November isn’t a bumper stanza in the boxing calendar, but there’ll be enough marquee action to satisfy most fight fans. A pair of seek-and-destroy Junior Lightweights collide, the WBSS Junior Welter, Bantam and Cruiserweight tournaments march forward, and an undisputed Cruiser tops the action. For a comprehensive look at November, check out our Updated 2018 Schedule.
Miguel Berchelt vs. Miguel Roman (Boxnation, ESPN+)
November 3, El Paso, Texas
This is a meeting of two explosive, all-business Mexican bruisers – so not exactly a hard sell for anyone familiar with them. WBC titlist Miguel Berchelt, 26, currently heads Boxing Base’s Junior Lightweight Top 10, with Gervonta Davis, No.2, nipping at his heels for supremacy.
The question is whether veteran banger Miguel Roman, 32, has enough youth and fire left to deal with the six-years-younger Berchelt. There’s room for debate here, but on paper there’s not a whole lot to dislike about the matchup overall. It’s got fan-friendly written all over it.
Roman is another Orlando Salido-type; an iron-willed warrior too stubborn to leave the world scene despite lacking a promoter-friendly record. With a slate of 60-12, 47 KOs, Roman has been around a bit, sure, but a gnarly win over the aforementioned Salido (June 2017) tells me he’s coming for that title.
Berchelt vs. Roman: Notable Undercard
- Miguel Marriaga vs. Jose Estrella | Featherweight
- Saul Rodriguez vs. Claudio Tapia | Lightweight
Josh Taylor vs. Ryan Martin (DAZN)
November 3, Glasgow, Scotland
A couple of unbeaten, up-and-coming Junior Welterweights meet in this WBSS Quarter-Finals outing. I’ve got to give the edge to Taylor simply because of his better pedigree (Gold, 2014 Commonwealth Games), but no one should be overlooking Martin, who also looks sharp, poised and hungry.
Taylor is the more accomplished in terms of career progression (having claimed former champ Viktor Postol’s scalp in June), but Martin isn’t a million miles behind. Martin’s career high win over veteran Briedis Prescott doesn’t scream ‘watch out!’, but for me Martin still passes the eye test.
Ryan Burnett vs. Nonito Donaire (DAZN)
November 3, Glasgow, Scotland
Unbeaten titlist Ryan Burnett continues to climb the Bantamweight scene against veteran Nonito Donaire in another WBSS Quarter-Final tournament. What we have is a bona-fide crossroads fight which, in all likelihood, Burnett should come through. These guys are at opposite ends of their careers, after all, with nine years between them.
But there’s always that air of intrigue in these kinds of matchups. Burnett, while unbeaten and comfortably in his prime, hasn’t yet truly mixed it up in the deep end, and so there’s a good argument that Donaire – possessing Future Hall of Famer credentials – will be the best opponent Burnett has faced.
How much does the wiser veteran have left for Burnett, though? We know Donaire can still punch (as seen versus Carl Frampton in April), but what about the reactions, legs and timing? There’s also the issue of how Donaire copes with the significant weight drop, having not fought at Bantam since 2011.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tony Bellew (DAZN)
November 10, Manchester, England
This seems like a colossal task for former Cruiserweight titlist Tony Bellew, and that’s not intended to knock the man or his ability. Bellew is a fine boxer in his own right, with some slick skills and good power in his toolbox. He’s transformed his career with highlight reel knockouts of Ilunga Makabu, BJ Flores and David Haye (twice at Heavy) in recent times.
But those guys weren’t Oleksandr Usyk, or even close. Usyk – often referred to as Vasyl Lomachenko’s ‘big brother’ – became a legitimate Pound-for-Pound elite by winning the WBSS Cruiser tournament and unifying the division in July. Bellew will without question enter a big underdog, but hey, Bellew is a known spoiler with unshakable self belief.
There’s star power here in both fighters, every reason for Bellew to bring his A-game, and these ingredients make for a mainstream, must-watch event. Should Usyk prevail as expected, he’ll no doubt be lured into the Heavyweight arena soon after.
Usyk vs. Bellew: Notable Undercard
- Anthony Crolla vs. Daud Yordan | Lightweight
- Joe Cordina vs. Scotty Cardle | Lightweight
- Ryan Walsh vs. TBA | British Featherweight title
- Josh Kelly vs. TBA | Welterweight
Dmitry Bivol vs. Jean Pascal (HBO)
November 24, Atlantic City, New Jersey
This isn’t a 50-50 fight or anything close to it, but more of a ladder-climbing, learning exercise for WBA titlist Dmitry Bivol. That’s how it seems on paper, anyway. This is a fresh, highly praised future star versus an aging, battle-tested, surely a bit battle-worn by now, veteran.
Pascal has been great for the sport over the years – and no one could ever accuse this energetic, former champion of ducking anyone – but right now I can’t see him asking much of the fast-rising Bivol. The bigger story might actually be how this is HBO’s final (for now at least) boxing show, ending 45 years of broadcasting. Sentimental tears, anyone?
Boxing in November: Best of the Rest
Sullivan Barrera vs. Seanie Monaghan (Facebook Watch)
November 3, New York, US; Light Heavyweight
Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Miguel Beltran Jr (Integrated Sports PPV)
November 10, Miami, Florida; Lightweight
Mairis Briedis vs. Noel Mikaelian (DAZN)
November 10, Chicago, US; Cruiserweight
Jess Horn vs. Anthony Mundine (Friday)
November 30, Brisbane, Australia; Middleweight
Give us your two cents on this November’s Top 5 Fights. Are there any upsets lurking in the WBSS Quarter-Finals? Can Tony Bellew conquer one of the planet’s greatest fighters? Let it be known below.
