by James Slater – As fans may or may not know, a minor upset occurred in the heavyweight division back on April 8th, as tough journeyman Jason Gavern of Florida won a hard-fought ten-round split decision over dangerous Mexican/American banger Manuel Quezada of California. Coming into the fight after having won 18 bouts in a row – including a recent win that saw him ice fellow puncher Travis Walker inside a single round – Quezada was expected to keep his unbeaten streak going. Both fighters came out smoking and the action was good to watch as a result. In the end, though, Gavern, the slightly older man by a few months (both men are 32) prevailed with a split verdict, winning the biggest fight of his 29-fight pro career..
Now, according to Boxrec.com, the two men will do it all again on the upcoming May 8th card topped by Paul Williams Vs. Kermit Cintron. Not a huge or massively meaningful fight in the heavyweight division, Gavern-Quezada II will nevertheless fit in quite nicely as a good quality supporting bout, and the action figures to be well worth watching.
Gavern, 19-7-3(8) and nicknamed “The Sensation” is a reasonably small heavyweight by today’s standards. The 6’2″ and approx 225-pound warrior is also hardworking fighter who is both gutsy and durable; if not a big hitter. Stopped just once as a pro – by unbeaten and highly touted Russian hope Denis Boytsov (KO 7 in October of 2009) – Gavern holds wins over so-so fighters such as Raphael Butler, Damian Norris, Jermell Barnes and Cisse Salif. Can the man who also has a draw to his name with the aforementioned Travis walker get himself a second win over Quezda to add to his decent list of wins?
Quezada, 29-5(18) is also no juggernaut of a heavyweight at 6’2″ and also the approx same weight as Gavern at around the mid 220’s (size-wise these two are very well matched). Also like Gavern, Quezada has in his possession a good, reliable chin; with him also having been stopped just the one time – by a now-retired Las Vegas heavyweight named Dennis Weaver, way back in 2003. Having recently signed with Gossen Tutor promotions, Quezada was seen by some as a future world title challenger – his win over walker impressing a number of observers.
Wanting to achieve what Chris Arreola has thus far failed to do, and become the first fighter with Mexican roots to win a world heavyweight title, Quezada saw his goal knocked back quite a way by the Gavern loss. A revenge win may not silence the critics who said he was overrated all along, but you can bet your life Quezada will fight his heart out (as he did last time) as he tries to win the return.
Almost as soon as the first fight was over on April 8th, the two men began talking about a rematch. Gavern, who looked overjoyed to have won the CABOFFE title, was relatively unmarked, while the man he’d just upset was marked up quite a bit. Another hard night’s work now awaits both men.
Though Quezada has the edge in punch-power, he was unable to really hurt or wobble Gavern last time, and on the other side, Gavern was unable to really daze or stun Quezada. Though it’s always possible Quezada could catch Gavern with a bomb this time, I think another give-and-take distance fight awaits us. Once again scheduled for ten-rounds, the hastily arranged rematch will also need the opinion of the judges to decide the winner.
Basically a tossup affair, I go for Gavern to repeat his win. Hopefully, the action will serve as a great appetiser for the evening’s main course of “The Punisher” Vs. “The Killer.”