Saturday, December 2, 2023

Boxing Challenge

    The boxing weekend became a little lighter when Ohara Davies's fight for the WBA junior lightweight title against Ismael Barroso was postponed due to visa problems for Davies.

Still, DAZN will have two fight cards on Saturday with the main events from both events as this week's challenge bouts.

The biggest fight is the return of Ryan Garcia, who spent most of his fight week verbally sparring not with his opponent but with his promoter Oscar De La Hoy and Golden Boy Promotions.

Garcia is fighting for the first time since his seventh-round knockout loss in April to Gervonta Davis and his opponent, Oscar Duarte seems to be tailor-made for Garcia to make a spectacular return, assuming that the young bomber is in a mental state to perform at his best.

Duarte can crack with 21 knockouts in his 26 wins against one loss, has won eleven in a row since that defeat ( a 2019 split decision to Adrian Estrella), and holds a win over former WBA junior lightweight champion Roger Gutierrez but hasn't fought anyone of Garcia's quality in those wins.

Duarte is a half-inch taller than Garcia, which may give Garcia a few problems but Duarte will likely have to come to Garcia, making him vulnerable to the superior pop of Garcia.

Earlier in the day on DAZN, two veteran fighters in desperate need of a win, face each other in Belfast Northern Ireland with Michael Conlan making his Matchroom debut against Jordan Gill.

Conlan has suffered his first two losses in the last two years, both by devastating knockouts in losses to Leigh Wood and Luis Alberto Lopez in title attempts.

Gill was knocked out in his previous outing in October 2022 when aging former champion Kiko Martinez dropped Gill four times before finishing him in the fourth round.

This could be a fun fight for as long as the bout lasts with both fighters willing to engage and both having vulnerable chins at this stage of their careers.

Boxing Challenge

Junior Welterweights. 12 Rds 
Ryan Garcia vs Oscar Duarte
Ramon Malpica; Garcia KO 6
TRS: Garcia KO 3
Vince Samano: Garcia KO 5

Junior Lightweights.12 Rds
Michael Conlan vs Jordan Gill
TRS: Conlan KO 6
R.L & V.S: Gill Unanimous Decision

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