Nelson Oliva believes sparring a few of boxing’s greatest fighters is helpful to his improvement within the sport.
Oliva will face Alfonso Olvera tonight at Thunder Studios in Lengthy Seashore, California. The eight-round bout will headline a six-bout New Blood card that may stream stay on Fubo Sports activities, FOX Deportes, Stadium, and Grey TV (9:30 p.m. ET/ 6:30 p.m. PT).
At Friday’s weigh-in, Oliva weighed in at 153.6 kilos. Olvera got here in at 153 kilos.
Oliva (11-0, 8 knockouts), who resides in Los Angeles, has had the fortune of lately sparring IBF and WBO world unified world titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly and middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz. The rounds of sparring have benefitted Oliva, even altering the psychological method to his fights.
“After I started working with Hamzah, I observed their method in relation to sparring,” Oliva informed The Ring this previous week. “They actually know the best way to tempo themselves and these are already 12-round fighters. I observed that within the caliber of sparring in comparison with different fighters I’ve gotten within the ring with.”
The 28-year-old Oliva is skilled by Henry Ramirez, who has additionally skilled within the likes of former world heavyweight Chris Arreola and welterweight Josesito Lopez.
Ramirez has seen Oliva’s skill-set enhance during the last couple of years, whether or not it’s the quantity of mitt work that’s finished within the gymnasium or from sparring towards top-level fighters.
“Nestor is an excellent fighter,” Ramirez informed The Ring earlier this week. “He’s low upkeep and a really humble man. You truly really feel such as you’re speaking to an grownup when chatting with him. He’s a fairly good boxer. I believe he’s grown right into a pure boxer. He has a variety of knockouts, however he has improved his skill-set quite a bit. He has extra elusiveness. It’s one thing that he’ll present afterward. He has fluctuated between 154, 160 and 168 kilos, however he’s going to marketing campaign at 160 kilos.”
Oliva first started combating on Thompson Boxing Promotion playing cards, which promoted struggle playing cards in close by Ontario and Corona. The Basic Supervisor and matchmaker was Alex Camponovo, who now runs CBN Promotions since final yr.
The Olvera struggle will mark Oliva’s second of this yr, however Oliva is grateful for the chance to struggle on native playing cards in entrance of household and mates, together with creating as a fighter.
“I’ve been with Alex for the reason that starting of my profession,” mentioned Oliva, who made his professional debut in February 2021. “It’s been nice working with them. It retains me busy and I believe that’s crucial factor about my profession. Holding busy and staying energetic, and simply hold getting these fights. I wish to enhance myself and enhance confidence in myself. My staff believes in me, and with the abilities I’m studying, simply to be constant in my improvement to go to the subsequent stage.”
Oliva want to struggle as soon as extra this yr. Whether or not he does or not, Oliva believes 2025 will probably be a fantastic yr for him, one the place he may stand out and assert himself as a legit prospect at 154 kilos.
“I truly consider 2025 will probably be a fantastic yr for me,” mentioned Oliva. “That is my first official struggle as a junior middleweight. There’s a variety of expertise in that division. There’s a variety of fights for me that could possibly be made there.
“Something could possibly be subsequent after my struggle towards Olvera. I’m open to all alternatives. I’m only a telephone name away. I positively wish to struggle extra usually.”
In his final bout on March 30, Oliva defeated Franyerson Puerta by unanimous choice. In his earlier struggle on November 4, Oliva outboxed Dario Meneses-Guerrero en path to a choice victory.
Olvera (13-8-3, 5 KOs), who’s initially from Nogales, Mexico and now resides in Tucson, Arizona, has not fought since a knockout win over Ousmane Sylla on Might 13 of final yr. Previous to the win over Sylla, over an 11-month span, the 34-year-old misplaced back-to-back fights towards Quinton Randall and Delonte Johnson.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He will be reached at [email protected]
Comply with @FSalazarBoxing
