Pacquiao-Broner headlines and DAZN and ESPN+ both also bring solid shows the night before.
Friday, January 18th
Demetrius Andrade (26-0, 16 KOs) v Artur Akavov (19-2, 8 KOs), WBO middleweight title & Jorge Linares (45-4, 28 KOs) v Pablo Cesar Cano (31-7-1, 21 KOs), junior welterweights & TJ Doheny (20-0, 14 KOs) v Ryohei Takahashi (16-3-1, 6 KOs), IBF super bantamweight title – New York, New York – DAZN, 7 PM Eastern
Matchroom continues its US expansion with this deep card from the MSG Theater on Friday night. WBO middleweight titleholder Demetrius Andrade headlines the card against Artur Akavov, an American based Russian best known for giving Billy Joe Saunders a close fight for the same belt back in 2016. Was that an off night for Saunders alone or is Akavov a good fighter? We’ll find out. Jorge Linares also continues his quest for a fourth world title by continuing to compete at junior welterweight for a second fight, this time against faded former fringe contender Pablo Cesar Cano. New Matchroom signee TJ Doheny makes his first super bantamweight title defense as well. The three main bouts aren’t all the show has to offer either. Amanda Serrano goes for yet another world title, Chris Algieri returns to the ring, and top prospect Alexis Rocha will be in action before the main bouts. Note the early start time if you want to take this all in.
Bryant Jennings (22-2, 14 KOs) v Oscar Rivas (25-0, 17 KOs), heavyweights & Shakur Stevenson (9-0, 5 KOs) v Jessie Cris Rosales (22-1-1, 10 KOs), featherweights – Verona, New York – ESPN+, 9:30 PM Eastern
Heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings continues his quest for another shot at a belt against unbeaten Montreal based Cuban big man Oscar Rivas in this solid ESPN+ main event. Rivas was supposed to start stepping up a couple years ago, but eye issues stopped him from getting licensed stateside and his career stalled north of the border. With that taken care off, the largely still unknown but talented heavyweight has a big opportunity here. This is a real risk for Jennings, though he is deservedly the favorite. Major American prospect Shakur Stevenson gets the co-featured slot. Unfortunately Rosales doesn’t really represent a step up here despite his solid record, but that is understandable. Stevenson is still a young work in progress. The silver medalist isn’t the only prominent former amateur here either. The deeper undercard will begin at 6:30, also on ESPN+, and feature gold medalists Robson Conceicao and Fazliddin Gaibnazarov alongside former titleholder Jason Sosa and emerging Dominican contender Carlos Adames. This is a deep show.
Saturday. January 19th
Manny Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) v Adrien Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs), welterweights & Badou Jack (22-1-3, 13 KOs) v Marcus Browne (22-0, 16 KOs), light heavyweights & Rau’shee Warren (16-2, 4 KOs) v Nordine Oubaali (14-0, 11 KOs), WBC bantamweight title & Jhack Tepora (22-0, 17 KOs) v Hugo Ruiz (38-4, 33 KOs), featherweights – Las Vegas, Nevada – Showtime PPV, 9 PM Eastern
Whether or not Pacquiao-Broner in 2019 is a PPV worthy fight is a debate that will be settled by the buy rate in the end, but I do think this is a good card top to bottom even if it is filled with fake title fights. The main event is a compelling matchup in my view. Pacquiao is a 40 year old part time fighter. While he has remained better than the brash Broner in recent years, he could fall off at any time and Adrien remains very talented. I love the co-main event bout between Badou Jack and Marcus Browne. It could go either way as both men are very talented. Neither world title belt in these two fights is legitimate. The green belt between Rau’shee Warren and Nordine Oubaali is though. Not only is the bantamweight title fight a solid matchup on its own for a belt, but it is also a three time Olympian versus a two time Olympian. Finally, Pacquiao promoted unbeaten Filipino contender Jhack Tepora takes a step up against exciting former titleholder Huge Ruiz in the opener. That should promise good action, though again its title is not a real world title no matter how it is promoted.
