Jermell Charlo vs. Erickson Lubin: High Risk Rarity

10/13/2017 Chris Carlson

A tantalizing junior middleweight championship matchup between Jermell Charlo and Erickson Lubin might as well be the main event on Showtime’s Tripleheader this Saturday. Both Americans are undefeated, Charlo entering his prime and Lubin isn’t far off considering Erickson just turned 22 at the beginning of October. Nowadays (generally speaking) it’s a rarity for young fighters to risk losing their ‘0’ this early in a promising career. It’s a breath of fresh air so let’s hope the media and fans appreciate it instead of downgrading one of them at the end. Especially if it’s Erickson, a phenom who is taking a major step up in class challenging Jermell for his 154-pound strap.

continue

Anthony Crolla and Ricky Burns in a Manchester Mash-Up

10/06/201710/06/2017 Chris Carlson

My first reaction when hearing about the matchup between Ricky Burns and Anthony Crolla brought a smile to my face as I nodded in approval. The fight just made so much sense for both men at this stage of their careers and of course the venue selection was perfect. A world championship belt isn’t on the line but it doesn’t matter and that’s the beauty of it all. What matters is the next step for these guys and what better motivation then money and pride.

continue

Dorticos vs. Kudryashov & Parker vs. Fury Highlight Busy Boxing Weekend

09/22/2017 Chris Carlson

The Yunier Dorticos vs. Dmitry Kudryashov & Joseph Parker vs. Hughie Fury standout in a busy boxing weekend that includes cards on ESPN, HBO, YouTube, and a variety of available (legal) streams.

Let’s begin this preview and predictions piece with another installment of the Top Rank on ESPN series. The televised tripleheader opens up with Micheal Conlan and is headlined by Oscar Valdez’s making a mandatory defense of his 126 pound WBO belt. Let’s hope the main event is at least entertaining style-wise and that Conlan puts on show. The best matchup on paper is Gilberto Ramirez (35-0) vs. Jessie Hart (22-0) in the co-feature.

continue

Canelo vs. Golovkin: Money and The Power

09/16/201709/16/2017 Chris Carlson

Much is at stake when Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez meets Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin this Saturday night live on HBO PPV from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Middleweight supremacy and PPV king status is on the table for either man that walks away the victor. Will the power of Golovkin overwhelm the Mexican superstar? Or will Canelo’s overall skill & boxing politics be too much for Triple G to overcome?

For about two and half year’s this Canelo vs. GGG fight marinated on the back burner for Oscar De La Hoya. Oscar took the time to allow his fighter to build his body up to the middleweight division. Most of the boxing world grew impatient after Amir Khan led to Liam Smith as Canelo’s next opponent last September to make matters worse it was on PPV.

continue

Flyweight Wars 2.0

09/10/201709/09/2017 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night the rematch between Roman Gonzalez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai at the super flyweight division along with the rest of the HBO tripleheader could be the spark that ignites round two if you will of the Flyweight Wars. Several years ago a plethora of fights took place at the flyweight division sparking a round-robin feel amongst 7 or 8 fighters. It was a wonderful thing to witness as many hardcore fans got a taste of what boxing use to be like in its heyday.

continue

Mayweather vs. McGregor: The Definition of Rachet

08/26/201708/25/2017 Chris Carlson

Barring a draw on Saturday night history will be made from the outcome of this super fight when Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor clash in the ring. If Floyd is victorious he will break Rocky Marciano’s career record of 49-0. If Conor does the impossible his legacy will live in infamy as the best combat sports fighter ever, although Bruce Lee would argue that fact and rightfully so. Is this a real fight or a figment of the imagination? (Translation to the youth, Real or Rachet AF)

continue

Crawford vs Indongo: Sovereignty at 140

08/19/201708/18/2017 Chris Carlson

When Terence Crawford and Julius Indongo step in the ring this Saturday night on ESPN history will be on their side. A quality matchup on paper gets majorly upgraded by being the first chance to crown an undisputed champion at any weight in over 12 years. Former middleweight lineal champion Jermaine Taylor was the last undisputed in boxing while Kostya Tszyu accomplished that feat at junior welterweight.

continue

Lomachenko vs. Marriaga: The Matrix Returns on ESPN

08/04/201708/04/2017 Chris Carlson

Vasyl Lomachenko defends his WBO junior lightweight belt against Miguel Marriaga in what on paper is a showcase fight on ESPN. Top Rank is banking on this main event being stylistically an entertaining matchup for television.

Saturday nights co-feature is Raymundo Beltran versus Bryan Vasquez.

continue

Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia: Substance Will Standout

07/28/201707/28/2017 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night live on Showtime, Adrien Broner meets Mikey Garcia in the main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Even without a title on the line the stakes remain high based off the accomplishments of both men. Showtime will also be live-streaming the undercard via Facebook & Youtube, 3 fights in total including unbeaten heavyweight Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller versus one-loss Gerald Washington.

Let’s start at the top of the bill with a very intriguing matchup between Mikey Garcia 36-0, (30KO’s) and Adrien Broner, who hasn’t lost a fight under the welterweight limit. In fact the weight of 140 pounds is a good item to focus on for two main reasons.

continue

PBC on FOX & HBO Tripleheader Predictions

07/16/201707/15/2017 Chris Carlson

Both HBO and the PBC on Fox have dueling tripleheaders this Saturday night featuring quality matchmaking from top to bottom whether you’re looking for pure entertainment or an evenly matched 50-50. For this boxing scribe (hack) the most intriguing one of all is Joe Smith Jr. vs. Sullivan Barrera and the can’t-miss action fights include Berchelt vs. Miura and Figueroa vs. Guerrero.

Here’s the rundown on how these fights will play out starting with a true pick’em, Joe Smith Jr. vs. Sullivan Barrera. Just a few days short of 13 months ago the boxing public especially the media, destroyed a PBC on NBC main event that matched Joe Smith Jr. against Andrzej Fonfara. That fight was chastised as yet another (perceived) mismatch from the Al Haymon stable pushed aside as a worthless waste of space for a prime time slot. Then the first round happened and the rest is music to Joe’s ears. Once again Joe was seen as a sizable underdog facing The Legend of Longevity Bernard Hopkins late last year. Joe knocked Bhop out of the ring ending his storied career abruptly.

continue