Boxing Challenge

Five fights on the Boxing Challenge this weekend with three of them on Showtime featuring the junior middleweight division with three of the four titles in the division on the line in fights that don't seem all that great on paper.

The best fighter in the division-the tediously dull Erislandy Lara defends his WBA belt against Vanes Martirosyan in a rematch of a fight that few wanted to see once,let alone twice..

Jermall Charlo defends his IBF title against former champion Austin Trout (who holds a win over Miguel Cotto) in a bout that looks good on paper,but may wind up being a dull fight due to styles and the other Charlo-Jermell shoots for the vacant WBC championship against John Jackson in what might be the best action fight on the card.
The issue here is with Jackson having fought just two quality opponents and losing both to receive this opportunity...
Not a great card of fights,but perhaps one that could clean up some issues in the division,if only someone made the next step instead of another questionable card...

The best two fights of the day aren't on U.S. television as Denis Lebedev and Victor Ramirez meet in Moscow to unify the WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles.
The fight was originally going to be the co-feature to the Deontay Wilder-Alexander Povetkin before Povetkin flunked his PED test last week.
The other is an IBF heavyweight eliminator between New Zealand's talented Joseph Parker and veteran Carlos Takam.
The winner will get a title shot against IBF champion Anthony Joshua,should he defend successfully against Dominic Breazeale.
Should it be Parker,a Joshua-Parker bout matches the best two young heavyweights in the world...

The scorecard on the boxing challenge has me ahead 55-45

WBA Jr.Middleweight title.12 rds
Erislandy Lara vs Vanes Martirosyan
Both:Lara Unanimous Decision

IBF Jr.Middleweight title.12 rds
Jermall Charlo vs Austin Trout
R.L;  Charlo Unanimous Decision
TRS: Trout Unanimous Decision

Vacant WBC Jr.Middleweight title.12 rds
Jermell Charlo vs John Jackson
R.L;  Charlo Unanimous Decision
TRS: Charlo KO 4

WBA-IBF Cruiserweight title unification.12 rds
Denis Lebedev vs Victor Ramirez
R.L; Lebedev Unanimous Decision
TRS:Lebedev KO 9

Heavyweights.12 rds
Joseph Parker vs Carlos Takam
R.L;  Parker KO 5
TRS: Parker KO 8