A few weeks ago, El Paso Times read Lou Carrejo expressed skepticism at the prospect of the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito rematch landing in El Paso if it were to be moved from New York.
In an email titled, "There is no Santa Claus" Carrejo wrote: "Matthew, what are you doing exciting the masses here by suggesting (El Paso) may be the site for the Dec. 3 fight between Cotto and Margarito? You and I both know this ain't gonna happen!"
Granted, the chances of that fight taking place in El Paso were slim. Still, Big Lou called it. It stayed in New York.
A few weeks later, Carrejo was equally unconvinced that El Paso would land the proposed Jan. 21 Showtime card featuring Paul Williams and Chris Arreola - even as promoter Goossen-Tutor matchmaker Tom Brown said he was "90 percent sure" the card would happen at the Don Haskins Center.
In an email titled "End of Days," Lou wrote: "Matthew, Matthew, Matthew....what am I gonna do with you? Here you go again, exciting the masses (in El Paso) by announcing the 90 percent possibility of a major boxing card being held here in January. Yeah right, and the world will end on December 21, 2012.
"All I ask is that you spell my name right when you write your next column indicating that I told you so. "
I wrote Carrejo back, explaining to him, yes - this one will happen. It's a done deal. It's not the longshot that Cotto-Margarito was. Blah, blah, blah.
As it turns out, Sweet Lou was on the money. Again.
The proposed date of the Williams/Arreola card moved, from Jan. 21 to Feb. 18. And since El Paso has no venue available on Feb. 18, the show will go elsewhere.
He has refused to lend me his crystal ball.
Anyway, here is Carrejo's list of the top five fights he'd like to see in El Paso in 2012.
1. David Rodriguez, 36-0 (34 KO's) vs. Tyson Fury, 17-0 (12 KO's): These pair of unbeaten, power-punching heavyweights would draw a crowd and probably a television date. El Paso connection: Rodriguez, who grew up in El Paso and considers it home.
2. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 44-0-1 (31 KO's) vs. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, 39-0 (29 KO's): Since Chavez Jr. is the WBC middleweight champ and Canelo is the WBC junior middleweight champ, Lou would like to see this showdown of Mexican stars at a catchweight of 157. El Paso connection: a pair of famous, undefeated Mexican world champions that would sell out the Sun Bowl.
3. Lamont Peterson, 30-1-1 (15 KO's) vs. Danny Garcia, 22-0 (14 KO's): Peterson just won the WBA and IBF junior welterweight titles from Amir Khan. El Paso connection: Garcia, one of boxing's rising young stars.
4. Abner Mares, 23-0-1 (13 KO's) vs. Jorge Arce, 59-6-2 (45 KO's): Mares just made his first defense of the IBF and WBC bantamweight titles against rival Joseph Agbeko. Mexican veteran Arce is 7-0-1 in his last eight fights, including wining the vacant WBO bantamweight title from Angky Angkota. El Paso connection: Classic crossroads fight pittingMexican youth vs. Mexican experience.
5. Victor Ortiz, 29-3-2 (22 KO's) vs. Amir Khan, 26-2 (18 KO's): Ortiz just lost the WBC welterweight title to Floyd Mayweather; Khan just lost the WBA/IBF junior welterweight title to Peterson. El Paso connection: Both fighters are exciting, popular and have strong followings. Ortiz would draw the Mexican crowd.
There you have it. Not a bad wish list.
Thanks for reading Lou.
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