Boxing Challenge

Photo: Getty Images

The boxing challenge continues with big fights on both Friday and Saturday nights.

ESPN starts the weekend with two of Top Rank's promising young champions defending their WBO titles on the card.
The main event has WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez (#2nd in the TRS ratings) defending against undefeated mandatory challenger Jesse Hart in what should be a bruising battle.
Ramirez is regarded as one of the coming stars of the game, but Hart is a big hitter and the son of former middleweight contender Cyclone Hart, who was a tremendous puncher in the 1970's.
The other WBO title fight on the card features featherweight champ Oscar Valdez (#2 in the TRS ratings) against undefeated and untested Genesis Servania.
I have no idea what to expect from Servania, but Valdez is another young star in the Top Rank stable.

Saturday has three fights, but only one on the television with the two others available on the internet.
HBO televises the talented WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (#1 in the TRS ratings and pictured above) defending against Great Britain's Luke Campbell.
Campbell is a former Olympic gold medalist but has fought no one even close to the caliber of Linares.
The fight that everyone wants to see at 135 pounds is Linares vs WBC champion (#2 in the TRS ratings) Mikey Garcia, but promotional issues might make that a fight that never happens.

The only American site in the World Boxing Super Series takes place in San Antonio as the cruiserweight quarterfinal that is being hyped as the most exciting fight in the division's first round as fourth seed Yunier Dorticos, formerly of Cuba against Dmitry Kudryashov of Russia with two huge hitters facing off.
The crowd might be sparse in Texas for this one, but those that do go could see a brief and exciting bout.
The winner of this one will face the winner of IBF champion Murat Gassiev's defense against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk next month in the semi-finals.
The WBSS website will be streaming this one live on their website...

From England, the forgotten heavyweight champion- the WBO's Joseph Parker of New Zealand (4th in the TRS ratings) defending his title for the second time against mandatory challenger Hughie Fury, the cousin of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
This one could be interesting as Parker has just one quality win on his resume', his razor-close win over Andy Ruiz for the vacant title, while Fury doesn't have that much with his best wins over American journeymen Fred Kassi and Dominic Guinn.
Fury has the size advantage so we will see what happens if the fight goes long.

The boxing challenge stands in my favor at 129-115

WBO Super Middleweight Title.12 rds
Gilberto Martinez (TRS 2) vs Jesse Hart
R.L: Martinez Unanimous Decision
TRS:Hart Split Decision

WBO Featherweight Title.12 rds
Oscar Valdez (TRS 2) vs Genesis Servania
R.L: Valdez KO 5
TRS: Valdez KO 7

WBA Lightweight Title.12 rds
Jorge Linares (TRS 1) vs Luke Campbell
Both: Linares Unanimous Decision

World Boxing Super Series Quarterfinal.12 rds
Yunier Dorticos vs Dmitry Kudryashov
R.L: Dorticos KO 9
TRS: Dorticos KO 5

WBO Heavyweight Title.12 rds
Joseph Parker (TRS 4) vs Hughie Fury
Both: Parker Unanimous Decision