Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev: Legacy Sealer in Sin City

11/19/201611/19/2016 Chris Carlson

Legacy is on the line this Saturday night when former super-middleweight king challenges light-heavyweight crown-holder Sergey Kovalev, live on HBO PPV. The winner of this super fight from sin city will cement their hall of fame credentials and likely take over the pound-for-pound throne. Several questions linger in what has been rightfully billed as a 50-50 fight between elite level fighters. Matching 30-0 records and top-5 P4P status makes this the best matchup on paper in 2016.

A strong case for victory can be made for either men, but it’s not as simple as a run of the mill boxer vs. puncher dual due to the well-rounded skills each pugilist poses. It’s safe to say that both fighters will be facing their best opposition to date. A few opponents come to mind to compare and contrast in an attempt to split hairs.

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Spike/HBO/Sky Sports Preview: A busy weekend full of stay busy bouts

11/12/2016 Chris Carlson

The year in boxing for 2016 has played out like the filming process on a movie set, hurry up and wait. Surely boxing fans are happy to see a busy fight schedule this weekend after a dreary month of October. Busy as it may be it’s full of stay busy fights in all too common theme in boxing over the last decade. To be fair it wouldn’t be the first time a great action fight arose out of a chalk full of ho-hum bouts with the two biggest named fighters facing non-competitive opponents.

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas: A Bridge Built For Money May

11/05/201611/04/2016 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night live from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, sure-fire hall of famer Manny Pacquiao will meet WBO champion Jessie Vargas. It’s a once in a lifetime shot for Vargas to become a star in a sport that has very few recognizable names. It’s a means to an end for Manny Pacquiao, who returns from a short-lived retirement. With news surfacing of Floyd Mayweather’s recent sparring session one can’t help but to assume this independent PPV hosted by Top Rank serves as a bridge to a Money Mayweather sequel.

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Krzysztof Glowacki vs. Oleksandr Usyk: Preview & Prediction

09/16/2016 Chris Carlson

Another championship bout more than worth of note will take place in Poland, when Oleksandr Usyk challenges Krzysztof Glowacki this Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately Showtime International or PBC hasn’t picked up this superb matchup. Maybe this proves that Al’s investment money has dried because their just doesn’t seem to be a good reason why he hasn’t found a home for this fight. Go figure, the best fight on paper will get the least exposure. Luckily for us hardcores klowdtv.com will stream it live along with the Anthony Crolla vs. Jorge Linares next Saturday as part of a free offer in the month of September.

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Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith: Preview & Prediction

09/16/201609/16/2016 Chris Carlson

After a stellar weekend in the sport that featured two top-10 fights of the year in Gonzalez/Cuadras and Easter/Commey, this Saturday highlights the many issues in boxing. On one hand you have a pay-per-view bout not worthy of its price tag (64.99). On the other you have a great matchup with limited exposure in the U.S.

It’s never a good thing when fans are debating the number of potential PPV buys instead of the actual fight in the ring. For years now boxing fans have steadily been forced in to a corner with a feeling they have no other option but to stream. Can you blame them with all the mismatches on premium cable and PPV?

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Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook: Optical Illusion

09/09/2016 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night live from the O2 Arena in London, England, undefeated fighters Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook meet in a pairing few expected. The matchup has been compared to Canelo versus Khan but judging by Kell Brook’s 30-day mandatory weigh-in, the issue of weight may not be the biggest problem for Brook. In fact, Kell’s ceiling at 147 is now tough to judge due to possible weight-drain and there’s a good chance we see a fresher, stronger, lighter on his feet Brook. Another point of emphasis is the amount of sparring & overall stamina he will retain being able to eat freely throughout the day. Amir Khan had never proven himself at the welterweight division, but that’s not to say Brook was accomplished at welterweight or in general. Let us not forget that Khan was stopped at 135 and in his last big fight against Danny Garcia, knocked out 140.

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Errol Spence vs. Leonard Bundu: How will Spence measure up?

08/21/201608/20/2016 Chris Carlson

Errol Spence measures himself against Leonard Bundu this Sunday afternoon in a great lead-in slot on NBC. Pretty much everyone thinks the outcome is all but written in stone. This scribe will even admit the venue, the newly constructed Coney Island outdoor amphitheater, may be just as intriguing as the matchup. Either way it’s a great look for boxing and Errol Spence, nuzzled in a tight-window between the Olympic basketball gold medal final and the closing ceremony in primetime.

Anything Keith Thurman can do Spence can do better is Errol’s motto and the main storyline to peak interest amongst the loyal fan base. If Spence is able to do what no man has, by stopping Bundu, he would once again send a clear message to the top welterweights. The same top-flight welterweights who are in no rush to face the young Texan until the reward balances out with the risk.

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Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton: Classic Style Matchup

07/29/2016 Chris Carlson

(Photo credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME) This Saturday night undefeated pugilists risk their O’s in a classic style-matchup that continues the oldest argument amongst fight fans. Leo Santa Cruz made a big statement last August when he beat three-weight champion Abner Mares. His counterpart, Carl Frampton, comes in to this dual fresh off the heels of his most impressive win over previously unbeaten Scott Quigg. The Barclays Center will serve as a middle-ground of sorts with UK fans traveling across the pond and it being Santa Cruz’s first time in New York period.

A year ago this scribe, like many, favored Carl Frampton to outmaneuver Leo on his way to a clear victory. That was before each combatant’s had faced Mares or Quigg. Having seen the combination of Santa Cruz adding to his tool belt and Carl withering a bit down the stretch, has changed things.

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Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol: Is Crawford ready to carry the torch?

07/23/201607/22/2016 Chris Carlson

Styles clash when Terence Crawford meets Viktor Postol in a unification bout this Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The winner of this contest holds claim to 140-pound supremacy and a possible fight against the legendary Manny Pacquiao. With superstardom in his sights is Terence Crawford ready to carry the torch?

The betting odds for this #1 versus #2 junior welterweights would have you believe that Viktor Postol is just an ordinary fighter in the way of Crawford’s path to greatness. Most sites feature Postol as a 4/5 to 1 underdog. If you ask any insider or tuned-in fight fan, they’ll tell you it’s a much closer in the ring. Maybe on paper closer to a 60-40 fight, with some experts rating it an even 50-50.

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Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola: Big Boys Brawl in Birmingham

07/16/2016 Chris Carlson

Deontay Wilder was forced to reorganize against Chris Arreola, after his scheduled matchup in May with Alexander Povetkin got shelved due to an irregular-trace amount of a newly banned substance. Likely, Wilder will have to face Povetkin in the fall, that’s if the WBC agrees with WADA’s recent adjustment in their rules on meldonium. So it’s Arreola for Wilder to remain active near his home in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. If the main event doesn’t do the trick, the co-feature pits unbeaten Sammy Vasquez in tough with 2008 gold medalist Felix Diaz.

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