Boxing Challenge

   The weekend in boxing may not be deep in action, but the main event will be the best that the sport has to offer since its return from COVID-19.

WBA and WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko seeks to add the IBF championship to his collection against talented bomber Teofimo Lopez on ESPN and free television.

Lomachenko, who held the WBC title until the organization's ridiculous franchise champion title was endowed upon him, should be unifying all four titles, but thanks to the WBC, Lomachenko (or Lopez should he win) would have to fight Devon Haney to control all four titles.

Haney's a fine young fighter, but I'd bet the WBC's "franchise" designation was conceived as not only to gain the usual sanctioning fee, but for the bonus occasional "Unification" match also.

Both fighters have been off since 2019 with Lomachenko decisioning Luke Campbell last August and Lopez knocking out Richard Commey in two rounds last October to win his championship.

Lomachenko is the solid favorite, but there are more than a few people that are selecting the naturally larger and stronger puncher in Lopez to pull off what would be a upset along with a changing of the guard in the sport.

Most people that are picking Lopez to win are thinking Lopez lands big shots early and wins by knockout in the first half of the fight.

I can see that and Lomachenko has been knocked down by Jorge Linares in his toughest test at lightweight, but I think Lopez has a better chance of winning by using his size and strength to bully and rough up the smaller fighter as Orlando Salido was able to do in Lomachenko's only loss.

The circumstances around that fight with Salido will not be repeated in this one, but Lopez would be well-advised to try using some of those tactics to frustrate the more skilled boxer.

Lomachenko will likely do what he does best- probe his opponent, begin the process of breaking them down, and then finish them off in the late rounds either by stoppage or wide decision.

Lomachenko will try to frustrate Lopez, make him swing and miss, and give Lopez looks that his limited experience (Only Richard Commey is a Lopez opponent of top ten quality) has not remotely prepared him for.

Teofimo Lopez has a chance to win this fight, but I think he's unprepared for what he's going to see from arguably the best fighter in the world and unless he is more than a talented fighter with a bright future, he could be in line for the type of lessons that even great fighters receive on occasion.

As for Vasyl Lomachenko, he hasn't fought a fighter that punches as hard as we think Teofimo Lopez does, and at lightweight Lomachenko has been merely elite rather than the otherworldly fighter from his days at 126 and 130 pounds.

Can Lomachenko repel a fighter as young and powerful as Lopez?

The co-feature pits a pair of junior welterweights as undefeated Arnold Barboza and former world title challenger Alex Saucedo face off in what should be an interesting battle.

Saucedo, who was involved in a tremendous fight against Lenny Zappavigna in June 2018, lost in his title challenge to then-WBO champion Maurice Hooker by knockout in his hometown of Oklahoma City in the fight following the Zappavigna fight and has fought only twice since.

The undefeated Barboza is taking a step up in competition and has looked very good at times, but he didn't seem to want to pick up the pace against outgunned veteran Tony Luis in his most recent fight and the effort reminded a bit of that of featherweight Ruben Villa in his loss to Emmanuel Navarrete last week as in having very good boxing skills, but will he be able to have enough pop in his punches to gain the respect of the top fighters in his division?

Both fighters have questions to answer- how much did Saucedo leave in the ring in his war against Zappavigna and his lopsided loss to Hooker? 

Is Barboza ready to move up in opposition and does he have the motor to step it up in order to really impress observers?

The winner might find themselves in line for a shot at one of the vacant belts that are sure to clutter the boxing landscape after the Josh Taylor-Jose Ramirez winner moves up to welterweight, so this is an important step for the winner.

In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 131-120.

Unification WBA and WBO-IBF Lightweight Titles. 12 Rds

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez

Both: Lomachenko Unanimous Decision

Jr. Welterweights. 10 Rds

Arnold Barboza vs Alex Saucedo

R.L: Barboza Unanimous Decision

TRS: Saucedo Unanimous Decision