Boxing continues its annual summer siesta through this weekend with no immediate relief in sight. Stateside there is only one uninspiring Top Rank on ESPN show to watch while the international scene adds just a single fight in Mexico. Enjoy the heat.
Saturday, July 7th
Eduardo Hernandez (25-0, 22 KOs) v Marlyn Cabrera (24-2, 11 KOs), junior lightweights – Mexico City, Mexico – Televisa
It is always hard for me to figure out whether or not boxrec is accurate or not with its Televisa listings, but hopefully this one is actually on. 20 year old Eduardo Hernandez is a major Mexican prospect taking a lateral step here. Cabrera’s record looks good, but his two losses represent the only times he has stepped up and neither was competitive. Hernandez is a puncher that figures to get rid of Cabrera early. All three of Eduardo’s decision wins came in his first six fights, mostly as a 16 year old. He has stopped nineteen straight opponents inside four rounds since.
Jose Ramirez (22-0, 16 KOs) v Danny O’Connor (30-3, 11 KOs), WBC junior welterweight title & Egidijus Kavaliauskas (19-0, 16 KOs) v Juan Carlos Abreu (21-3-1, 19 KOs), welterweights – Fresno, California – Top Rank on ESPN, 9:30 PM Eastern
Top Rank on ESPN returns Saturday with a victory lap defense at home for Jose Ramirez. This will not be competitive and is an even worse matchup on paper than Zurdo Ramirez’s super middleweight defense last weekend. Danny O’Connor is a solid regional fighter and nothing more. In the co-main event “The Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas of Lithuania takes on Dominican fringe contender Juan Carlos Abregu. Like in the main event, the house fighter will be heavily favored. Abreu is more capable than O’Connor though at least. Plus, it is an action oriented fight on paper at least. The ESPN+ prelims will begin at 6:30 and feature the likes of former heavyweight title challenger Andy Ruiz Jr, major prospect Gabriel Flores, and unbeaten junior lightweight Andy Vences.
