What is Next for Hugo Cazares?
After a pair of tough fights over the past 12 months with Japanese fighter Nobuo Nashiro, Hugo Fidel Cazares has emerged as the WBA super flyweight champion. The hardware puts Cazares (32-6-2, 23 KOs) into the rare category of Mexican fighters who have won world titles in multiple weight classes, as he held the WBO junior flyweight title from 2005 to 2008 before losing the title to Ivan Calderon (and dropping the rematch).
On July 3, Cazares returned to Mexico to defend his newly-won WBA super flyweight title against Everardo Morales at the Centro de Convenciones in Tlalnepantla. Cazares’ first title defence was relatively easy and a showcase for the 32-year-old. Cazares was dominant throughout the fight, handily controlling Morales before decking him with a vicious left hook in the seventh round. Morales beat the count but referee Mark Nelson had seen enough, bringing a halt to the fight one minute into the round.
The victory was a great way to cap off a homecoming celebration for Cazares. It also raises an important question about Cazares’ future plans. At 32, he is at the prime of his career and should be in line for big fights down the road. He is extremely popular in Mexico and a fight against a “name” opponent could be a major money maker. Cazares has also fought extensively in the United States and he is a popular fighter in Las Vegas and other cities with large Hispanic populations. A bout against a major opponent could be a great linchpin to the undercard of a PPV event or headline a card on its own.
So who will Cazares fight next? There are several possibilities for him on the horizon, but one of the most intriguing is current WBO super flyweight champion Omar Narvaez (32-0-2, 19 KOs). BoxingScene.com recently reported that Narvaez’s management team is interested in having the Argentine fighter make his American debut later this fall and Cazares is one of two names being discussed.
The other fighter in the mix for a meeting in September is Oscar Ibarra (22-4, 14 KOs), who currently holds the WBC Latino title. There are pluses and minuses to both bouts for Narvaez. A fight against Ibarra would be a much easier fight and serve as an opportunity for him to make a strong first impression in front of American fans who might have heard his name in the past but have never actually seen him fight.
A bout against Cazares would be a much more difficult and potentially dangerous fight. However, it would likely also be a much bigger draw and could have the potential to immediately vault Narvaez to the upper level of fighters in the lower weight classes in terms of respect, recognition and drawing power. The potential of the fight to be very successful is highlighted by the fact that the offer for a fight against Cazares is much more lucrative than the offer for a bout with Ibarra. Promoters understand that Narvaez could draw many more fans in person and on TV by fighting Cazares, while a bout with Ibarra would likely be a placeholder.
There are other possibilities for Cazares if a bout against Narvaez fails to materialize. Nonito Donaire currently holds the interim WBA super flyweight championship, meaning that a mandatory meeting between the two fighters should happen at some point. However, Donaire might be more interested in a rematch with Vic Darchinyan and could abandon the interim crown to chase Darchinyan’s unified title. A third match against Nashiro could also be in the cards, although that is less of a possibility.
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