Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Jacobs: Good Boys Bad Intentions

03/18/201703/17/2017 Chris Carlson

Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin fight for legacy this Saturday night live on HBO PPV at the Mecca of boxing Madison Square Garden. Most think Jacobs represents Triple G’s stiffest test during an impressive title defense run at middleweight. Roman Gonzalez and Carlos Cuadras return in separate bouts on the undercard and if both successful the plan is to run it back in the summer. There first scrape was highly entertaining and very close hence the need for a rematch.

Honestly speaking it’s totally acceptable to ask if Danny will be yet another good boy. And that’s not said to make fun of ‘The Miracle Man’ it’s a real question that will be answered on Saturday. Jacobs defiantly looks every bit the part of a big and powerful middleweight something Golovkin hasn’t had to deal with. Sure, Martin Murray is a big guy but lacks the power punching. Marco Antonio Rubio, David Lemieux, and Curtis Stevens all had power but were unable to deplore it enough in their fights against GGG.

Lemieux vs. Stevens: A Prelude to Canelo?

03/12/201703/11/2017 Chris Carlson

A future date with Canelo is potentially at stake when former middleweight champion David Lemieux and Curtis Stevens meet in the main event on HBO this Saturday night. Could this be a setup bout to ensure a quality opponent for Canelo Alvarez in September assuming Golden Boy Promotions and K2 Promotions can’t seal the deal on a Canelo vs. Golovkin fight? Regardless of what the future holds for the winner, the matchup itself is worth watching.

Thurman vs. Garcia: A New Welterweight Chapter

03/04/2017 Chris Carlson

The PBC puts a stamp on 2 years of business with a pair of fighters who’ve attracted the most exposure on terrestrial television. Danny Garcia meets Keith Thurman in a unification bout to start a new chapter at the welterweight division. Once again, Garcia is the underdog in this CBS main event live from Brooklyn, New York at the Barclays Center. Also, rising prospect Erickson Lubin takes on hard-punching Jorge Cota for a WBC Title Eliminator in the co-feature.

Wilder vs. Washington: The Gravy Train Continues

02/24/2017 Chris Carlson

Deontay Wilder returns to his home state of Alabama for what’s sure to be some down-home, southern-cooking against yet another non-de script opponent in former USC football player Gerald Washington. In case the main event is a one-side debacle, Al Haymon added two intriguing bouts for Saturday’s PBC on Fox broadcast.

Dominic Breazeale attempts to put the pieces back after suffering a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua last June. On Saturday, Breazeale will try his hand against an unknown fighter, at least stateside, in Izuagbe Ugonoh. Ugonoh is a professional kick boxer and boxer from Poland with a record of 17-0, (14ko’s).

Broner vs. Granados: Where Art Thou Adrien?

02/17/2017 Chris Carlson

The Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio plays host to a Showtime tripleheader themed with back to the wall urgency fights. Familiar foes in Adrien Broner and Adrian Granados meet in the main event that won’t lack drama. Lamont Peterson returns off a lengthy layoff to face David Avanesyan for his 147-pound WBA trinket. The opener should produce energy in the crowd in a bout between light heavyweight contenders Marcus Browne and Thomas Williams Jr.

The battle of Adrien’s should make for a good television fight and if Broner isn’t on his game he could get beat.

Sammy Vasquez and Luis Collazo meet at the Crossroads on FS1

02/03/201702/01/2017 Chris Carlson

This Thursday night the PBC on FS1 presents a fight card with depth beyond the main event between once beaten Sammy Vasquez and gate keeper Luis Collazo. It’s not as though the top of the bill isn’t important to each man’s career but you could make an argument the undercard has just as much on the line. Yordenis Ugas takes on Levan ‘The Wolfman’ Ghvamichava, a very fitting nickname when you see this guy’s body hair, in a scrap that is crucial at this stage for both. Also, in what I believe to be the opener, Ryan Karl meets Eddie Ramirez in a battle unbeaten junior welterweights.

Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz 2: Preview & Prediction

01/29/201701/28/2017 Chris Carlson

Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz square-off for the second time this Saturday from Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena live on Showtime. Can Leo make the necessary adjustments in the rematch or will Frampton’s overall skill be too much again? The co-feature matches former two-weight champion, former pound for pound fighter Mikey Garcia against WBC lightweight champion Dejan Zlaticanin.

Carl Frampton’s career skyrocketed in 2016 on the strength of two legit fights enough so he won the majority of ‘Fighter of the year’ awards giving out by the press. Just under a year ago Carl defeated previously unbeaten 122-pound champion Scott Quigg in a unification bout in Manchester, England. ‘The Jackal’ moved up to featherweight to face yet another undefeated boxer in Leo Santa Cruz.

Degale vs. Jack: Best Fight the Best in Brooklyn

01/15/201701/14/2017 Chris Carlson

James Degale and Badou Jack meet in Brooklyn to find out who is the best fighter in the super middleweight division. On paper, Degale is the more skilled pugilist of the two while Jack is more consistent overall. The co-feature matches junior lightweight champion Jose Pedraza with a prospect beaming with potential in Gervonta Davis. This card is perfect way for the 2017 year in boxing to kickoff on Showtime for the fans and media alike.

In the past two years both main event fighters forged a turnaround in their careers after facing sizable adversity. James Degale lost a close point’s decision to George Groves in a fight that probably happened too early at that stage. Badou Jack suffered a loss much more damaging via early knockout from a right hand by journeymen Derrick Edwards.

Jermall Charlo vs Julian Williams: Turning the page at 154

12/10/2016 Chris Carlson

Prime and ready for battle, unbeaten junior middleweight’s Jermall Charlo and Julian Williams Jr. clash for one of the top spots at the division. Charlo is more experienced as a pro and Julian with a tad more potential. The process of splitting hairs is needed when attempting to separate who will be victorious this Saturday night.

Turning the page is what 2016 was supposed to be about for the many fighters waiting in line to become the next Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Or at least make a name as the new kids on the block at several weight classes that include featherweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight. Saturday’s co-feature bout will mark the 5th, 154-pound match made on Showtime of the year.

Abner Mares vs. Jesus Cuellar: Mexican vs. Argentinean Equals All Action

12/10/201612/10/2016 Chris Carlson

Featherweights lay it all on the line as three-weight division champion Abner Mares challenges 126-pound titleholder Jesus Cuellar, broadcasted live from the Galen Center in southern California, on Showtime. Abner finds himself in a make-or-break situation for the first time of an impressive career. Cuellar gets a chance to put a stamp on the resume and raise his profile significantly ensuring even bigger fights at featherweight or junior lightweight in the near future.