This weekend’s TV boxing schedule is a mixed bag of mismatches, decent match-ups, and fantastic pick’ em fights. It ‘could’ also be the end of an era for one of boxing’s biggest stars. No guesses who. There’s plenty of stateside action beginning Friday, and across the pond, among Saturday’s bouts, two British Heavyweights will move further towards a December collision. Let’s get to it:
September 11th TV Boxing Schedule
Stevenson-Karpency
Spike
The weekend will start off with what appears to be an awful mismatch for Adonis Stevenson (26-1, 21 KO). The WBC, RING Light Heavyweight champ has been taking on unworthy challengers for some time now, and fringe contender Tommy Karpency (25-4-1, 14 KO) isn’t viewed as a step up. Unfortunately this just seems like another gap-filler until a lucrative mega-fight can materialize with Sergey Kovalev. At 37, Stevenson really needs to start banging down Kovalev’s door for that fight – if he really does want it, that is.
Not all is bad on this PBC card, however. Hot prospect Errol Spence (17-0, 14 KO) will be taking on a stern test in Chris Van Heerden (23-1-1, 12 KO) in the Welterweight co-feature which, on paper, looks like it could be a show-stealer. Spence will need little introduction to boxing heads who’ve already witnessed the 25-year-old in action. But if you haven’t yet seen him, this is the perfect opportunity to see something special.
The card will also see Donovan Ruddock and Dillon Carman face off in a Heavyweight 10-rounder.
Avalos-Valdez
TruTV
Oscar Valdez (16-0, 14 KO), a Mexican Olympian and now unbeaten Featherweight prospect, will be taking on a tricky test in Chris Avalos (26-3, 19 KO). This could be described as close to an acid-test for Valdez – sort of – and could contain some lively moments. The Top Rank headliner will be supported by another prospect in Jesse Hart (17-0, 14 KO), an all-rounder Super Middleweight who will be looking to chop down a far less capable yet 2 inches taller Aaron Pryor Jr (19-8-1, 12 KO). We’re not expecting an upset here.
On the undercard, Egor Mekhonstev and Jackson Junior will do battle in an 8 round Light Heavyweight contest, and Mike Reed will lock horns with Antonio Canas in another 8-rounder at Junior Welterweight.
September 12th TV Boxing Schedule
Joshua-Cornish
Sky Sports 1
All aboard the Anthony Joshua train…set to crash into Gary Cornish. The towering, muscle-bound powerhouse will be taking on the unbeaten Scot in a scheduled 12-rounder. Yes, Cornish (21-0, 12 KO) is the clear underdog here, and his unblemished record is probably a little misleading. However, he’s in with a fighting chance, so we won’t bad mouth him too much. Cornish is big, young, unbeaten, and capable of ‘turning out lights’. If he beats Joshua (13-0, 13 KO), the proposed Joshua-Whyte domestic dust-up will be off.
Speaking of Dillian Whyte (15-0, 12 KO), the Anthony Joshua rival will be entering the ring for the co-support. Not that it looks to be a testing clash exactly. Opponent Brian Minto (41-9, 26 KO) is 5 inches shorter than Whyte, has spent much of his career at Cruiserweight, and…well, just doesn’t look that good.
Dave Ryan and John Wayne Hibbert will be clashing for the third time on the undercard in a 12 round Junior Welterweight contest. And Tommy Martin and Charlie Rice will be trading leather in a 10 round Junior Welterweight bout.
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Quillin-Zerafa
NBC
Peter Quillin returns to the ring since fighting to a Draw against Andy Lee in April, now set to take on Michael Zerafa (17-1, 9 KO). It’s hard to say where this fight ranks amongst the worst mismatches of the weekend, but it’s certainly one of them. We hope we’re wrong, but right now this headliner looks to either to be a glorified sparring match, or a violent early night’s work for Quillin (31-0-1, 22 KO).
Luckily, like Friday’s PBC card (above), the co-feature should save the show. Cornelius Bundrage and Jermall Charlo will be trading leather in a veteran vs rising star encounter, which could prove absorbing viewing. Charlo (21-0, 16 KO) is the obvious favorite and greater talent, but Bundrage (34-5, 19 KO) is one tough fighter who should put up a hell of a fight before letting go of his IBF Junior Middleweight title.
On the undercard, Hugo Centeno Jr and Lukasz Maciec will be fighting in a Junior Middleweight 10-rounder.
Mayweather-Berto
Showtime PPV, Boxnation
This looks to be the best all-round card of the weekend, even if the main event isn’t really pay per view worthy. Floyd Mayweather will be facing Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KO) in what should be an easy night’s work. But that said, it should be a lot more competitive than Stevenson-Karpency and Quillin-Zerafa. If anything, it’s the last chance to see Mayweather (48-0, 26 KO) in the ring – short of a comeback, that is. Mayweather’s WBC, WBA, RING titles, and legacy, will be on the line.
The main reason to part with your cash here is the undercard, which looks rather good. George Groves and Badou Jack will be fighting for the WBC Super Middleweight crown, which is main event-worthy in itself. Jack (19-1-1, 12 KO) captured the title last April from Anthony Dirrell and is a solid, all-rounder type. Groves (21-2, 16 KO) is an explosive boxer-puncher who lost to but gave Carl Froch fits in their 2013 and 2014 encounters. This 12-rounder looks to guarantee fireworks.
Roman Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KO) and Orlando Salido will be going to war in a rematch, which like the co-feature, looks to also be action-packed. Martinez’s WBO Junior Lightweight strap will be on the line, which he successfully defended against Salido (42-13-2, 29 KO) in April. Vanes Martirosyan and Ishe Smith will be also be fighting in a Junior Middleweight 10-rounder.
BoxingBase.com will be bringing you Live Round by Round Updates here and on Twitter (@BoxingBase).
Get your predictions flying in for this weekend’s TV boxing schedule, fight fans. Call them as you see them!
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