The early stages of 2018 are starting to take shape on the boxing calendar. We have some good ones to report featuring the likes of Deontay Wilder trying again, Andre Dirrell in a rematch, a vacant lightweight title fight, and quite a bit more.
- The first ShoBox of the year will air on February 2nd. The show will be headlined by unbeaten super middleweight prospects Ronald Ellis (14-0-1, 10 KOs) and Junior Younan (13-0, 9 KOs). Dominican Olympian Wellington Romero (12-0-1, 6 KOs) will meet Sam Teah (12-1-1, 5 KOs) at junior welterweight in the co-main event. Shobox veteran Rolando Chinea (15-1-1, 6 KOs) will also return to fight Thomas Mattice (10-0, 8 KOs) in a lightweight matchup. Finally and most interestingly, hidden gem and Floyd Mayweather trained Devin Haney (18-0, 12 KOs) will make his television debut against Harmonito Dela Torre (19-1, 12 KOs) at lightweight. This is a quality ShoBox.
- Top Rank on ESPN will feature a vacant lightweight title fight on Friday, February 16th when Ray Beltran (34-7-1, 24 KOs) takes his third crack at a world title against former titleholder Paulus Moses (40-3, 25 KOs) of Namibia. Beltran will be heavily favored here. He is likely auditioning to be Vasyl Lomachenko’s lightweight debut opponent as well and for the payday that comes with that should he bring the belt back to Top Rank.
- PBC is trying to put together another fight for their show the following day on the 17th. As previously reported, that card will be main evented by Danny Garcia and Brandon Rios on Showtime. Boxingscene.com has reported that PBC is also trying to put together a battle between former welterweight Devon Alexander (27-0, 14 KOs) and Victor Ortiz (32-6-2, 25 KOs) on the undercard. Reportedly, this would be aired on FS1 before the Showtime card if it gets put together.
- They are going to try one more time. WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) is once again set to meet much avoided Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) on March 3rd. They were set to fight in November, but Ortiz failed a drug test and the fight was canceled. This is a really great matchup in the sport’s historical glamour division, so here is to it going off without a hitch this time.
- The card seems to have its co-feature as well in another familiar matchup. Back in May, Andre Dirrell (26-2, 16 KOs) got a victory over Jose Uzcategui (26-2, 22 KOs) by disqualification when the Colombian hurt him badly with a shot after the bell after being warned for doing the same thing earlier. The post-fight riot that broke out in the ring was an ugly look for the sport, so hopefully we avoid that this time as they are doing it again on the Wilder v Ortiz undercard. The fight will be an IBF eliminator as well.
- This one isn’t official yet, but Eddie Hearn has confirmed that he is close to a deal with Bob Arum to bring Scott Quigg (34-1-2, 25 KOs) stateside to challenge for Oscar Valdez’s (23-0, 19 KOs) WBO featherweight title. This would be a Top Rank on ESPN main event and an excellent one at that. I really hope this fight goes through. Quigg would be a notable step up for Valdez who is arguably still a prospect despite his title. The 27 year old Mexican’s reign has not been against world ranked opposition.
