The WBSS also keeps its quarterfinals going.
Saturday, October 27th
Kubrat Pulev (25-1, 13 KOs) v Hughie Fury (21-1, 11 KOs), heavyweights & Tervel Pulev (11-0, 10 KOs) v Leonardo Damian Bruzzese (19-5, 6 KOs), cruiserweights – Sofia, Bulgaria – ESPN+
Pulev-Fury in the main event is an IBF heavyweight title eliminator for a shot at Anthony Joshua. It’s a good matchup on a competitive level. Kubrat Pulev is largely considered a fringe top five heavyweight while Fury, cousin to Tyson Fury, is generally considered around the edges of the top ten. I don’t know how exciting of a fight it will be given their sometimes defensive styles, but I’m interested in how it plays out. It’s also the biggest fight in Bulgaria, the home of the Pulevs, that I can remember. Tervel Pulev is Kubrat’s younger brother, but younger is relative here as Tervel is still 35. He won bronze in 2012 and is campaigning at cruiserweight as a pro. ESPN+ was reported to have picked this one up a while back. They haven’t put it on their website so I don’t have a time yet though. It’ll be midday to early afternoon at some point.
Regis Prograis (22-0, 19 KOs) v Terry Flanagan (33-1, 13 KOs), junior welterweights & Ivan Baranchyk (18-0, 11 KOs) v Anthony Yigit (21-0-1, 7 KOs), IBF junior welterweight title – New Orleans, Louisiana – DAZN, 9 PM Eastern
Week four of six of World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal matches brings us a double dose of junior welterweights on DAZN. It’s a real good show too. Regis Prograis is expected by many to become a star and I am fully on board. Terry Flanagan is a crafty veteran, former lightweight titleholder, and the stiffest test of “Rougarou’s” career so far. I expect him to roll comfortably still, but it is a definite change in class of opposition. Baranchyk-Yigit is a supremely well matched quarterfinal in support and is also for a vacant belt. The fight is an interesting clash of styles with Ivan Baranchyk bringing extreme, often reckless aggression while Anthony Yigit is a technician in there. This is a solid show for sure.
Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs) v Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs), IBF middleweight title & Alberto Machado (20-0, 16 KOs) v Yuandale Evans (20-1, 14 KOs), WBA junior lightweight title – New York, New York – HBO, 10 PM Eastern
It isn’t necessarily one of the glamour fights available, but from a technical standpoint Jacobs-Derevyanchenko is one of the most satisfying fights that can be made at middleweight. We’re getting it here on one of HBO’s last shows for a vacant title. Danny Jacobs is a huge middleweight with it all. He has power, speed, and he’s a solid technical fighter when he puts his mind to it. Sergiy Derevyanchenko isn’t called “The Technician” for no reason though. He’s a crisp, smart, and powerful contender with a deep amateur background. This fight is far from a layup for Jacobs, though he is rightfully favored. I hope the Brooklyn fighter is taking it very seriously for his own sake. Golden Boy’s young, power punching junior lightweight titleholder Alberto Machado also makes a defense in the co-main event against Yaundale Evans. Machado could be viewed as in trouble here as he is a slow, slow fighter for the weight while Evans is very quick. Yaundale was blown out in one in his other step up against Javier Fortuna, however, and Machado is a bigger puncher than Fortuna. This one could play out a variety of ways.
