The biggest fight of the weekend occurs in Las Vegas as Manny Pacquiao makes his PBC debut with his minor title defense against Adrien Broner.
Pacquiao looked very strong in his win over Lucas Matthysse and seemed to have spring in his step, but Matthysse was a spent force and an impressive win over Broner could move him into several fights in the mostly PBC controlled division.
Broner, who despite winning championships, has never defeated an elite fighter, but still has been very competitive in his three defeats and should make this a fight worth paying attention to, if not action-filled.
The undercard has a very interesting fight for a minor light heavyweight title between Badou Jack and Marcus Browne, Rau'Shee Warren faces Nordine Oubaali in an Olympic rematch for the vacant WBC bantamweight title and Jhack Tepora vs Hugo Ruiz for a minor featherweight title.
Jack vs Browne is the most interesting to me as Jack battled to a draw with Adonis Stevenson in his previous bout in which he moved up from super middleweight while former Olympian Browne has shown a big punch and a questionable chin in his young career.
Friday night, ESPN+ and DAZN battle each other with streaming cards at the same time.
DAZN has more important fights, if not the most interesting with the main event showcasing Demetrius Andrade defending his WBO middleweight title against Artur Akakov from the small hall known as the Madison Square Garden Theatre.
Andrade returns less than three months after his victory for the vacant title, which is the good news for the often inactive champion.
The issue is the opponent in Akakov, who dazzled few in his only fight against a top ten opponent in Billy Joe Saunders and might make this a dull fight.
Andrade could use an exciting finish as his belt will be the only title not owned by the winner of May's unification fight between Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs, so if he'd like a big payday against the winner, an exciting performance would help.
Jorge Linares fights for the second time since his loss to Vasyl Lomachenko, this time against veteran Pablo Cesar Cano in an eliminator for the WBC title at 140 pounds vs champion Jose Ramirez.
Linares usually gives an exciting performance with a high wire act due to his sometimes wobbly chin and Kleenex like skin and while Cano usually comes up short against top competition, Cano did defeat Mauricio Herrera two years ago, so this isn't quite a squash match.
Undefeated T.J. Doheny makes his first defense of the IBF junior featherweight title against Ryohei Takahashi.
Doheny won his title in Japan last time out after a decision win over Ryosuke Iwasa and a win here over Takahashi, which seems likely, might earn him a unification fight against WBA champion Daniel Roman, which would be very easy to make with both being DAZN/Matchroom promoted.
I'm looking forward to seeing Doheny, who is from Ireland, but now makes his home in Australia.
The ESPN+ main event matches former world title challenger Bryant Jennings with undefeated and untested Oscar Rivas from Verona, New York
Jennings, who hadn't fought anyone of note since his back to back losses to Wladimir Klitschko and Luis Ortiz on 2015 until his exciting brawl with Alexander Dimitrenko that ended with a Jennings ninth-round knockout that saw both men hit the floor in the fight.
Rivas hails from Colombia but has fought all of his previous fights in Canada, so who really knows what he'll be bringing to the ring.
Shakur Stevenson takes a jump in competition vs Jessie Rosales from the Philippines.
Stevenson overwhelmed Viorel Simion in one round last time out and is starting to become a more exciting fighter to watch.
Rosales has built his record overseas and in his only North American fight (Mexico) was knocked out in two by Jhonny Gonzalez, so he's likely to be overmatched by the fast-fisted Stevenson.
In the boxing challenge, Ramon Malpica and I are tied at one point each.
WBO Middleweight Title. 12 Rds
Demetrius Andrade vs Artur Akakov
Both: Andrade Unanimous Decision
Junior Welterweights.10 Rds
Jorge Linares vs Pablo Cesar Cano
R.L.: Linares KO 6
TRS: Linares Unanimous Decision
IBF Junior Featherweight Title. 12 Rds
T.J. Doheny vs Ryohei Takahashi
R.L; Doheny Unanimous Decision
TRS: Doheny KO 9
Heavyweights.12 Rds
Bryant Jennings vs Oscar Rivas
Both; Jennings Unanimous Decision
Featherweights. 10 Rds
Shakur Stevenson vs Jessie Rosales
R.L: Stevenson Unanimous Decision
TRS: Stevenson KO 4
Welterweights. 12 Rds
Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner
Both: Pacquiao Unanimous Decision
Light Heavyweights. 12 Rds
Badou Jack vs Marcus Browne
R.L: Jack Unanimous Decision
TRS: Jack KO 10
Vacant WBC Bantamweight Title. 12 Rds
Nordine Oubaali vs Rau'Shee Warren
R.L: Oubaali Unanimous Decision
TRS: Warren Unanimous Decision
Featherweights. 12 Rds
Jhack Tepora vs Hugo Ruiz
R.L: Tepora KO 9
TRS: Tepora KO 4
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