After the empty week that just was, boxing is back in a big way this upcoming weekend. The sport features a vacant lightweight title fight on Friday before giving us three major cards on Saturday. First, the World Boxing Super Series returns with a great fight before PBC takes over on FOX and then Showtime. Clear your schedule, this is a busy one.
Friday, February 16th
Joe Joyce (1-0, 1 KO) v Rudolf Jozic (4-1, 3 KOs), heavyweights – England – Dave (UK), 4 PM Eastern
This is a relatively minor Ringstar and Hayemaker Promotions card on Dave in the UK. Joe Joyce was a major amateur super heavyweight for a few years before winning silver in Rio in 2016, but his story should have been even better than that. His decision loss to Tony Yoka in the gold medal match is widely considered a robbery. Joyce is then a major prospect, of course, but he is also 32 already. Hopefully he is very active in 2018.
Ray Beltran (34-7-1, 21 KOs) v Paulus Moses (40-3, 25 KOs), WBO lightweight title & Egidijus Kavaliauskas (18-0, 15 KOs) v David Avanesyan (23-2-1, 11 KOs), welterweights – ESPN, 9 PM Eastern
Top Rank and ESPN are putting on this low key card on Friday night. I am looking forward to it too. This is Beltran’s fourth shot a title. First, he was robbed of a title in a farcical draw against Ricky Burns abroad. Then he was dominated by Terence Crawford in the way everyone is. Unfortunately, his third shot was cut short before the fight even when he missed weight. He’d also go on to fail a drug test for that one too. I do think the fourth time will be the charm for Ray Beltran, but Paulus Moses is no slouch and has had a belt of his own before. The co-main event is also a really well matched step up for “The Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas. David Avanesyan is a well tested opponent. Heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings (21-2, 12 KOs) will be in action on the WatchESPN.com portion of the bill alongside elite Olympic prospects Shakur Stevenson (4-0, 2 KOs) and Robson Conceicao (5-0, 4 KOs). That stream begins at 7 PM.
Saturday, February 17th
George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs) v Chris Eubank Jr (26-1, 20 KOs), WBA super middleweight title & Ryan Walsh (22-2-1, 11 KOs) v Isaac Lowe (14-0-2, 5 KOs), featherweights – England – ITV Box Office (UK), 5 PM Eastern
I love this fight. Not only are George Groves and Chris Eubank Jr high level operators and domestic rivals fighting for a world title, but their styles should mesh to make for a really entertaining contest. I also keep going back and forth on who I think is going to win. Whoever that is will move on to meet the winner of the fight on the other side of the bracket between Callum Smith and Juergen Braehmer in the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight finals. The card will also feature three British title fights and the return of rapidly rising super middleweight prospect Zach Parker (14-0, 10 KOs).
Devon Alexander (27-4, 14 KOs) v Victor Ortiz (32-6-2, 25 KOs), welterweights & Caleb Plant (16-0, 10 KOs) v Rogelio Medina (38-8, 32 KOs), super middleweights & Carlos Balderas (3-0, 3 KOs) v Jorge Zacazontetl (4-2-1, 2 KOs), lightweights – Texas – FOX, 8 PM Eastern
I wish PBC would use their broadcast network time with better fights, but at least this one is interesting at worst. Devon Alexander and Victor Ortiz are both at a crossroads in their careers. The winner here will move on to bigger and better fights while the loser will probably be back fighting a nobody on a PBC on FS1 card. The co-main event represents an awesome step up for Caleb Plant as “Porky” Medina is absolutely no joke. US Olympian Carlos Balderas will also be televised. Unfortunately, PBC is years behind Top Rank and Golden Boy when it comes to streaming the non-televised bouts. Accordingly, we will miss stay busy fights for top contenders Austin Trout (30-4, 17 KOs), Thomas Williams Jr (20-3, 14 KOs), and Tony Harrison (25-2, 20 KOs).
Danny Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) v Brandon Rios (34-3-1, 25 KOs), welterweights & David Benavidez (19-0, 17 KOs) v Ronald Gavril (18-2, 14 KOs), WBC super middleweight title & Yordenis Ugas (20-3, 9 KOs) v Ray Robinson (24-2, 12 KOs) – Nevada – Showtime, 10 PM Eastern
As far as Danny Garcia easy wins go, this isn’t a bad one. Granted, it has been some time since Brandon Rios has really looked good in a fight, but at least he isn’t Rod Salka. “Bam Bam” Rios should at least be able to draw some rounds out of Garcia and fight back a bit. The co-main event is a rematch of David Benavidez’s close and exciting title win over Ronald Gavril. That fight was a complete surprise as Gavril looked like a walk over going into it, but that night he proved that he can fight instead. I don’t feel like this rematch was really necessary, although it should be a good fight again. Finally, the opener between Yordenis Ugas and Ray Robinson is a world title eliminator. It is also a really well matched fight that I was pleasantly surprised Showtime picked up.
