Tonight! On ESPN2! Live boxing! From Hollywood, Florida! Welterweights! And other weights!
The main event pits welterweight prospect Brad Solomon (16-0, 7 KO) against young veteran Demetrius Hopkins (30-1-1, 11 KO). Hopkins, the nephew of Bernard, is a crafty fighter if nothing else, and is an appropriate step up for the flashy and stylish Solomon. If Solomon can look truly impressive against Hopkins, which isn't easy to do, then I think he solidifies himself as a fighter you really have to watch.
The co-feature was supposed to showcase slugger Chris Avalos, but the prospect pulled out at the last minute with a hand injury. Instead of Avalos against Yan Bathelemy (11-2, 4 KO) in what could have been an interesting fight to see if Avalos has improved after suffering his first loss last year, we have Barthelemy taking on Dominican Francis Ruiz (9-3, 4 KO). This is a much lesser fight than the originally scheduled bout, but I know nothing about Ruiz and this could be a wildcard fight. Maybe. Let's hope so.
Off TV in Florida, heavyweights Cedric Boswell and Oliver McCall are supposedly going to meet in a battle where the fighters combine for 86 years of age. I like the Bos, but if it was going to happen, it would have happened. McCall is still tougher than a two-dollar steak, but last I saw of him against Fres Oquendo he'd lost whatever speed and reflexes he ever had. Still, I'd almost rather see these two grind it out than the Barthelemy-Ruiz fight. (I hope by saying that I've "doomed" us to a surprise war between the two super bantams.)
All the action starts at 9pm EDT on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. Join us!
Note: Last time out I made the decision to have a different "Friday" themed video for every Friday Night Fights post. That time I featured "Stella," and this time, while I hate to be a sucker for the viral nonsense on the interweb, I can't pass this up while it's relevant. Er, "relevant."
(I also recommend the "Bob Dylan cover.")