By James Slater: Last night in Mexico, light-middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo made a successful return to the ring after having been forced to remain idle for 13-months. “El Perro” (“The Dog”, as the 29-year-old is known, mauled Joseph Gomez, halting him with ease inside the very first-round.
A one-two to the body followed by a right hand to the top of the head decked Gomez, who never came close to beating the count. The time was one-minute and 24 seconds. Angulo is now 20-1(17). 26-year-old Gomez falls to 17-5-1(8).
As fans probably know, Angulo has been out of action due to promotional and visa issues. Splitting with Gary Shaw, Angulo was unable to get a visa to fight in the U.S. Now signed up with Golden Boy, it is to be hoped the exciting power puncher who has been beaten only by Kermit Cintron (on points back in May of 2009) will be able to fight in America once again.
Various internet reports say the World Boxing Council (WBC) will see to it that Angulo will next meet Vanes Martirosyan, in a final eliminator for a shot at WBC 154-pound champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Needless to say, if Angulo can achieve victory in those two fights he will have achieved the success many people feel he is capable of.
Now trained by the legendary Nacho Beristan, “El Perro” is in good hands. But will Golden Boy want to risk matching their new star, Alvarez, with such a dangerous and hungry contender? The word is it will be the unbeaten Martirosyan next though.
At 30-0(19), the 25-year-old Armenian-born “Nightmare,” as Vanes is known, is some hot ticket himself. Last time out be beat Saul Roman, picking up the Silver WBC 154-pound strap with the stoppage win, and Martirosyan would be some tough fight for Angulo – especially if it does happen next; what with Angulo still likely rusty from his layoff.
There are some potentially exciting times for the 154-pound division, and the return of Angulo has only made things more spicy. Angulo already holds good wins over the likes of Joel Julio, Joachim Alicine and Harry Joe Yorgey (all KO’s) and his enforced layoff has only made him determined to score more brutal stoppages. A fight between he and “Canelo” would be massive; in Mexico or the U.S.