“El Orgullo de Vacaville” Manuel “Tino” Avila (17-0, 7 KOs) returns to the ring Saturday, August 8 against former WBA title contender Yoandris Salinas (21-1-2, 14 KOs).
The 10-round bout is scheduled for the vacant interim NABF Super Bantamweight title and will be televised live on HBO Latino from Fantasy Springs Resorts Casino in Indio, California.
Commentators have nicknamed Avila “Poker Face” for displaying his honest personality as a humble and quite unemotional person in and out of the ring.
El Orgullo de Vacaville caught up with Round By Round Boxing to discuss his upcoming fight, his HBO debut, and the stacked Super Bantamweight division during a recent phone call.
Round By Round Boxing: What’s up Poker Face! How are you?
Manuel Avila: [Laughs] Good, how’s it going?
RBRBoxing: Good, good. You’re the co-main event, it’s your HBO debut and you’re fighting for the vacant interim NABF super Bantamweight title, how are you feeling?
MA: I’m feeling pretty strong right now. I’ve never felt this strong going into fight.
RBRBoxing: Leading up to this fight, how has camp been? Any injuries, setbacks, or any changes you’ve made?
MA: No, we just picked up the pace in everything we do. You know, faster and a little bit longer, but no drastic changes.
RBRBoxing: What do you know about Yoandris Salinas?
MA: He’s fast and likes to throw that right hand. We’ve actually been preparing for that so we could try and throw him off, but, that’s about it.
RBRBoxing: Is this something you’ve always envisioned since your amateur days? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you only had around 50 amateur fights so is this something you’ve always expected?
MA: To be where I’m at now, I honestly did not. I thought I was gonna be another local town type [fighter]. I wanted to fight just cause I like to fight. Everyone wants to be famous and a world champion. Every fighter wants to be, but not every fighter is gonna be.
RBRBoxing: If you come out victorious, what’s next for you?
MA: Just taking one fight at a time. Once I win, I’ll go to back the gym and wait for Golden Boy to call and see what they set up.
RBRBoxing: You’ve been on national TV for a few fights now, is it true you have two or three jobs on the side?
MA: Yeah, I still have 3 jobs. I quit one but I got a new job.
RBRBoxing: How do you handle that?!
MA: [Laughs] I kind of have to, you know, pay bills and all.
RBRBoxing: This is your HBO debut, feeling any extra pressure going into this fight?
MA: It’s just another fight. Other than that, it just feels good getting more fights in So Cal to get my name out there and more recognized next to all of the other guys.
RBRBoxing: You’re in a stacked division that has great fighters in Guillermo Rigondeaux, Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, Scott Quigg and even Nonito Donaire. In your opinion, how do you think you stack up against them?
MA: Honestly, I think I could be compared next to them. I have the experience and the fighting style that people love to see. I could fight anybody they fight and I could give a more exciting show and beat them as easy as they do or easier.
RBRBoxing: Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares, who wins and why?
MA: I have Mares winning. Mares puts on pressure and Santa Cruz is not really used to people putting on pressure like everyone should be. He fights at his own pace every fight he has. Mares is one of those guys who puts the pressure on so I have Mares.
RBRBoxing: Lastly, what should people expect when they tune in to HBO Latino?
MA: An exciting fight. This guy throws a lot of punches. If he fights the way we’re thinking he’s gonna fight, it’s probably gonna be one of my most exciting fights to happen.
RBRBoxing: Cool. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you and on behalf of Round By Round Boxing and myself, we wish you the best of luck against Yoandris Salinas.
MA: Thank you!
All photos by Ismael Gallardo/RBRBoxing
