Danny Barrios buzzing ahead of title test in Phoenix tonight

VICTORY over his opponent and a victory for the Mexico soccer team are two motivating sporting factors for Danny Barrios heading into his fight tonight.

Barrios faces fellow unbeaten Artur Popoca for the WBC Continental Americas super-bantamweight title on the undercard of Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

Barrios’s preparations could not have gone better, and he faces Popoca in what he believes is the best shape of his career.

“This has been the best camp ever, nutrition-wise, strength and conditioning-wise, boxing-wise, everything was good. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in and tomorrow night, that will show,” Barrios buzzed to Boxing News.

“I feel great, I feel great, very motivated to finally fight. It’s been three months of camp and I feel good, I feel strong and I’m ready to shine tomorrow.”

Even though the title on the line might be of the minor variety, it creates a clear pathway towards future world title opportunities. Navigating the 10-round distance for the first time will also be on the mind of Barrios, 15-0 (5 KOs), and his training team. But with the motivation and fitness described above, it shouldn’t pose an issue.

“We’ll see, we’ll see. I guess we’ll have to wait and see tomorrow night. I’m very excited, if it has to go the full ten rounds, then I know I have the tank for it.”

That tank could burn out quickly if the 26-year-old southpaw allows himself to get sucked in by a vocal crowd in the Footprint Center. A house packed full of Mexicans, raising the ringside temperature, could see fighters either rise with the occasion or shrink under the weight of expectation.

“I’m super excited, my nerves haven’t kicked in yet. It’s weird. That’s how you know I’m prepared, because my nerves haven’t kicked in yet. I’m excited for this fight and I can’t wait to show the world who I am. I usually get nerves in fight week, but it’s fight week and I don’t have nerves. I’m ready to get in there and do my work.

“That’s what we want, you know? We want more big fights here [in Phoenix, where Barrios is now based]. It’s great for the boxing community to get together and get these big fights. If we can get other boxers from here and get them on the big cards, that’s great.”

The main event is all set to be a special affair. Bam has taken the lower weight classes by storm and showed no fear of taking on the best available operators. Estrada is the older statesman who has been there, done it and got the WBC t-shirt wedged over his head at the end of numerous world title victories. Who does Barrios fancy in the main event?

“Man, I love both of them – but I’ve got to go with USA, man. I’m from the United States, I love my Mexican people, my family’s Mexican, everyone’s Mexican. Bam just looks a little hungrier, so I’m going with Bam,” he predicted.

The main event will fade into significance if he fails to first pass his own next-level test by outlasting Arturo Popoca, 13-0-1 (8 KOs), a Mexican native who will no doubt have ambitions and plans of his own. Studying Popoca’s style has been part of the preparations.

“We know he loves to throw the uppercut, so we’re going to stay away from those! We know that he likes to come forward, but we had a tremendous camp and we’re going to be victorious on Saturday night.”