Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge rolls on with a three-fight weekend with two of those on HBO, but the biggest of the three doesn't have an American home as of this writing.

The World Boxing Super Series returns from Latvia with the first of their two semi-finals in their Cruiserweight tournament as the WBC and WBO titles will be unified as WBC champion and hometown hero Mairis Briedis faces the top seed in the tournament WBO kingpin Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk in being the top seed does show some flaws in the tournament as he not only faces the third seed (he should face the 4th), the top seed goes on the road for the second time in the tournament (he defeated Marco Huck in Germany in the first round).
So much for the advantages of the top seed of the tournament and if this is how things are going to done, seeding doesn't seem to have any use for future tournaments.
Briedis isn't the most exciting fighter, but I think he steps his game up against Usyk out of necessity and this is a more action-packed fight than some think.
Check the WBSS website or their Twitter page for last minute television information.

HBO Boxing televises their debut card with a less than thrilling card from Los Angeles.
Lucas Matthysse returns for a minor title against unknown Tewa Kiram, who has fought no one and I've never seen, so who really knows what he brings.
I've read some reports that give Kiram a chance against Matthysse, who has been vulnerable in the past against fighters that are durable enough to take his booming punch, but who really knows with an unknown commodity.

Jorge Linares returns off his tight split decision win over Luke Campbell to defend his WBA lightweight title against Mercito Gesta in what is one step above a squash match.
Gesta was thought to be a prospect at one time, but in his only loss (and the only time that he stepped up against world class opponents) to the slick boxing and dreadfully dull Miguel Vazquez, Gesta was badly outclassed and Linares is a full class ahead of Vazquez.
Unless Linares is suddenly a shot fighter overnight, this fight is not an HBO quality fight...

The boxing challenge is at 3-2 in my favor against Ramon Malpica

WBC-WBO Cruiserweight Title Unification/World Boxing Super Series Semi-Final. 12 Rds.
Mairis Briedis vs Oleksandr Usyk
Both: Usyk Unanimous Decision

Welterweights. 12 Rds
Lucas Matthysse vs Tewa Kiram
R.L: Matthysse KO 8
TRS: Matthyhsse KO 11

WBA Lightweight Title. 12 Rds
Jorge Linares vs Mercito Gesta
R.L: Linares Unanimous Decision
TRS: Linares KO 9