THREE American states – Maryland, Florida and Mississippi – are competing for attention this Saturday (May 25), with each hosting a show. In Oxon Hill at the MGM National Harbor, recent Matchroom Boxing signing Devin Haney, 21-0 (13), meets Mexico City’s Antonio Moran, 24-3 (17), over 10 rounds. The Las Vegas-based lightweight is only 20 years old, yet is ranked in the top 10 by all four of the major governing bodies. Moran is tall and tough, but his gifted opponent will have too much for him over the distance.
Also on this Sky Sports Action/DAZN bill, there are two heavyweight 10-rounders. The in-form Michael Hunter, 16-1 (11), of Las Vegas, was previously in the running for the Anthony Joshua fight next month, but will instead have to make do with outpointing durable Sao Paulo veteran Fabio Maldonado, 26-2 (25). Meanwhile, another fighter in his late 30s – Dallas’ Gregory Corbin, 15-1 (9) 1NC – also finds himself up against it. He is not expected to last the course against Zagreb’s touted Filip Hrgovic, 7-0 (5).
Rounding off the card is a 10-twos super-lightweight unification clash between Chicago’s WBC titlist Jessica McCaskill, 6-2 (3), and WBA belt-holder Anahi Sanchez, 19-3 (11) – a three-weight world champion from Pergamino, Argentina. Sanchez has not travelled well in the past, so the tenacious McCaskill is the pick to prevail on points.
On a Top Rank promotion (BoxNation/ESPN) at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Tokyo super-featherweight Masayuki Ito, 25-1-1 (13), defends his WBO crown against Coram, New York southpaw Jamel Herring, 19-2 (10). Ito has only fought outside of Japan once so far. That was in July when he won his world title – coincidentally in the same city as this weekend’s bout. Herring is game, but Ito’s aggression can see him take this one on the scorecards.
On the undercard at lightweight, ex-two-division world ruler Jose Pedraza, 25-2 (12), faces Tijuana’s Antonio Lozada, 40-2-1 (34), who is best known for his 10th-session stoppage of the formerly unbeaten Felix Verdejo in March last year. The heavy-handed Mexican hasn’t kicked on since then, so the polished Pedraza (Cidra, Puerto Rico) is favoured to triumph over 10.
A super-welterweight 10-rounder is the main attraction on the TGB Promotions event at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi (FOX Sports 1). Austin Trout (Las Cruces, New Mexico) has lost three of his last four outings, but all were for world titles and all were competitive. He takes on the Cleveland-born Terrell Gausha, 21-1 (10), whose most recent appearance came at middleweight. Gausha is a solid, well-schooled competitor, but the seasoned Trout, 31-5 (17), possesses far greater top-level experience. The skilful and tricky portsider can defeat Gausha via decision.
The following day (Sunday May 26) in Fuzhou, China, Golden Boy Promotions team up with Max Power Promotions to stage a pair of 12-round contests.
Popular Chinese featherweight Can Xu, 16-2 (2), will enjoy the support of the crowd when he fights Japanese left-hander Shun Kubo, 13-1 (9). Kunming’s Xu claimed a career-best success in January when he unanimously outscored the come-forward Jesus M. Rojas in an entertaining tussle. Kubo, who hasn’t been firing on all cylinders recently, only moved up to 126lbs last year. The Kobe resident will likely struggle with Xu’s fast combinations, leading to a verdict victory for the home favourite.
In the light-flyweight co-feature, Venezuelan Carlos Canizalez, 21-0-1 (17), collides with Tokyo’s former WBO flyweight king Sho Kimura, 18-2-2 (11). Three of Kimura’s last five bouts have been held in China, with all three resulting in wins. Caracas’ quality Canizales can break that cycle by succeeding on points.
The Verdict Action everywhere you look.
