There is not much happening in a second quiet week of boxing in a row. Just like last week, we only have one major American broadcast fight card to take a look at. Top ten heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Lucas Browne will meet in England on HBO stateside and Sky locally. There are also a pair of Golden Boy on ESPN cards to help tide us over as well.
Thursday, March 22nd
Ryan Garcia (13-0, 12 KOs) v Fernando Vargas (32-13-3, 21 KOs), junior lightweights & Eddie Gomez (20-3, 11 KOs) v Keandre Gibson (18-1-1, 7 KOs), welterweights – California – Golden Boy on ESPN – ESPN2, 9 PM Eastern
Golden Boy has two ESPN dates this week and the two card’s are about equal on my interest level. Ryan Garcia is being treated like the promotional company’s fighter of the future. The 19 year old might really be that guy too. Fernando Vargas is a reasonably durable Mexican journeyman and a fine opponent for a 13 fight, 19 year old prospect. It isn’t a compelling main event, really, but it is good fighter development. The co-main event features two Golden Boy former prospects who never had a super high ceiling to begin with and haven’t panned out. It is well matched, if not super relevant. Developing prospects and watching De La Hoya and company sort out their stable is really the best we can hope for from these Golden Boy on ESPN shows.
Saturday, March 24th
Dillian Whyte (22-1, 16 KOs) v Lucas Browne (25-0, 22 KOs), heavyweights & Lewis Ritson (14-0, 8 KOs) v Scott Cardle (22-1-1, 7 KOs), lightweights & Frank Buglioni (21-2-1, 15 KOs) v Callum Johnson (16-0, 11 KOs), light heavyweights – England – Sky Sports (UK), 3:30 PM Eastern, HBO 6 PM Eastern
This is a really nice fight between top ten heavyweights that I am very pleased that HBO picked up somewhat last minute. It was likely a move with an eye towards furthering the network’s relationship with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing more than the fight itself, but it is still great for us American fight fans regardless of motive. This is doubly true not just because of the fight putting the winner in the seat for a title shot, but because it will likely be a good scrap too. The two other fights I listed here are for British titles and will not make the American broadcast. I am particularly interested in Lewis Ritson, a man who has come from no where to really burst to the top of the British scene. Another dominant win could push him into world level prospect status. For those watching locally on Sky, the likes of Derek Chisora, Jaime Cox, and Olympic middleweight prospect Anthony Fowler will also be competing against some soft opposition.
Jose Martinez (20-0-1, 14 KOs) v Alexandro Santiago (15-2-3, 7 KOs), super flyweights & Joshua Franco (13-0, 6 KOs) v Lucas Emanuel Fernandez Leone (11-1-1, 8 KOs), super flyweights – Puerto Rico – Golden Boy on ESPN, 8:30 PM Eastern
I was hoping that Golden Boy would put something stronger on this card as it is a rare show for them to have on ESPN itself rather than ESPN2, but they didn’t. ESPN probably just moved it to the main network to have something harmless and cheap to lose to the NCAA tournament games on CBS. This card is a Puerto Rican co-production with Cotto Promotions. Jose Martinez is a decent super flyweight matched with the man who gave him his draw, so that is interesting. Santiago is 7-0-2 in his last nine with both draws coming against good fighters too. Super flyweight prospect Joshua Franco is in action in the co-main event. This isn’t a terrible card if you consider the series’ normal, low standards. It is something to watch at least.
