The main event is the anticipated rematch for the WBO light heavyweight title between Eleider Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev.
I was stunned to watch from my hotel room in Wytheville, Virginia in August as Alvarez had lost every round before pulling the stunning upset as "the Storm" knocked Kovalev down three times in the seventh round before the referee called off the bout.
The once fearsome Kovalev has now shown in his two knockout losses (to Alvarez and Andre Ward) that he has a real inability to grab and clinch when hurt and now with questions about his chin, one wonders if this fight could mean the end for the Krusher.
Still, this is a fifty/fifty fight as few seem to remember Kovalev dominating the fight before he was caught by Alvarez and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kovalev regain his title.
I've been back and forth all week on my decision on whom to pick and I'm still not comfortable with either fighter as my selection.
The skills of Kovalev are intact and at his best, there would be little doubt, but will Kovalev's mental state and chin remain at a championship level?
It'll be fascinating to find out.
Dynamite lightweight prospect Teofimo Lopez battles his sternest test in former title challenger Diego Magdaleno.
Lopez has been spectacular in blowing away each opponent thus far and takes a step up against Magdaleno, who once lost a junior lightweight title challenge to Rocky Martinez by a split decision.
The problem is that was in 2013, he's fought just twice since 2016 against outclassed opponents and in his last fight against a world-class opponent in 2015, he was stopped in two after being knocked down three times by then WBO 135 pound champ Terry Flanagan, who at his best reminded no one of Alexis Arguello.
I look for another dazzling performance from Lopez, who may have to visit the top ten in his next fight to try to find a test.
WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez returns after an almost one-year layoff to defend against Carmine Tommasone of Italy.
Valdez defeated Scott Quigg, who came in massively overweight, via unanimous decision in March 2018 in a great fight, but considering the size difference, may have been better off not fighting.
Valdez deserved the decision but took plenty of punches from the larger man and suffered a broken jaw in the victory.
Tommasone is undefeated and unknown, with his only win over a remotely ranked contender was a 2015 unanimous decision win over Jon Slowey and since then has fought just four times with his last three wins over fighters with records of 3-2, 4-25-2 (no typo) and 8-8-1.
This looks like a squash match to me, but one that I am Ok with considering Valdez's downtime and wanting to test the recovery of the broken jaw, which likely won't be tested by Tommasone, who has stopped just five of his nineteen victims.
The IBF lightweight title vacated by Mikey Garcia will be decided between the winner of the first bout of the evening as Richard Commey and Isa Chaniev will not only face off for the championship, there is an even bigger prize as both fighters have agreed that should they win, they will face WBA/WBO lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko in a unification of three titles.
Commey, who has lost both of his career losses on the road via split decision, is the favorite, but not a prohibitive one as Chaniev won an impressive unanimous decision last May in handing a loss to well thought of Ismael Barroso.
WBO Light Heavyweight Title. 12 Rds
Eleider Alvarez vs Sergey Kovalev
R.L: Alvarez KO 4
TRS: Alvarez KO 8
Lightweights. 10 Rds
Teofimo Lopez vs Diego Magdaleno
R.L: Lopez KO 3
TRS: Lopez KO 2
WBO Featherweight Title. 12 Rds
Oscar Valdez vs Carmine Tommasone
R.L: Valdez KO 8
TRS: Valdez Unanimous Decision
Vacant IBF Lightweight Title.12 Rds
Richard Commey vs Isa Chaniev
R.L: Commey KO 9
TRS: Commey Unanimous Decision
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