Saturday, August 31, 2019

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge is back with a six-fight weekend with ESPN + having the rights to the biggest fight with another inter-promotional battle between Top Rank and Matchroom.

Three-quarters of the lightweight titles are up for grabs in London as WBA and WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko (Top Rank) places his two titles on the line against Luke Campbell (Matchroom) for the WBC title that Mikey Garcia vacated in his fool's gold mission to take Errol Spence's IBF welterweight title.
Lomachenko, who is regarded by many as the best fighter in the world, is favored against Campbell, who won an Olympic gold medal, but came up short in his attempt for the WBA title in 2017 when he lost a close split decision to then-champion Jorge Linares, who was then dethroned by Lomachenko.
Campbell is a pretty slick boxer and I do think he'll have some early success against Lomachenko, but I don't think he hits hard enough to stop Lomachenko's progress as the fight goes on and Lomachenko will wear him down over the course of the fight.
Two other challenge fights from the same London card are interesting matchups as former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin against Hughie Fury and Charlie Edwards defends his WBC flyweight title against Julio Cesar Martinez.
Povetkin returns in his first fight since he was knocked out by Anthony Joshua last year, while Fury, the cousin of Tyson Fury, has just two losses, but both defeats (Joseph Parker and Kubrat Pulev) were in his two attempts to make the leap to the next level.
Edwards will be making the second defense of his title against Julio Cesar Martinez, who knocked out undefeated number one contender Andrew Selby in the fifth round in his last fight to earn the title shot and deprive the British of an All-British title fight.

Fox Sports One is back in Minneapolis, which has become a home base for PBC of late with a minor title fight with Erislandy Lara against Ramon Alvarez.
Lara has lost a split decision to Jarrett Hurd and drew with Brian Castano in his last two fights, but those two fights rank with the most exciting of his career and with his legs slowing late in his career, Lara suddenly is forced to engage and make good fights.
Lara is a prohibitive favorite against Alvarez, who was knocked out by the ring worn Brandon Rios two fights ago, has lost eight times and has his affiliation with his brother (Canelo Alvarez) as his main qualification for even this minor title fight.

A junior middleweight battle between prospects on this card makes the challenge as well with 6'5 Sebastian Fundora facing Jamontay Clark.
Fundora is worth watching just to see a 6'5 man weigh 154 pounds box, while Clark is a fighter that was getting a good push on the PBC undercards when the company was beginning but was surprisingly decisioned last year by Jeison Guzman in his first loss.

The final bout comes from Australia as former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn matches up with Michael Zerafa in a middleweight fight.
Horn, who is best remembered for his controversial win over Manny Pacquiao, knocked out Anthony Mundine in the first round in his most recent fight and might be in line for a middleweight title fight soon, even if his qualifications don't warrant it.
Zerafa, who lost a decision to Kell Brook in 2018 and lost in five to Peter Quillin via one of the most spectacular knockouts that you'll see in 2015 in his only fights of note, will attempt to pull the upset on the road.

In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 214-184

WBA/WBO/Vacant WBC Lightweight Titles. 12 Rds
Vasyl Lomachenko vs Luke Campbell
R.L: Lomachenko KO 9
TRS: Lomachenko KO 10

Heavyweights 12 Rds
Alexander Povetkin vs Hughie Fury
Both: Povetkin Unanimous Decision

WBC Flyweight Title 12 Rds
Charlie Edwards vs Julio Cesar Martinez
R.L: Edwards Unanimous Decision
TRS: Martinez KO 7

Junior Middleweights. 12 Rds
Erislandy Lara vs Ramon Alvarez
R.L: Lara Unanimous Decision
TRS: Lara KO 8

Junior Middleweights.10 Rds
Sebastian Fundora vs Jamontay Clark
R.L:  Fundora KO 8
TRS: Fundora Unanimous Decision

Middleweights 12 Rds
Jeff Horn vs Michael Zerafa
Both: Horn Unanimous Decision

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