Weekend Preview: Slim pickings

<b>SATURDAY</b> <b>RAMON GARCIA HIRALES vs. MANUEL VARGAS</b><b>Rounds / weight class:</b> 12 rounds / junior flyweights<b>Location:</b> Tijuana, Mexico<b>Television:</b> Fox Sports en Espanol<b>The backdrop:</b> Garcia Hirales (13-1-1, 8 KOs) continues to pass tests. The solid-boxer puncher from Mexico is coming off a split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Johnriel Casimero in July, his 11th consecutive victory. His loss and draw came early in his career. Vargas (28-5-1, 13 KOs) has been a contender between strawweight and flyweight over the past few years and lost his only title fight, a split decision at strawweight against Donnie Nietes last year. The Mexican is 4-3-1 in his last eight fights but has lost only to very good fighters, including Nonito Donaire in February. <b>Also fighting:</b> Humberto Gutierrez vs. Rene Gonzalez, 10 rounds, junior lightweights<b>Rating the card:</b> C+. This is a competitive matchup between two very good fighters but it could become a technical fight.<b>TEON KENNEDY VS. ALEX BECERRA</b><b>Rounds / weight class:</b> 12 rounds / junior featherweights<b>Location:</b> Atlantic City, N.J.<b>Television:</b> GoFightLive.tv<b>The backdrop:</b> Kennedy (15-0-1, 6 KOs) is a talented and courageous fighter from Philadelphia who is trying to bounce back from his fatal beating of Francisco Rodriguez in November. He easily outpointed Jose Angel Beranza in May in his first fight since the Rodriguez fight. Becerra (20-8, 9 KOs) is more or less a designated opponent for rising fighters. The El Paso-based Mexican is 2-5 in his last seven fights but has lost only to good young opponents. He'll probably prove to be tough enough to give Kennedy some decent rounds.<b>Also fighting:</b> Dillet Frederick vs. Ronald Cruz, 6 rounds, welterweights<b>Rating the card:</b> C. Kennedy is a worth watching, even against someone who probably doesn't pose a legitimate threat.<b>Also fighting Saturday:</b> Krzysztof Wlodarczyk defends his cruiserweight title against Jason Robinson in Warsaw, Poland; Daiki Kameda, rated No. 3 by THE RING, defends his flyweight title against No. 5 Takefumi Sakata in Tokyo; No. 7 John Murray faces Andrei Kudriavtsev for Murray's European lightweight title in Manchester, England.

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