Big win for Escalante, Roman shows toughness

El Paso featherweight Antonio Escalante earned a hard-fought victory last Friday night vs. Juarez fighter Mickey Roman. Escalante was quicker and stronger, but it no fluke that Roman gave him fits.

Escalante knew it would be tough, but he trained hard and got the much needed win to stay atop the world rankings. Meanwhile, Roman showed why he was a hot prospect coming out of Juarez. He certainly had his moments in the fight and earned much respect from ringsiders.

Now, Escalante must move forward and hope he gets a world title shot. He's ranked highly at 122 and 126. What is the best matchup for him? It's going to be up his promoter Oscar De La Hoya. Hopefully, Escalante either gets a title shot this summer or fights a highly-ranked contender on a pay-per-view show.

Meanwhile, Roman probably earned himself another shot against a good fighter and perhaps a rematch with Escalante down the road.

Felix

Prep Hoops Scores, Feb. 26

Boys Basketball
District 1AAAA
Semifinal
Kirtland Central 44, Farmington 42
District 5AAA
Semifinal
Sandia Prep 67, Thoreau 37
District 7AA
Championship
Hagerman 60, Eunice 25
District 1AA
Championship
Rehoboth 55, Navajo Pine 53
District 4A
Championship
Logan 60, San Jon 56
Girls Basketball
Dora 41, Floyd 34
Estancia 39, Bosque School 26
Rio Grande 49, Manzano 46
District 4AAAA
Championship
Roswell 60, Artesia 54
District 5AAA
Championship
Thoreau 64, Hope Christian 46
District 6AA
Championship
Texico 37, Santa Rosa 35
District 6A
Championship
Magdalena 52, Gallup Catholic 50

David Rodriguez, Abie Han

Looks like boxing prospects Abie Han (junior middleweight) and David Rodriguez (heavyweight) will fight March 27 in Monterrey, Mexico. Both are unbeaten and from El Paso, but train in Las Cruces with trainer Louie Burke.

- Felix

Prep Hoops Scores, Feb. 23

Boys Basketball
Eldorado 47, Manzano 39
Gallup 59, Cibola 51
Laguna-Acoma 100, Cuba 55
Magdalena 72, Alamo-Navajo 36
Menaul 40, Pine Hill 33
Mesilla Valley Christian 63, Tularosa 60, 2OT
Quemado 88, Animas 37
Rehoboth 59, Navajo Pine 56
Tohajilee 64, Temple Baptist 47
District 1AAAAA
Farmington 48, Aztec 37
District 2AAAAA
Santa Fe 61, Sandia 56
Valley 70, La Cueva 67
District 5AAAAA
Rio Grande 76, Los Lunas 67
District 3AAAA
Deming 48, Silver 47
District 5AAAA
Moriarty 59, Del Norte 57
District 1AAA
:Newcomb 47, Crownpoint 38
District 8AA
East Mountain 65, Jemez Valley 25
District 3A
:Melrose 61, Dora 46
District 4A
San Jon 52, Clovis Christian 43

Girls Basketball
Gallup 65, Cibola 52
Gallup Catholic 86, Temple Baptist 19
Highland 70, Los Lunas 59
Menaul 57, Pine Hill 28
NMSD 40, Santa Fe Waldorf School 15
Rehoboth 68, Shiprock Northwest 25
District 2AAAAA
Albuquerque High 53, Santa Fe 44
District 1AAAA
Farmington 47, Aztec 40
District 3AAAA
Santa Teresa 57, Chaparral 52
District 4AAAA
Artesia 61, Goddard 27
District 5AAAA
Valencia 55, Moriarty 50
District 1AAA
:Bloomfield 51, Crownpoint 49
District 1AA
Rehoboth 68, Shiprock Northwest 25
District 8AA
Jemez Valley 53, East Mountain 12
District 4A
San Jon 55, Clovis Christian 41
District 8A
Mescalero Apache 59, Lake Arthur 22

Prep Hoops Scores, Feb. 22

Boys Basketball
District 4AAA
>First Round
Ruidoso 45, Dexter 39
District 7AA
Jal 51, Loving 48
District 8A
Quarterfinal
Gateway Christian 69, Lake Arthur 44

Girls Basketball
Rio Rancho 39, West Mesa 36

District 3-5A tournament basketball schedule

Boys
Alamogordo at Oñate, Monday at 7
Alamogordo/Oñate at Las Cruces, Tuesday at 7
Winner at Gadsden, Thursday at 7
Winner at Mayfield, Saturday at 2

Girls
Gadsden at Alamogordo, Monday at 7
Alamogordo/Gadsden at Oñate, Tuesday at 7
Winner at Mayfield, Thursday at 7
Winner at Las Cruces, Saturday at 7

Escalante vs. Roman prediction

The border war between featherweights Antonio Escalante and Miguel Roman is Friday night at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso.

Escalante has the bigger name and is hoping for a world title soon, while Roman is hoping to land a big win in his otherwise decent but not glamorous career.

It looks like Roman is training hard for this fight, we'll see how he peforms. Escalante has too much at stake to overlook his opponent, I say Escalante by late round stoppage.

What do you fans out there think?

Felix