Marine Corps Air Station Miramar—In front of a pulsating hangar packed with over 3,000 marines, Diego “The Nightmare” Sanchez created a roar of energy with a spectacular first round knockout over the well regarded Joe “Diesel” Riggs. Sanchez is simply one of those special fighters that stands apart from his colleagues. He’s boxing’s equivalent of the young Julio Cesar Chavez that knocked out Roger Mayweather in the 1980’s. His killer instinct is intact and entwined with prodigious talent and dedication. There can be no doubt that Sanchez should be considered a serious threat to anyone in the welterweight division that is currently ruled by George St. Pierre.

HBO, in its December incarnation of the once-flourishing “Boxing After Dark,” appears to have gotten things right for once.

On Saturday, undefeated Jason Litzau, a marketable (white) Featherweight makes his HBO debut against Jose Hernandez. Then, in the main event, top-5 Middleweight contender Edison Miranda makes his HBO debut against the tough-as-nails Philadelphia bruiser, Willie Gibbs.