SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – One would have to think coming so close to a crack at a world title and coming up just short would be the end of things for many a fighter in the same place in life as longtime light heavyweight contender Otis Griffin. Financially stable outside of boxing and with little left to prove outside of winning the big one, Griffin is not ready to walk away just yet. World ranked for many of his eight-plus years as a professional, Griffin looks to take a small step back towards the top of the heap at 175-pounds against journeyman Adam Collins in the eight-round main event tonight in his adopted hometown at the inaugural fight night for the DoubleTree Hotel. Most fighters for the six-bout card weighed in Thursday afternoon at Sandra Dee’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood.
Having clawed his way back up the rankings after some terrible decisions, Griffin (23-10-2, 9 KOs) of Sacramento moved his way into a world title eliminator against Yusaf Mack in September of last year. It was not Griffin’s night, as Mack took a twelve-round split decision and the crack at IBF Light Heavyweight titleholder Tavoris Cloud. Unfortunately for Griffin, the loss to Mack touched off a four-fight skid marred by even more horrific scoring, namely in fights against Shawn Hawk and Cedric Agnew.
Putting those unfortunate road losses in the rearview, Griffin is back at home in Sacramento and finds himself beginning again in many ways against Collins (11-7, 8 KOs) of Ironton, Ohio. Collins with some of the best prospects in the division over the last year, but admittedly not fared very well. After his recent run of bad luck, it would be hard to blame Griffin for not taking on the stiffest test out there, especially for a homecoming return. Despite his record, Collins looked the part of a legitimate contender at the weigh-in, scaling a fit-and-trim 173 ½-pounds. Griffin, always in shape, scaled 176 ½-pounds.
The rest of the card, the first offering from upstart promoters O.P.P. Presents, features local area fighters in four-round bouts. Debuting light welterweight Juan “Chico” Martinez of Sacramento will take on Alonso Loeza (1-6-1, 1 KO) of Gilroy, California. Martinez, a fighter promoter Mark Nanney has high hopes for, scaled 142 ½-pounds. Loeza, who has a deceiving record considering most of his defeats came against well regarded prospects on short notice, weighed-in at 145-pounds.
In a pairing of debuting super featherweights, Alberto Torres of Sacramento takes on Sun Valley, California’s Christian Silva in a four-rounder. Torres weighed in at 128-pounds on Thursday afternoon, while his opponent Silva came in a pound lighter at 127.
Hot local ticket seller John Abella (1-0) of Sacramento will take on Misael Martinez (0-5) of Los Angeles, California by way of Managua, Nicaragua in a four-round super bantamweight bout. Abella impressed with drawing power and his performance in his debut four-round decision over Johnny Mancilla in Sacramento this past June. Martinez looks to have a tough road to hoe, as he is coming up in weight and ending a three-year layoff. Abella scaled 123 ½, while Martinez came in at 121 ½-pounds on Thursday.
Jose Alvarez (2-1) of Sanger, California will take on Gregorio Viramontes (0-2-1) of Woodbridge, California in a four-round super middleweight bout. Alvarez, who went all the way up to 178-pounds for his last fight, is back down where he belongs at super middleweight. Viramontes, who is coming off of a kayo loss to Sacramento’s Mike Guy, weighed-in at 168-pounds, as did Alvarez.
Rounding out the card was supposed to be Sacramento’s Mike Ortega (2-0, 1 KO) against Sacramento product Velvet Malone in a four-round light middleweight bout. However, Malone suffered a training injury earlier in the week. Taking his place on short notice is battle-tested Cleven Ishe (3-8, 1 KO) of Long Beach, California. Ortega, ending a layoff of over a year, weighed-in Thursday at 156-pounds. Ishe, who just fought two weeks ago, arrived into Sacramento late on Thursday and will weigh-in at the California State Athletic Commission’s office at noon today. Ishe must weigh no more than 162-pounds.
Tickets for the event, promoted by O.P.P. Presents, are available by calling 925-787-9586 or online at OPPBoxing.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
Light Heavyweights, 8 Rounds
Griffin 176 ½
Collins 173 ½
Welterweights, 4 Rounds
Martinez 142 ½
Loeza 145
Super Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Torres 128
Silva 127
Super Bantamweights, 4 Rounds
Abella 123 ½
Martinez 121 ½
Super Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Viramontes 168
Alvarez 168
Middleweights, 4 Rounds
Ortega 156
Ishe*
*will weigh-in at noon today
Photos by Stephanie Trapp
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
