The six-fight weekend features one already fought (both predictions made before the fight), two on HBO and three on Fox complete with me wondering why PBC puts these on a network, but I digress.
The most important fights are part of an HBO doubleheader in the light heavyweight division as two titles are on the line with WBO champ Sergey Kovalev defending against long-time WBC top contender Elieder Alvarez and WBA kingpin Dmitry Bivol putting his belt up against Issac Chilemba.
The once feared Kovalev faces his toughest test since Andre Ward after two confidence builders against lesser opponents in Alvarez, who was the long avoided mandatory for WBC champion Adonis Stevenson after his close majority win over Issac Chilemba almost three years ago.
Alvarez isn't a puncher or a cutie as a boxer, but he provides a nice measuring stick for Kovalev and just what he could have remaining in the gas tank.
In HBO's other bout, Dmitry Bivol faces his second top 10 level opponent after an impressive knockout of Sullivan Barrera, against Issac Chilemba.
Chilemba had lost three in a row (Alvarez, Kovalev and Oleksander Gvozsdyk) before a win over Blake Caparello last time out earned him this fight vs the rock-fisted Bivol.
Chilemba isn't slick enough to outbox Bivol or punches hard enough to keep Bivol off of him so this could be an excellent candidate for knockout of the evening.
PBC once again wastes an excellent platform with three fights that carries some interest, but none of which can be considered must-see TV.
Perhaps this is as simple as PBC playing out the string on a contractual commitment, but I would still think that giving a higher level of fight a network time slot (Next month's Danny Garcia-Shawn Porter fight for the vacant WBC welterweight title would have been a great choice) would be a better allocation of exposure, but who am I to argue with the PBC's ahem success.
The main event features former champions in Devon Alexander and Andre Berto.
Berto, who to be described as faded may be too strong of a term, has plenty of heart but little left in skills and against Alexander, who has retained some of his championship level slickness and was robbed in his last bout in being given a draw against Victor Ortiz in a bout that he clearly won.
Former middleweight champ Peter Quillin returns to the ring against fringe contender J'Leon Love in a super middleweight fight.
Quillin looks to return to title form after his one round loss to Daniel Jacobs in 2015, while Love is winless against top 20 level opponents.
The opener features former IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets move to the welterweight division against trialhorse Erick Bone.
Lipinets, who gave Mikey Garcia a tougher outing than most in his last bout, faces Bone, who is the perfect type of opponent for someone on the comeback trail- tough enough to make you work, but isn't a threat to defeat you either.
Both Ramon and I had our picks in for the vacant IBF junior lightweight title from Australia from ESPN+ as Tevin Farmer took a unanimous decision over Billy Dib for that title.
Farmer was robbed of that same title in December when Kenichi Ogawa was given a ridiculous decision before failing the post-fight drug test, so it was only fair that Farmer was given a second chance when Ogawa was stripped.
Both of us selected Farmer via decision for two points...
After the Farmer-Dib fight,the challenge stands at 117-92.
WBO Light Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds
Sergey Kovalev vs Elieder Alvarez
Both: Kovalev Unanimous Decision
WBA Light Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds
Dmitry Bivol vs Issac Chilemba
R.L: Bivol Unanimous Decision
TRS: Bivol KO 9
Welterweights. 12 Rds
Devon Alexander vs Andre Berto
Both: Alexander Unanimous Decision
Super Middleweights. 10 Rds
Peter Quillin vs J'Leon Love
R.L: Quillin KO 9
TRS: Quillin Unanimous Decision
Welterweights 10 Rds
Sergey Lipinets vs Erick Bone
Both: Lipinets Unanimous Decision
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