 |
| Photo Credit: Splash News |
However, we start with the biggest fight of the weekend from Cardiff, Wales on Showtime as WBA and IBF heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua defends his two titles against late replacement Carlos Takam.
The original opponent was to be the IBF's mandatory contender Kubrat Pulev, but Pulev pulled out shortly before the bout with a shoulder problem.
Takam was the highest rated contender that was willing to take the fight so this bout will be considered Joshua's mandatory defense for the IBF and Pulev will have to start over in building his claim for a future title shot.
Joshua returns to the ring for the first time since his fight of the year contender vs Wladimir Klitschko that saw both men hit the floor.
Takam has been a top 20 contender that suffered both of his losses when the competition increased against Alexander Povetkin and Joseph Parker.
The co-feature in Cardiff has the unknown factor in the suddenly red-hot junior bantamweight division as WBA champ Kal Yafai is defending against undefeated Sho Ishida of Japan.
Yafai is a heavy favorite to defeat Ishida, who has never fought outside of his home country and has never beaten anyone near the top 20 with his last two opponents being fighters making their pro debut!
Yafai will get his chance to join the elite of the division with his WBA belt as he is expected to defend against Roman Gonzalez with a successful defense against Ishida.
The final challenge bout from Wales matches heavyweight contender Dillion Whyte against the once-promising Robert Helenius of Finland.
Whyte's battle with Anthony Joshua was the champion toughest other than Wladimir Klitschko and with Whyte's war with Dereck Chisora, Whyte has become a solid contender and one that would be a welcome challenger against Joshua or one of the other two champions in Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.
Helenius was thought to be a future contender six or seven years ago but has never faced a top 20 fighter other than his fight with the aforementioned Chisora, which Helenius won in one of the worst decisions of the year.
And then there is the reason the challenge is being posted on a Friday as the World Boxing Super Series finishes the super middleweight bracket with the last quarter-final with Germany's Jurgen Brahmer against the only American in the tournament Rob Brant.
Brahmer was a minor titlist at 175 pounds and spent most of his time knocking off C-level competition in Germany for years before losing to Nathan Cleverly a year ago before dropping to 168 for the WBSS.
Brant appears to be a talented prospect but hasn't fought anyone remotely resembling a world class fighter.
I lead the challenge 154-137
WBA/IBF Heavyweight Titles. 12 Rds
Anthony Joshua vs Carlos Takam
R.L: Joshua KO 9
TRS: Joshua KO 6
WBA Junior Bantamweight Title. 12 Rds
Kal Yafai vs Sho Ishida
Both: Yafai Unanimous Decision
Heavyweights. 12 Rds
Dillion Whyte vs Robert Helenius
R.L: Whyte KO 5
TRS; Whyte KO 10
World Boxing Super Series Super Middleweight Quarter-Final.12 Rds
Jurgen Brahmer vs Rob Brant
R.L: Brant Unanimous Decision
TRS: Brant KO 9
No comments:
Post a Comment