Exciting Two Months of Boxing
Upcoming Schedule and My Preview:
As everyone anticipates the May 2nd, Floyd and Manny fight -- don't miss out on some good upcoming fights. Below is my preview of a number of fights that will be hosted on not just HBO and Showtime, but Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS, Spike TV, ESPN, and more.
April 4
At Quebec City (CBS): Adonis Stevenson vs. Sakio Bika
After Haymon clearly advised Adonis Stevenson to avoid “The Krusher” Kovalev in 2014, the boxing fan base has grown impatient. This is a weak fight card. Sako Bika is a super middle-weight, not a light heavy-weight. Bika is comiong off an ugly decision loss to Anthony Dirrell; if Stevenson doesn't take care of business via knockout, his stock will fall again. Fight fans have forgotten his short-lived success when he was cleaning out the division. It's time for him and Al Haymon to get him back on track. This fight doesn't do it.
April 11
At Brooklyn, N.Y. (NBC): Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson & Andy Lee vs. Peter Quillin, 12 rounds, for Lee's WBO middleweight title
Another Haymon boxing card that does not excite the fan base. Granted, Lamont was a “big” name before being caught with PED/testosterone drug use. The only positive is at least this fight will take place for free on basic cable where it belongs. When Danny Garcia decides to fight the best again, fans should not pay attention. Garcia is avoiding “The Machine” Matthyssee and was gifted a win after losing to journeyman, Mauricio Herrera last year.
April 18
At Verona, N.Y. (HBO): Ruslan Provodonikov vs. Lucas Matthysse
This is one of the best matchups in a while. Candidate for fight of the year, the fireworks should fly early in this fight. “The Machinie” Matthysse continues to impress me every fight and always takes dangerous opponents. Since Danny Garcia is ducking him, Matthysse still gives fight fans great entertainment value like his 2014 FOY candidate with John Molina Jr. I expect Matthysse to engage Provodnkov but not be wreckless. Ruslan will get his punches in but so wil Matthysse. At the end of the fight, I expect better movement from Matthysse to win out. Provodnikov has problems with skilled boxers like Algeiri and Herrerra, and Matthysse's camp knows this.
At Arlington, Texas (HBO): Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme
Excited to see Terence Crawford again but not sure who he is fighting. I consider this a tune up fight. I'll reserve comment and stay tuned. Hope to see Crawford move up and start facing better competition in the 140 lb pound division.
April 24
At Chicago (Spike TV): Anthony Dirrell vs. Badou Jack
Another weak fight card from Mr. Haymon; Badou was easily knocked out by no-name Derek Edwards in February 2014. Edwards then lost a 12 round fight with Anthony’s brother, Andrew Dirrell. Is “The Money Team” receiving a gift by having Badou headlined in a fight on Spike TV? Don't get me wrong, Anthony Dirrell is a talented fighter who’s overcome cancer and looks to make a big-name for himself. In reality, Dirrell should ask to face bigger named opponents like GGG, Curtis Stevens, Gabriel Rosado, Etc. to get his name out there. This fight is a low risk, low reward fight.
April 25
At New York (HBO): Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings
I was not impressed with Jennings win over Mike Perez last year. I am sort of looking past this fight, expecting Klitchko to win. If that happens, Bryant Jennings should face Deontay Wilder in a measuring stick contest. If Wilder can prove again he’s the real deal coming off an exciting win over Bermain Stiverne, then the boxing world will want to see Wilder vs Klitschko in 2016.
April 30
At Las Vegas (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes): Mickey Bey vs. Denis Shafiko
Mickey Bey is fighting for his career. He’s coming off a few give me fights. Once a very talented boxer with a suspect chin, Bey needs to win in convincing fashion.
At Indio, Calif. (Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes): Mercito Gesta vs. Carlos Molina
Carlos Molina is coming off two losses to big names (not to be confused with the former super welter-weight champ Carlos Molina). This Molina is a 140 lb super lightweight. His loss to Adrian Broner and Amir Khan showed he's not a top echelon fighter. Golden Boy might have rushed his career in hopes to see if he could pull a major upset a la Josesito Lopez vs Ortiz and Maidana. At 29, Molina needs to get back on track and win convingly so he can return to HBO again.
May 2
Las Vegas (HBO PPV/Showtime PPV): Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao & Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Galamlier Rodrgue
I will write a full article on the Floyd vs Pacquiao fight in the next few weeks. For now, like yourself, it’s just marked on my calendar as fight of the year anticipation.
It souunds like they are taking a page off the HBO pre-fight cards. They lack major names or interesting matchups. For a fight making as much mega-bucks as this one, fight fans deserve more entertainment. Lomachenko is a talented fighter but his opponent, Gamalier Rodriguez, is relative nobody. Rodriguez’ opponents in his last six fights have a combined 24 losses. Hardly stellar competition. If HBO is just trying to upsell another Eastern European or Russian fighter they need to do better. At least give us a big name versus Lomachenko on the undercard.
May 9
At Houston (HBO): Canelo Alvarez vs. James Kirkland,
Going out on a limb and saying this will be a 2015 fight of the year (FOY). Can’t wait to see Canelo prove to the boxing-world he’s willing to fight anyone considered "the best". Eventualy, I see him fighting GGG but not after he clears out the 154 group. I will write a full article on this fight as I'm really surprised in Canelo's decision and can't wait to see it.
Golden Boy is also on a mission to convince the world they make the best fights. Since their move to HBO, they have proved it. Hopkins vs Kovalev, Lemiex vs Rosado, Matthyse vs Provodnkov -- now Golden Boy fighters just need to win these great fights.
May 16
At TBA (HBO): Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe Jr
Another HBO fail to get Gennady Golvkin a big fight. After Cotto negotiations went no where, Monroe Jr was apparently the only on a short list willing to fight GGG. Hopefully GGG’s patience pays off and his promotors land a fight with Quillen, Ward, Lemiex, Cotto, or Canelo in the near future. GGG should take care of business this fight.
May 22
At Moscow: Alexander Povetkin vs. Mike Perez
It will be interesting to see if HBO buys the rights to this fight after. After all, Perez is the same guy who beat the Russian born Magomed Abdusalamov into a coma.Not to mention, the same Mike Perez is still an outlier to land a Klitschko fight in the future. If Perez can beat Povetkin, I would like to see him fight Deontay Wilder. It would be a good test for Wilder. Perez is a slick boxer who gives big punchers problems. To-date, I have not seen a heavy weight hurt Perez, so a fight between Mike Perez and Deontay Wilder would be a good stepping stone for the American prize fighter.
