We also say goodbye to HBO.
Saturday, December 8th
Kell Brook (37-2, 28 KOs) v Michael Zerafa (25-2, 14 KOs), junior middleweights & Jono Carroll (16-0, 3 KOs) v Guillaume Frenois (46-1, 12 KOs), junior lightweights & Josh Kelly (8-0, 6 KOs) v David Avanesyan (23-3-1, 11 KOs), welterweights – Sheffield, England – DAZN (US) & Sky Sports (UK), 2 PM Eastern
Kell Brook continues to heal his career up at junior middleweight following his late round stoppage loss of his welterweight title to Errol Spence Jr last year. The Sheffield man has had both of his orbital bones broken and repaired. It makes sense that he is returning soft a couple times before stepping back up. The hope has been for him to finally meet Amir Khan in a British mini-super fight, but that hope seems gone with Khan reportedly about to sign on to fight Bud Crawford. Michael Zerafa will pose no problems in here. Also in action on DAZN is likely near future Tevin Farmer challenger Jono Carroll and blue chip prospect Josh Kelly taking a nice step up against fringe contender David Avanesyan.
Rene Alvarado (29-8, 20 KOs) v Carlos Morales (17-3-3, 6 KOs), junior lightweights & Hector Tanajara (15-0, 5 KOs) v Robert Manzanarez (36-2, 29 KOs), lightweights – Indio, California – Facebook Watch, 9 PM Eastern
Golden Boy has a minor Facebook Watch card this weekend headlined by what is being billed as a title eliminator between Rene Alvarado and Carlos Morales. What exactly that means with the WBA given that they have three belts in each weight class at any given time is up in the air, of course. I also don’t really get why Carlos Morales would be in an eliminator. Rene is a solid, underrated fighter but all Morales has on his ledger are wins over mid regional level guys and a competitive loss to 20 year old prospect Ryan Garcia. Unbeaten prospect Hector Tanajara steps up in the co-main event. I’ve found him underwhelming as an up and comer and Manzanarez fought well against Mercito Gesta last time out. I wouldn’t be surprised with an upset here. All in all this isn’t a terrible show. Both fights could be compelling and have some stakes even if they aren’t big. The ESPN show on at the same time is going to mean no one will be watching here, however.
Vasiliy Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs) v Jose Pedraza (25-1, 12 KOs), WBA & WBO lightweight titles & Isaac Dogboe (20-0, 14 KOs) v Emanuel Navarrete (25-1, 22 KOs), WBO super bantamweight title & Teofimo Lopez (10-0, 8 KOs) v Mason Menard (34-3, 24 KOs), lightweights – New York, New York – ESPN, 9 PM Eastern
Pound for pound king Vasyl Lomachenko looks to add to his already immense legacy by picking up a second lightweight belt from the very game and capable Jose Pedraza Saturday night. I’ll have a preview up on this show, but needless to day everyone should be excited every time he gets in the ring. Given the men Loma has already beaten in the pros, his records in winning titles so quickly, and his out of this world amateur credentials, he could get KO’d in the first round here, never fight again, and still be one of the greatest who ever lived. We are blessed to have him. The co-main bout is great too. Isaac Dogboe is a spectacular and exciting young titleholder being tested here by a real power puncher from Mexico. Don’t sleep on it. Teofimo Lopez also takes a step up to open the main card. Prelims start on ESPN+ at 6 and will feature Alexander Besputin along with Michael Perez in separate fights.
Cecilia Braekhus (34-0, 9 KOs) v Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes (18-4-3, 1 KO), WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO female welterweight titles & Juan Francisco Estrada (37-3, 25 KOs) v Victor Mendez (28-3-2, 20 KOs), super flyweights & Claressa Shields (7-0, 2 KOs) v Femke Hermans (9-1, 3 KOs), WBA, WBC, IBF female middleweight titles – Carson, California – HBO, 10:15 PM Eastern
This is the final fight card for HBO. After 45 great years in the sport, the premium network is bowing out of the game. It isn’t going out on a high note either. Cecilia Braekus and Claressa Shields are two of the best female fights in the world, but they have little draw value and female boxing is largely still untested on the big stage. Sandwiched between is top super flyweight Juan Francisco Estrada who stepped in late when Chocolatito Gonzalez pulled out. Estrada will fight little known Mexican Victor Mendez. That fight won’t likely be competitive, though to be fair Mendez’s losses were all split decisions and one of those was to a younger, 13-0 Luis Nery. Still, everyone should still tune in if only to say goodbye to legendary lead man Jim Lampley who will be staying on with HBO in other capacities with no fights left to call. We will miss you, Jim. The fight game will never quite be the same without your voice.
