Fernando Guerrero v. Michael Medina on June 17 Friday Night Fights

by Scott Christ on Apr 30, 2011 12:52 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Fernando Guerrero is back on the June 17 Friday Night Fights. (Photo by Prize Fight Promotions)

Unbeaten middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero returns to the ESPN2 airwaves on June 17, headlining that night's Friday Night Fights in Austin, Texas. Guerrero will face Michael "Murder Man" Medina in a 10-rounder.

Guerrero (21-0, 16 KO) is coming off a win on the program on February 18 over Derrick Findley, which has distinction as being the first boxing fight ever broadcast live in 3D, and as such sees constant airing on ESPN's 3D channel. Medina (24-3-2, 19 KO) has one of the best nicknames in boxing, but has lost two of his last three. In 2010 he dropped a split decision that shouldn't have been to John Duddy on the Pacquiao-Clottey card at Cowboys Stadium, and in his last fight he dropped veteran Saul Roman in the second round, only to get stopped himself in the same frame.

Medina, 24, is a fairly crude brawler. Guerrero, also 24, has to this date only had any real trouble with veteran guys who can box a little, such as Ishe Smith and Ossie Duran. He probably won't be taking a next major step up the ladder until 2012 at this rate, but he's become a TV regular when he fights, and has built up an impressive following in Salisbury, Maryland, too.

BoxRec.com also has a fight listed between Karim Mayfield (13-0-1, 8 KO) and Steve Forbes (35-9, 11 KO) for the show.

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Forbes is toast

Honestly not sure if Medina is any better than Guerrero-Tahdooahnippah that I kept heading grumblings about. No reason to rush Guerrero too much though. I like him a lot, but he needs the right circumstances to win a title. Might as well keep building his base and wait until he gets a shot at a really big fight. Honestly, from a dollars perspective, he might be one of the five or so best options for Martinez already.

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"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 30, 2011 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

Decent card for FNF. I'm not as down on this as you and Brick.

Medina is a decent opponent for Guerrero at this stage. He’s been in there against respectable competition and proven pretty sturdy (except for his last fight). And he can punch hard enough to provide some threat.

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by Matt Miller on Apr 30, 2011 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like a step sideways to me

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 30, 2011 4:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

that's my reaction

It’s fine, but I’d like to see him in with another Ishe or Ossie who can box some. Seems like that’s where he needs the work, not dealing with raw guys who can punch.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 30, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's a newbie question

Who’s fault is it? Is it all on Guerrero’s management team, or is there any feeling at all that possible opponents are ducking Guerrero? Any ideas why he’s taken so many lateral steps in his career path?

"Complacency is your demise." - Kerry King

by duck on Apr 30, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they’re protecting him a bit, but that’s not a knock on him or them. That’s par for the course for any prospect and any promoter. He’s shown some weaknesses in several fights (against Ishe, Ossie, Gabe Rosado – all guys who can box some) and they’re probably looking to get at least one money fight out of his undefeated record before really risking him too much. I doubt anyone’s really ducking him, but then we don’t get a lot of dirt on fights at this level — several guys similar to Medina’s level could well have passed on fighting Guerrero, but nobody really talks about that stuff because it’s not big news.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 30, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions