It hasn’t been an easy transition to the pro ranks for Vicente Escobedo.
High expectations came with his turning pro shortly after his stint on
the 2004 U.S. Olympic boxing squad, but success has only come in small
doses thus far.
Escobedo has a chance to change all of that on July 21. Granted, a tall
order awaits him as he’s set to challenge unbeaten 130 lb. titlist
Adrien Broner. Not only is Escobedo facing one of the best young
fighters in the sport today, but has to go to his Cincinnati backyard as
they headline an HBO-televised card at the U.S. Bank Arena.
"I'm going to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Escobedo
insisted to the crowd on hand for Wednesday’s press conference in
Cincinnati. “I'm hungry and I've been hungry."
The lesson that Escobedo has learned through seven years as a pro is
that it doesn’t matter how you arrive on stage, but what you do once you
are there. The Californian has struggled at times – dropping decisions
to Michael Katsidis and Robert Guerrero while the HBO cameras were
rolling – but has also shown glimpse of brilliance, such as his knocking
out previously unbeaten Dominic Salcido.
He will need a lot of the latter in order to get past Broner (23-0,
19KO), who makes the second defense of the 130 lb. title he acquired
last November. For Escobedo, it’s his first crack at a major title but
perhaps his last chance to convince HBO to bring him back.
With that came his bold declaration that July 21 will be a night to remember.
“People say that he [Broner] has talent, power and speed. I've got
talent. I've got speed and I've got power too. I'm gonna shock the
world. I guarantee it."
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter:
@JakeNDaBox
or submit questions/comments via
e-mail.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pat Lovell/Hoganphotos
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