Ricardo Sandoval goes to take advantage of a chance this time round, particularly with a potential title shot on the road.
Sandoval, rated No. 6 by The Ring at 112, meets former 108-pound titlist Angel Acosta in a ten-round flyweight contest. The matchup will precede the principle occasion between light-weight contender William Zepeda and Giovanni Cabrera.
Each fights will stream dwell on DAZN this Saturday (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT) from Toyota Area in Ontario, California.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Sandoval weighed in at 111.8 kilos. Acosta got here in at 111.6 kilos.
Sandoval (24-2, 17 knockouts), who resides in close by Rialto, fights for the second time in 2024. He stopped former world title challenger Carlos Buitrago after eight spherical son March 30 in Inglewood, California. The win over Buitrago occurred over 5 months after Sandoval defeated Victor Sandoval by unanimous resolution.
The 25-year-old has received his final 4 bouts since a detailed majority resolution defeat to David Jimenez. Sandoval was knocked down in within the eleventh spherical after a powerful first half.
After the win over Sandoval, Jimenez unsuccessfully challenged then-WBA world titleholder Artem Dalakian. Sandoval discovered a lesson from the Jimenez combat and received’t make these errors versus Acosta.
“In that combat, I went off the sport plan,” Sandoval instructed The Ring. “I had damage him to the physique earlier within the combat. I knew I used to be hurting him. It led me to solely throwing exhausting punches, particularly to the physique. My nook was telling me to field extra, and I didn’t pay attention.
“For this combat, I’m going to take heed to my nook and keep on with the sport plan.”
Puerto Rico’s Acosta (24-4, 22 KOs), who resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a former world titleholder at 108 kilos. The San Juan native has break up his final 4 bouts, together with losses to then-WBO world flyweight titleholder Junto Nakatani and Angelino Cordova.
Sandoval believes his sparring with elite, world championship expertise would be the distinction between a win and a defeat.
“I sparred in opposition to (Roman) ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and (Jesse) ‘Bam’ Rodriguez,” stated Sandoval, who has repeatedly fought on Golden Boy reveals since 2019. “I additionally sparred (former world strawweight titleholder) Carlos Licona. Sparring ‘Chocolatito’ was nice. It was useful. He pushes you and he throws plenty of punches. It was positively a studying expertise.
“With ‘Bam,’ he’s a lefty. So, sparring him made it simpler for me to combat southpaws sooner or later.”
Sandoval can have the benefit of a partisan crowd tonight, however he has confronted adversity in current fights. He has fought all through Southern California, Mexico and in the UK.
In June 2021, Sandoval stopped once-beaten Jay Harris on the highway in Bolton, England. Sandoval believes moments like that ready him for the likes of Acosta and different prime flyweights within the division.
“I imagine I’ve proved I’m a prime contender,” stated Sandoval. “I fought internationally, at the same time as an beginner. I’ve confronted totally different types. I’m able to combat the very best fighters on the earth.”
Regardless of the setback to Jimenez, Sandoval nonetheless believes he is without doubt one of the finest fighters within the division. With quite a bit on the road in opposition to Acosta, Sandoval believes he’s presently at his finest and will likely be victorious.
“I believe I’m up there. I’ve put within the work and I’m prepared for a world title shot. I’ve been ready for this second my complete profession. I’m very excited and motivated. There’s a WBC [regional] title on the road.
“I’m keen to combat anybody. I’m prepared for an enormous combat.”
<span model=”font-weight: 400;”><em>Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached at <a href=”mailto:[email protected]“>[email protected]</a></em></span>
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