Middleweight prospect/contender Luis Arias fights tonight, Friday, in Pittsburgh and his foe is a journeyman sort, Scott Sigmon.
The 29-10 Sigmon has won three of his last four, against sub-championship level competition.
I asked Arias’ trainer, John David Jackson, to assess his kid. Is he just about ready to attack bigger game?
“He’s on the verge of becoming a contender, if (his promoter) Roc Nation does what they’re supposed to. He’s ready….they can do their job so he can do his job.”
Yes, Arias, a Wisconsin native, is 16-0, just 16-0. But this ain’t the old days.. “20 years ago you had 30 fights and then we're ready to step up,” Jackson said. But now, in a diluted marketplace, with so many belts up for grabs, people want to accelerate their progress and get to title fights.
Arias’ fighting style is this: “boxer/puncher, tremendous body puncher. Most guys don’t fight proper inside, inside he does his thing,” the trainer continued. “It’s a little Georgie Benton style, a little Hammerin Hank Armstrong.”
JDJ could see Arias stepping up to, maybe, an Andy Lee fight.
“That type of fighter, a breakout fight. At that point, we take the wraps off of him. He’s not one dimensional, he has a good punch, that helps him out. And would he fight a Triple G? GGG is good, don’t get me wrong, but we see a little wear and tear. Late this year or next year, it doesn’t matter who Arias fights, he’s ready.”
