Ricardo Sandoval goes to take advantage of a chance this time round, particularly with a attainable 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 reside 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 gained his final 4 bouts since an in depth 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 realized a lesson from the Jimenez struggle and gained’t make these errors versus Acosta.
“In that struggle, I went off the sport plan,” Sandoval instructed The Ring. “I had harm him to the physique earlier within the struggle. 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 struggle, I’m going to hearken to my nook and persist 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 cut 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 towards (Roman) ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez and (Jesse) ‘Bam’ Rodriguez,” stated Sandoval, who has recurrently fought on Golden Boy exhibits since 2019. “I additionally sparred (former world strawweight titleholder) Carlos Licona. Sparring ‘Chocolatito’ was nice. It was useful. He pushes you and he throws a whole lot of punches. It was positively a studying expertise.
“With ‘Bam,’ he’s a lefty. So, sparring him made it simpler for me to struggle southpaws sooner or later.”
Sandoval may have the benefit of a partisan crowd tonight, however he has confronted adversity in latest fights. He has fought all through Southern California, Mexico and in the UK.
In June 2021, Sandoval stopped once-beaten Jay Harris on the street 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 the world over, whilst an novice. I’ve confronted totally different kinds. I’m able to struggle the most effective fighters on this planet.”
Regardless of the setback to Jimenez, Sandoval nonetheless believes he is without doubt one of the greatest fighters within the division. With rather a lot on the road towards Acosta, Sandoval believes he’s at present at his greatest and will probably 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 struggle anybody. I’m prepared for an enormous struggle.”
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 will be reached at [email protected]
