The night of Saturday May 21st shapes up as being one cracking night of heavyweight action. No less than eight heavyweight punchers, ranging from the up-and-coming variety, to big, and very big names, will be battling it out. The fights will take place in London, Moscow and Manukau City in New Zealand. Fans of the heavyweights are in for what promises to be an exciting night; the only problem might be being able to catch all the action.
In London, on UK terrestrial TV channel Dave (fittingly) former WBA champ David Haye continues what has so far been a successful comeback (only one fight, one win so far, but Haye proved he can still pack in the fans, with his quick win over largely unknown Mark de Mori filling The O2). Haye will face unbeaten, but untested, Arnold Gjerjaj. In the co-feature, former WBO king Shannon Briggs continues his own comeback quest, against the far more dangerous Alexander Dimitrenko.
Should Briggs win, he has a verbal agreement to face Haye later this year. Look for Haye to score another quick and explosive KO that will send his fans home happy. Briggs? He might have picked the wrong guy to “tune-up” for Haye with. Both fights, though, figure to end via stoppage, one way or the other.
In New Zealand, unbeaten slugger with skills Joseph Parker faces his toughest career test in the shape of experienced Cameroon-born French fighter Carlos Takam. An IBF eliminator, this one should tell us a whole lot more about the unbeaten Parker, a fighter some good judges rate highly. Takam has been stopped just once, by Alexander Povetkin, and he is hungry and determined going into this fight. This one could prove to be the most interesting and most evenly matched fight of the heavyweight night.
Then again, over in Russia, WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder takes on what many people have called his toughest fight to date, in the formidable form of his mandatory challenger, the aforementioned Povetkin. Wilder, justifiably, has been handed many plaudits for taking this fight in Russia, but now he has to make sure he comes home with the belt. Wilder is a slight favourite to win in the opinion of the fans, but this one, it could be argued, is close to 50-50. Can Wilder score another chilling KO? Can Povetkin score a KO of his own? Or will this one go down to the wire, testing both men and pleasing the fans as it does so? Expect a great fight here, for however long it lasts.
How many KO’s will we see on May 21st? How many knockdowns will we witness? It could be a great, great night.
Predictions: wins for Haye, Briggs (in a tough one, one he may need a decent rest from), Parker (also tough) and Wilder (via a quick KO that surprises many).
Three of these guys, if victorious, figure to engage in a big world title fight or two in the coming months.