Boxer fights to improve his ‘stats’

Albuquerque boxer Hector Muñoz has lost to some of the best welterweights in the world.

Then, there’s Bernardo Guereca.

Saturday at the Crowne Plaza, Muñoz will face Guereca in an eight-round main event between fighters who have combined to lose 18 of their last 23 fights.

	Saturday Hector Muñoz vs. Bernardo Guereca, three other fights, Crowne Plaza. Tickets: $25-$75, holdmyticket.com

So, what makes this matchup interesting, or at least palatable?

In July 2004, Guereca handed Muñoz his first career defeat – a first-round TKO at Sandia Casino. To this day, Muñoz believes it was a premature stoppage.

Yet, Muñoz said Wednesday at a news conference, neither revenge nor vindication is on his mind. The loss to Guereca is barely a speck in his professional rear-view mirror.

“I never really thought about (a rematch with Guereca), to tell you the truth,” Muñoz said at the news conference.

What he would like to accomplish he says, is a feat that eluded his friends and Team Tapia stablemates, Joaquin Zamora and Josh Torres, in their recent bouts against Guereca (16-17, three KOs).

The short, awkward but durable El Paso southpaw went the eight-round distance with each of those fighters. Guereca never threatened Zamora or Torres on the scorecards, but caused them both some uncomfortable moments and rarely allowed either to look good.

This one, Muñoz promised, will not last the scheduled eight rounds.

“We’re gonna get a stoppage (a KO or TKO) for this fight,” he said. “… I guarantee it.”

Muñoz (21-9-1, 14 KOs) essentially has had two careers in one.

Before and after his loss to Guereca, Muñoz was a highly successful local and regional fighter. After his victory by decision over Robert Valenzuela in February 2008, he had an 18-1 record.

At that point, Muñoz became a have-gloves, will-travel opponent to the stars – his durability and aggressive style making for good fights while not threatening the contenders and up-and-comers he was facing. Muñoz’s ensuing eight losses have come against fighters with a combined record of 154-6.

Around and in between those losses, the Albuquerquean has maintained a respectable record with three victories over lesser opponents.

He views Guereca as another of those.

“These fights for me are just (about) staying ready,” Muñoz said. “… I’m not gonna take nobody lightly, but these fights are just to get my stats up.”

At 34, Muñoz doesn’t plan on being an “opponent” the rest of his career. Having campaigned almost exclusively as a welterweight (147 pounds), he believes he can be a top-10 fighter as a junior welterweight.

“I know what I can do at 140 pounds,” Muñoz said. “I’m just waiting for them to give me that last short-notice call, and I’m gonna be ready this time. I’m not gonna be messing around.

“I’m just doing this for my son (Maximus, 2 1/2). It’s all for my son now. … Before I get too old, before it gets too late.”

Saturday’s card, promoted by Teresa Tapia, consists of four bouts scheduled for 22 rounds. Ticket-holders also are invited to attend a concert at the Crowne Plaza.

The featured acts scheduled to perform are Nina Sky and Juan Gambino, with appearances by Al Hurricane, Al Hurricane Jr. and Amy Faithe.

MMA: Albuquerque’s Heather Jo Clark (5-3) faces Illinois’ Felice Herrig (8-4) tonight in Tampa, Fla., on Bellator 94. The Clark-Herrig fight can be seen online at spike.com. That portion of the card starts at 6 p.m.

Apparently, the two fighters aren’t fond of each other. Herrig gave Clark a shove after their pose-down at Wednesday’s weigh-in.

Clark weighed in at 115.9 pounds, Herrig at 115.7.

COMBAT SPORTS
— This article appeared on page D5 of the Albuquerque Journal