulito fought only in bursts, and always towards the end of each round. Once the noise to confirm the final 10 seconds sounded, he would immediately move onto the front foot.

His tactics didn’t do enough to con the judges, though.

Selby was rightly crowned the winner, though very few on Twitter agreed with two of the three cards:

Selby suffered a cut above his right eye from a clash of heads in the sixth round. His ego may also be a little bruised.

Any talk of fighting some of the biggest names at featherweight—Selby had previously mentioned Leo Santa Cruz, per Boxing News—should be silenced for the immediate future. Instead, the Brit should return to more familiar surroundings and show he has learned from his tricky night in Arizona.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told Rawlings, "I would love to see him come back to Wales now and have a big homecoming.”

A mandatory defence is likely to be next, but Selby’s subpar display in the U.S. may have pushed him closer to a showdown with Englishman Josh Warrington in 2016.

Warrington told Sky Sports that his domestic rival doesn’t need to be in a rush for the big names. "I don't think he should step up to unification fights yet because there were a couple of mistakes in there and against the top guys, you get punished," he said. "It'd be nice for him to go to Wales for his fans and have another learning fight."

The current Commonwealth champion, who hails from Leeds, England, obviously has an ulterior motive.

However, Selby will know that a bout with Warrington makes sense financially.

Elland Road, the home of Leeds United, would be an ideal venue, and Selby has never had an issue going on the road. In fact, it seems he relishes it.

"I’d fancy fighting there in Leeds with all the crowd," he told Press Association (h/t the Guardian) prior to facing Montiel. "I was up there at one of his fights working for Sky and they were throwing pints of beer at me and calling me all sorts of stuff. So I’d love to go up there and knock him out in front of them all."

If Selby deals with both a mandatory challenger and Warrington by the end of next summer, the time would then be right for a return to America. Just perhaps not to Glendale, though.

Lee Selby will make his American debut Wednesday as he defends his IBF featherweight title against the experienced Fernando Montiel.

The Welshman Selby (21-1, 8 KOs) will be in action for the first time since signing a promotional deal to join Al Haymon's ever-growing stable of fighters.

While the idea may be for big fights in New York or Las Vegas at some stage, The Barry Boy Assassin begins his U.S. adventure in the lesser-known venue of the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The midweek bout sees him going up against a man in Montiel who made his professional debut way back in 1996. The Mexican has a 54-4-2 record, with 39 of those victories coming by knockout.

When: Wednesday, October 14, 6 p.m. local (9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. Thurs BST)

Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona

TV: ESPN (U.S.), Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: WatchESPN (U.S.; regional restrictions apply) Sky Go (UK; regional restrictions apply)

American Adventure

Selby is not taking an easy option in the first defence of the title he won in May.

He claimed the IBF belt by systematically breaking down the teak-tough Evgeny Gradovich, with their bout at the O2 Arena in London stopped in the eighth round due to a cut above the Russian's right eye.

All three scorecards had it tallied in favour of Selby, with one judge awarding him every round.

A slick boxer who has been the British, Commonwealth and European champion at the weight, the 28-year-old has the skills to impress a new audience in the United States.

It will help his profile that the bout will be broadcast on free-to-air television in the United States, even if it is taking place on a Wednesday night in Arizona.

However, Selby knows he has to be at his best against Montiel, per David Anderson of the Mirror: 

It is a bit of a gamble. But I didn't want to be like most other fighters who have an easy first defence against some unknown on home turf.

I want to go to America and fight an ex-three-weight world champion and build up my profile over there.

It is a tough fight and Montiel has been a pro for 20 years. He's unbeaten in the last four years, but this is the sort of fight I need and I feel I'm more than capable of winning.

If Selby is to retain his title, he will do it with precision, not power.

He has a career knockout rate of 36 percent, though three of his last four bouts have finished inside the distance.

There are big fights on either side of the Atlantic on the horizon for Selby. He has already mentioned the name of Leo Santa Cruz in an interview with George Gigney of Boxing News.

However, Selby could instead stay home and offer Josh Warrington a crack at his world title—an Anglo-Welsh showdown, most likely in Warrington's back yard in Leeds, England, would be richly rewarding.

First, though, Selby has to make sure he retains his focus on the present. That means getting the job done against Montiel and making a positive impression on a new fanbase.

The Wrong Guy

Montiel has quite a CV. The 36-year-old is a former three-weight world champion who has only lost four times in nearly two decades as a pro.

Cochulito is now trying to win a major belt at a fourth different weight. He is confident of achieving that feat by beating Selby, according to Boxing News 24:

I honestly believe that (Selby) chose the wrong guy to fight. I’ve had great preparation for this fight. All the work has been put in. He just chose the wrong guy to make his US debut against. 

I was very happy when I heard that we were going to fight in Arizona. There are lots of Mexicans here, so I know I’ll have a lot of people behind me on Wednesday. It’s going to be great to fight here.

He has a 17-3 record in world-title fights and has only been stopped once inside the distance, by Nonito Donaire in 2011.

Montiel was also beaten by Victor Terrazas in the same year, but has since reeled off eight wins on the spin.  

Arizona will also feel like a home away from home for the challenger. He has not fought outside of Mexico since being knocked out by Donaire inside two rounds, but should have the majority of the crowd support on his side.

Montiel, who stands at 5'4", will have to find a way to deal with a taller (Selby is 5′8 ½″) and younger opponent.

He does have the benefit of experience on his side, though. Don't expect him to take a backward step as he bids to claim yet another honour in his career.

Prediction

Selby is right to talk up the dangers of Montiel. 

However, the champion knows the size of the task facing him, and also what is at stake in terms of his earning potential.

If he stays out of range and keeps himself out of trouble, Selby will retain his crown on points. A late stoppage isn't out of the question, but Montiel has the heart to make it through to the final bell.