The spring boxing schedule just will not quit. This week isn’t quite as packed as last, but there are still some quality fights on, most notably on HBO where middleweight fan favourite Gennady Golovkin is fighting, along with his flyweight equivalent, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez. There are also some fights on ESPN and TruTV. Oh, and I nominate Shrek for trainer of the year (via r/boxing).
- Gennady Golovkin vs. Willie Monroe, Jr., Saturday, HBO, Los Angeles. Time for a big drama show, as Kazakh puncher Golovkin (32-0, 29 KO) takes on New York’s Monroe, Jr. (19-1, 6 KO). At this point, Golovkin has well and truly established his credentials as the man to beat at middleweight, the fact that Miguel Cotto holds the lineal title notwithstanding. It’s unlikely that Monroe, a slick southpaw, will be able to bother Golovkin, though perhaps it will be a chance to see how he fares against a pure boxer. Flyweight champion Gonzalez (42-0, 36 KO) fights veteran Edgar Sosa (51-8, 30 KO) on the undercard. Sosa has been in with the best the division has had to offer over the last five years, but he’s never seen anything like Gonzalez, an offensive machine without parallel in the sport (except for maybe Golovkin).
- Reynaldo Ojeda vs. Monty Meza Clay, Friday, ESPN2, Hartford Conn. Puerto Rican lightweight prospect Ojeda (16-0, 9 KO) makes his US pro debut against Friday Night Fights regular Meza Clay (36-4, 22 KO).
- Jose Benavidez Jr. vs. Jorge Paez, Jr., Friday, TruTV, Phoenix. Junior welterweight prospect Benavidez, Jr. (22-0, 15 KO) takes a step down after beating Mauricio Herrera by facing Paez, Jr. (38-5-2, 23 KO), who is not a legitimate contender but has a famous name.
