ORLANDO LARA vs DAVID ESTRADA

ESPN2 has a rare Saturday night show that features Orlando Lara, an unbeaten Mexican welterweight, facing his stiffest test in a 12-rounder against the seasoned and sturdy David Estrada.

Lara, who calls himself “Latigo” (Whip), is 29 and he has been matched, shall we say, selectively, although he did stop the useful local boxer Favio Medina in Idaho 14 months ago, while, last September, Lara won a one-sided decision over the tall and rangy trail horse Hicklet Lau.

I am told that Lara has excellent sparring at Big Bear, CA, where he has boxed with Shane Mosley among other world-class fighters.

Estrada, 31, has fought a much higher standard of opponent, including losses to world champions Kermit Cintron, Andre Berto and Shane Mosley. He won his last fight by stoppage after gritty defeats in competitive fights against Jesus Soto Karass and Luis Abregu.

As I haven’t seen Lara I don’t have a strong feeling about this fight but Estrada’s toughness and experience could, I think, get him through with a hard-fought win on points.