Abraham Montoya

Bio

Abraham Montoya is a proper Mexican gatekeeper — a durable, experienced professional who's shared a ring with a string of good names and knows every trick in the trade. He's not the flashiest operator you'll ever see, but he's tough, awkward, and he turns up ready to graft. That's a combination that's kept him relevant and kept him busy in a brutal division.

Make no mistake, a record of 24-7-1 tells the story of a fighter who's tested himself against live opposition rather than padding his numbers. Montoya's losses have come against quality, and his wins have come the hard way. He carries a decent dig — better than a 58% knockout rate against that level of opposition suggests — and he's never been one to take a backward step.

The Mexican's calling card is his willingness to take a fight at short notice and give a genuine account of himself. That's exactly how he's landed the July 18 assignment against Andy Cruz in Carson, stepping in when Albert Bell moved on to a world title shot. Nobody's pretending he's favoured against a talent like Cruz, but Montoya's the sort who'll make you box for every minute.

At 31 he's in the veteran stage of a hard career, but he's still a live body for anyone who takes him lightly. Underestimate Abraham Montoya's ring nous and toughness and you'll find yourself in a scrappier night than you bargained for. He's a proper professional, and that counts for plenty.