Canelo Alvarez vs. Liam Smith: Preview & Prediction

09/16/201609/16/2016 Chris Carlson

After a stellar weekend in the sport that featured two top-10 fights of the year in Gonzalez/Cuadras and Easter/Commey, this Saturday highlights the many issues in boxing. On one hand you have a pay-per-view bout not worthy of its price tag (64.99). On the other you have a great matchup with limited exposure in the U.S.

It’s never a good thing when fans are debating the number of potential PPV buys instead of the actual fight in the ring. For years now boxing fans have steadily been forced in to a corner with a feeling they have no other option but to stream. Can you blame them with all the mismatches on premium cable and PPV?

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Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook: Optical Illusion

09/09/2016 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night live from the O2 Arena in London, England, undefeated fighters Gennady Golovkin and Kell Brook meet in a pairing few expected. The matchup has been compared to Canelo versus Khan but judging by Kell Brook’s 30-day mandatory weigh-in, the issue of weight may not be the biggest problem for Brook. In fact, Kell’s ceiling at 147 is now tough to judge due to possible weight-drain and there’s a good chance we see a fresher, stronger, lighter on his feet Brook. Another point of emphasis is the amount of sparring & overall stamina he will retain being able to eat freely throughout the day. Amir Khan had never proven himself at the welterweight division, but that’s not to say Brook was accomplished at welterweight or in general. Let us not forget that Khan was stopped at 135 and in his last big fight against Danny Garcia, knocked out 140.

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Errol Spence vs. Leonard Bundu: How will Spence measure up?

08/21/201608/20/2016 Chris Carlson

Errol Spence measures himself against Leonard Bundu this Sunday afternoon in a great lead-in slot on NBC. Pretty much everyone thinks the outcome is all but written in stone. This scribe will even admit the venue, the newly constructed Coney Island outdoor amphitheater, may be just as intriguing as the matchup. Either way it’s a great look for boxing and Errol Spence, nuzzled in a tight-window between the Olympic basketball gold medal final and the closing ceremony in primetime.

Anything Keith Thurman can do Spence can do better is Errol’s motto and the main storyline to peak interest amongst the loyal fan base. If Spence is able to do what no man has, by stopping Bundu, he would once again send a clear message to the top welterweights. The same top-flight welterweights who are in no rush to face the young Texan until the reward balances out with the risk.

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Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton: Classic Style Matchup

07/29/2016 Chris Carlson

(Photo credit Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME) This Saturday night undefeated pugilists risk their O’s in a classic style-matchup that continues the oldest argument amongst fight fans. Leo Santa Cruz made a big statement last August when he beat three-weight champion Abner Mares. His counterpart, Carl Frampton, comes in to this dual fresh off the heels of his most impressive win over previously unbeaten Scott Quigg. The Barclays Center will serve as a middle-ground of sorts with UK fans traveling across the pond and it being Santa Cruz’s first time in New York period.

A year ago this scribe, like many, favored Carl Frampton to outmaneuver Leo on his way to a clear victory. That was before each combatant’s had faced Mares or Quigg. Having seen the combination of Santa Cruz adding to his tool belt and Carl withering a bit down the stretch, has changed things.

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Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol: Is Crawford ready to carry the torch?

07/23/201607/22/2016 Chris Carlson

Styles clash when Terence Crawford meets Viktor Postol in a unification bout this Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The winner of this contest holds claim to 140-pound supremacy and a possible fight against the legendary Manny Pacquiao. With superstardom in his sights is Terence Crawford ready to carry the torch?

The betting odds for this #1 versus #2 junior welterweights would have you believe that Viktor Postol is just an ordinary fighter in the way of Crawford’s path to greatness. Most sites feature Postol as a 4/5 to 1 underdog. If you ask any insider or tuned-in fight fan, they’ll tell you it’s a much closer in the ring. Maybe on paper closer to a 60-40 fight, with some experts rating it an even 50-50.

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Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola: Big Boys Brawl in Birmingham

07/16/2016 Chris Carlson

Deontay Wilder was forced to reorganize against Chris Arreola, after his scheduled matchup in May with Alexander Povetkin got shelved due to an irregular-trace amount of a newly banned substance. Likely, Wilder will have to face Povetkin in the fall, that’s if the WBC agrees with WADA’s recent adjustment in their rules on meldonium. So it’s Arreola for Wilder to remain active near his home in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. If the main event doesn’t do the trick, the co-feature pits unbeaten Sammy Vasquez in tough with 2008 gold medalist Felix Diaz.

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Thurman vs. Porter: Friends turn foes in Brooklyn

06/26/201606/23/2016 Chris Carlson

Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman meets ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter this Saturday in primetime on CBS, at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York. This long awaited bout is here at last after a drawn out negotiation process that was side-tracked in February due to injury. Brooklyn will definitely be in the house to witness this step in the right direction at 147. This matchup creates much needed separation at the welterweight division that is up for grabs with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on hiatus.

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Fonfara vs Joe Smith Jr: The Polish Prince returns on NBC in Primetime

06/19/201606/18/2016 Chris Carlson

Andrzej Fonfara faces an unknown foe Joe Smith Jr., in a 10 rounds light heavyweight bout in the main event on primetime NBC. The co-feature offers up a rematch from a razor-close fight last August between Juan Carlos Payano and Rau’shee Warren. Fonfara vs. Smith Jr. could be good TV bout but Haymon could have matched Fonfara with a more recognizable name. This would have given the event a fighting chance in a wave of critics that always point toward the PBC. The card will take place in Chicago, Illinois, at the UIC Pavilion.

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Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido: Potential FOTY at the StubHub

06/04/201606/03/2016 Chris Carlson

Two Mexican warriors clash this Saturday night live on HBO, from the StubHub Center, in Carson, CA. It’s a classic tale of young lion versus old lion matchup on paper hosted at the perfect venue. Will the fresher fighter in Vargas be the difference in the end? Or will Saildo’s battle tested experience guide him to the victory?

This can’t miss matchup between 130-pound titleholder Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido came very close to being called off all together, after Vargas tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.

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Murat Gassiev’s vicious 1st round KO added to a night of knockouts for the PBC on FS1

05/18/201605/18/2016 Chris Carlson

Murat Gassiev’s vicious left hand ended FS1’s main event in spectacular fashion. Prior to the knockout punch, Jordan Shimmell turned Murat’s forehead bright red with jabs and left hooks. Gassiev missed his first right-handed attempt, but made the left hand count to close the show in style. Shimmell remained unconscious for a short time before showing he was okay as the crowd stood in relief. The punching power that trainer Abel Sanchez spoke of was evident with Tuesday night’s display from Gassiev.

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