We'll have live, round-by-round coverage for two cards this week, and would like to apologize for having no live coverage of the Peter/Toney fight this past weekend, but everyone was either busy or unable to access the internet from their fight watching location.
But back to now -- on January 11, Antonio Pitalua challenges NABF lightweight champion Almazbek "Kid Diamond" Raiymkulov. Pitalua, a hard-punching veteran of the Mexican rings, fills in for Zahir Raheem, who pulled out of his comeback fight just a few weeks ago. On the undercard, middleweight prospect Anthony Thompson takes on journeyman Robert Frazier in front of his hometown fans in Philadelphia. Without Raheem, the card loses some spice, but Pitalua should have a puncher's chance, and his 41-3 record (with a nine-fight undefeated streak) will give him the experience edge over the younger, quicker champion. Diamond may be in for a tougher fight than most anticipate. Also, chances are good that this one won't go to the cards, as Pitalua hasn't gone to a decision since his last loss in 2001, and has gone the distance just five times in his career.