The Consul Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will host a full 10-fight card of boxing that has the feature 10-rounders airing on SHOWTIME in the United States. Odds for the feature fights have started to pop up at the last minute with the books, though none of the fights have an over/under. The main event features welterweights as undefeated Sammy Vasquez (17-0) faces Emmanuel Lartey (16-2-1). The match sees Vasquez a big (-1350) favorite over Lartey, who is coming back at (+650). Lartey, who came up boxing in Ghana but has since relocated to Brooklyn, snapped a two-fight losing streak in June of 2014 with a UD win over veteran Steve Forbes. Prior to that, he lost to undefeated prospects Felix Diaz and Errol Spence Jr. going the distance with both men over eight rounds. Vasquez has an extensive amateur background fighting on the military circuit, claiming over 200 amateur fights on his record. At Light Heavyweight, an intriguing duel is scheduled between undefeated Craig Baker (15-) of Texas and (12-1) Cuban Umberto Savigne. Though undefeated and with more fights under his belt, Baker finds himself a big (+550) underdog at the books to Savigne, who is paying back at (-1050). Savigne is 36 years old, but is one of the wave of Cubans that has turned professional after leaving the island. Like most of his counterparts, Savigne brings an amateur background that is a mile long. He suffered a setback early in his pro career, losing to journeyman Harvey Jolly (10-14-1 at the time of the fight) but he is trying to fast track his career. In his last outing, back in July of 2014, he dispatched faded veteran Jeff Lacy, knocking him out in the second round. Savigne is fighting his fourth 10-round fight, while this is Baker’s first fight signed for a scheduled 10. The final fight getting a line at the books is at superfeatherweight, as former IBF World titlist Argenis Mendes takes on Daniel Evangelista Jr. Right now Mendes is a huge (-4500) favorite, and the books see Evangelista coming back at (+1500). Evangelista is from Mexico, where he has gone (17-4-1) over the course of a five year pro career. He last fought on May 10th, 2014, losing a split decision to Joel Montes de Oca. Mendes has been off a full six months as well, and his last two outings saw him lose his IBF World title to Rances Barthelemy in decisive fashion. In their first fight, in January of 2014, Mendez was down in the second and seemed to have been stopped. He was unable to continue after the punch that KO’d him was determined to have come just after the bell, so the bout was declared a no contest. Barthelemy sealed his hold on the title by winning a UD over Mendes in July. Mendes had a bad 2014 and is in desparate need of a win to right the ship.
