CANELO Alvarez and Terence Crawford meet in a battle of boxing bulldozers at the career crossroads. Can ‘Bud’ move up even more weights to finally get that huge name on his resume? Will activity creep up on him, or will he be far too mobile for the newer flat-footed version of Canelo?
So many intriguing questions for the main event and a few for the packed undercard, as well as a bundle of unbeaten boxers get pitted together. It’s sink or swim and other cliches of that nature as we go over potential career climbers or rankings stallers after the big weekend.
Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez
Probably the biggest test to date for both of these undefeated fighters. Their best wins thus far have both come against Carlos Gongora, who has had his say in the media, revealing that Martinez carries the significantly heavier hands.
An interesting development. Neither man was able to halt the tough nut Gongora, with both winning on points. While it feels like Martinez is the younger man, he’s, in fact, only a year younger than Mbilli. Time to throw punches, or get out of the ring for these two, in a tantalising tussle.
Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brandon Adams 2
It’s been four years since Brandon Adams upset Ukrainian Bohachuk in Puerto Rico by eighth-round stoppage. Since then, their respective careers have taken different paths.
Bohachuk has lost again, yet it was a hotly contested majority defeat to the excellent Vergil Ortiz Jr, where he dropped Vergil twice. Adams, now 36, has been beaten four times in total, albeit in good company. He should be able to cause problems for as long as he lasts.
Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas
Props to two relatively young, hungry fighters putting their records on the line for a shot at reaching the next level. Walsh, 24, with 11 KOs from 14 wins, originally from Cork, now training on the West Coast.
Vargas is 28, so he feels like the one with a touch more pressure to move along. He’s also 17-0 with 15 knockouts. The young ‘El Feroz’ will be the fight favourite, but Walsh will fancy he can land a heavy shot at some point.
Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin
One of the heavyweight division’s forgotten men versus one who has had an unexpected Cinderella-style resurgence. Aged 35, Dychko needs to get a move on.
The Florida-based Kazakh is used to landing his heavy shots and bowling people over. Michigan mover Franklin has gone 24 rounds with Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, so he doesn’t fall easily.
Steven Nelson vs. Raiko Santana
Last sighted at the turn of the year, losing his unbeaten slate to Diego Pacheco, it’s interesting to see big-punching Steven Nelson returning on this card. What could be on the agenda if he gets past rugged Cuban export Santana, who has won at a decent level.
Best of the Rest
Elsewhere on the card, Japan’s Reito Tsutsumi will look to make it three wins out of three when he takes on Texan Javier Martinez, who has lost his last two outings.
Canelo’s middleweight prospect Marco Verde is also seeking a trinity of pro victories when he tackles tall Puerto Rican puncher Marcos Osorio-Betancourt, who is also coming off the back of two consecutive losses.
Saudi debutant Sultan Almohamed’s opponent hasn’t had any losses yet. In fact, 21-year-old Floridian Martin Caraballo has only boxed once, to a four-round draw in April.
