After a week in which the United States was void of significant cards, American boxing is back with three televised cards in two days. There is a Golden Boy on ESPN Friday night and two PBC cards that lead into one another on FOX and Showtime. George Groves also has his first World Boxing Super Series fight in the United Kingdom.
Friday, October 13th
Fidel Maldonado Jr (24-3-1, 19 KOs) v Ismael Barroso (19-1-2, 18 KOs), junior welterweights & Pablo Cesar Cano (30-6-1, 21 KOs) v Marcelino Nicolas Lopez (32-2-1, 19 KOs), junior welterweights – California – Golden Boy on ESPN – ESPN Deportes, 10 PM Eastern
This can also be viewed in English on the WatchESPN website and app, or at least that is how it appears on their interface as of now. Prelims start at 8:30 on the same service. This should be an entertaining main event with two limited power punchers going at one another. Cano is in soft in the co-feature, but he appears to be fading too so that still might be interesting. Not Earth shattering stuff here, but a good Golden Boy on ESPN card.
Saturday, October 14th
George Groves (26-3, 19 KOs) v Jamie Cox (24-0, 13 KOs), WBA super middleweight title – World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal – Audience Network, ITV Box Office (UK), 2 PM Eastern
For my money this is a mismatch, but it is also a necessary formality to get Groves into the World Boxing Super Series second round in what should be a great, all British fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Maybe Cox will surprise. 2 PM Eastern is the listed start time, but I wouldn’t expect the main event for a couple hours and there is nothing else here worth your attention.
Leo Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) v Chris Avalos (27-5, 20 KOs), featherweights & Abner Mares (30-2-1, 15 KOs) v Andres Gutierrez (35-1-1, 25 KOs, featherweights & Eddie Ramirez (17-0, 11 KOs) v Antonio DeMarco (32-6-1, 22 KOs), junior welterweights – PBC on FOX, 7:30 PM Eastern
Cruz and Mares are fighting in not all that exciting separate bouts here to hype their not all that exciting potential early 2018 rematch, but this is what it is I guess. At least all three fights here will be action oriented even if upsets are unlikely in the two main bouts. DeMarco will be an excellent test for rising prospect Eddie Ramirez in the opener, or at least he will if he has anything left anyway. He hasn’t been in a prominent fight in almost two years now though.
Erislandy Lara (24-2-2, 14 KOs) v Terrell Gausha (20-0, 9 KOs), WBA junior middleweight title & Jermell Charlo (29-0, 14 KOs) vs Erickson Lubin (18-0, 13 KOs), WBC junior middleweight title & Jarrett Hurd (20-0, 14 KOs) vs Austin Trout (30-3, 17 KOs), IBF junior middleweight title – Showtime Championship Boxing, 10 PM Eastern
I don’t get the bout order here as no one cares about Erislandy Lara and Terrell Gausha as a main event, but the other two title fights here are great matchups. Lubin is one of the sport’s top prospects and he is in against red hot Jermell Charlo for his first shot. Jarrett Hurd is getting the toughest test of his career in grizzled veteran Austin Trout too. Both of those are toss up fights that promise high level action. Great stuff until the main event pitting two less than exciting fighters in a matchup in which Lara is rightfully very heavily favored.
