The IBF featherweight title is the only title defended this weekend as former champion Josh Warrington attempts to regain the title that he vacated last year against champion Kiko Martinez in a rematch of 2017's Warrington decision victory.
Warrington vacated his IBF title rather than fight a rematch against Kid Galahad in their close but dull 2019 fight, Galahad won the vacant title, and what was thought to be a showcase fight, the thought to be past his prime Martinez knocked out Galahad in six rounds to win the title.
Warrington walked down and wore down Martinez in their first fight, the questions here are these- Can Martinez land a similar perfect bomb against Warrington as did against Galahad? And how well can Warrington take a punch anymore after spending several rounds taking crunching bomb after bomb from Mauricio Lara?
Warrington hasn't won a fight since October 2019 ( he was knocked out by Mauricio Lara and then a head clash forced a no contest in the rematch) and Martinez may have been very fortunate (lucky) to land a big shot, so one can only hope the winner takes on the very deserving Mauricio Lara.
Warrington-Martinez can be seen on DAZN from Leeds, England.
In the evening on Showtime from the newest PBC hub in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the main event will feature the American debut of Australian star and son of former junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, junior middleweight Tim Tszyu.
The unbeaten Tsyzu faces former Olympian Terrell Gausha in a good test of Tsyzu, who is the WBO's number one contender and is in line to face the winner of the unification next month between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano.
Gausha has lost or drawn each time that he tried to improve his level of opponents (decision losses to Erislandy Lara and Erickson Lubin and a draw against a faded Austin Trout) but is a solid second level fighter and as a former Olympian has an excellent amateur resume'.
If Tszyu can dominate or even stop Gausha, it will stamp Tsyzu as a potential star entering into his first title challenge.
The Showtime co-feature pits lightweight Michel Rivera against Joseph Adorno in a ten-rounder.
Rivera won three exciting fights last year on Showtime against good competition and seems to be a cut above Adorno, who owns draws in his last two fights.
Adorno's draw against Jamaine Ortiz did see Adorno score two knockdowns of Ortiz, so he does have a puncher's chance but it does appear to be a pairing of two fighters of different levels and potential ceilings.
The main event from ESPN comes from Las Vegas as former WBC junior lightweight champion Miguel Berchelt fights for the first time since his devastating knockout loss to Oscar Valdez, which cost him his title and his status in the eyes of many (including mine) as the best 130 pounder in the world.
Berchelt moves up to lightweight in his return bout and faces another fighter moving up to the division in Jeremiah Nakathila, who was last seen losing every round to Shakur Stevenson in one of the dullest fights seen in years.
The big punching Berchelt defended his title six times before losing to Valdez and blamed some of his defeat on problems making weight at junior lightweight, which could be true as Berchelt is a big fighter for the division.
Top Rank is known for their astute matchmaking and while this may not be a compelling fight, it's a perfect fight to begin rebuilding Berchelt against a fighter that also is coming up in weight and shouldn't be likely to hurt Berchelt.
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