Mama Said Knock You Out

It’s been some years since boxing has seen a puncher like Juan Urango. He’s got a no-holds-barred approach that blends discipline with pure power. It’s a style that brings buzz and excitement to a sport that more often than not lacks it. With his brutal, face-pummeling method of attack, the 27-year-old Colombian has earned not only a legion of fans but also comparisons to legendary pugilist “Iron” Mike Tyson (well, before he started biting people’s ears off and threatening to eat their children).

In 2006, Urango won the IBF World Light Welterweight Championship by defeating Naoufel Ben Rabah. Just seven months later, in his first defense of the title, Urango went toe-to-toe with Ricky Hatton and lost in a 12-round decision. Now Urango is looking to get the title back, rampaging through opponents at an event titled The Knockout Kings. Tonight at 7:30 at Hard Rock Live, he faces South American champ Carlos Wilfredo Vilches, a man who, after 11 long years in the ring, is hungry for a title shot of his own. Tickets range from $25 to $150.
Wed., April 23, 7:30 p.m., 2008