MATCHROOM BOXING, in conjunction with Boxlab Promotions, hosts an enticing night of boxing in Orlando’s Caribe Royale on Saturday (February 24). DAZN televise. Top of the bill is the super-middleweight clash between Edgar Berlanga, and Belfast’s Padraig McCrory, 18-0 (9), and it’s a huge chance for the latter to gatecrash the title discussion at 168.Berlanga, 21-0 (16), famously won his first 16 by first round knockout. Each subsequent outing, which have seen steady rises in class, have gone the full route. Berlanga, 26, may need to go the distance again here against a determined 35-year-old.
Also over the 12-round distance is a clash between Brooklyn-based Uzbek, Shakram Giyasov, and Mexican veteran Pablo Cesar Cano, 35-8-1 (25). The 34-year-old, who has been a pro since 2006, is as likely to be chinned as he is to administer the chinning. Always dangerous, but increasingly flawed, Cano might hear the final bell this time but looks likely to be outpointed by Giyasov, 14-0 (9).
The most competitive of the headline bouts might turn out to be the bantamweight collision between Antonio Vargas, 17-1 (9), and Puerto Rico-born Jonathan Rodriguez, 17-1-1 (7). This could be a cracker. Rodriguez, based in Bethlehem, PA, ended the career of Khalid Yafai in November with a first round KO but the feeling here is that Vargas, of Florida, can grind out victory after some exciting early rounds.
Plenty of eyes will be on the brilliant Cuban lightweight starlet Andy Cruz when he continues his education against Mexico’s Brayan Zamarripa Rodriguez, 14-2 (5). Expect Cruz to win inside schedule to take his record to 3-0 (2
