Absolutely nothing to do with this week’s boxing schedule, but if you only watch one piece of ridiculously contrived boxing hype this week, make it this video Ricardo Mayorga crashing Shane Mosley’s photoshoot. I already explained why I’m pumped for this terrible fight, but I feel that video justifies my wildest/lowest expectations.
What are we here for? Oh, that’s right, the boxing schedule. There’s not much that’s good on (in fact, there’s a lot that’s bad on), so let’s just get right into it.
- Sergey Kovalev vs Nadjib Mohammedi, Saturday, HBO, Las Vegas. Feared light heavyweight puncher Kovalev (27-0-1, 24 KO) takes on virtually unknown Frenchman Mohammedi (37-3, 23 KO) in a bout he’s certain to win, barring some kind of disaster. Yay, sanctioning bodies! Back in the old days you’d complain about a fight of this calibre being on premium cable, but it’s been par for the course this year. Fellow light heavyweight Jean Pascal (29-3, 17 KO) is on the undercard in a comparatively competitive fight with unproven Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez (16-0, 12 KO). From what I’ve seen, Gonzalez looks really raw and Pascal won’t have a hard time at all.
- Beibut Shumenov vs B.J. Flores, Saturday, NBC Sports Net, Las Vegas. What even is this fight? A guy who, through chance/favoritism/outright corruption once held a light heavyweight “world title” (Shumenov, 15-2, 10 KO) takes on a guy who does more commentating than fighting and isn’t particularly good at either (Flores, 31-1-1, 20 KO). Pick who you dislike least, I guess (I choose Shumenov). As an added bonus, boring featherweight Rico Ramos is on the undercard.
- Brian Viloria vs Omar Soto, Saturday, UniMas, Hollywood. Longtime flyweight contender/champ Viloria (35-4, 20 KO) moves up to junior bantamweight with an easy fight against Mexican journeyman Soto (23-11-2, 15 KO).
- Juan Carlos Sanchez, Jr. vs Cesar Juarez, Saturday, beIN Sports Español, Los Mochis. A battle of Los Mochis locals for the hardcore.
- Victor Castro vs Angel Martinez, Saturday, ironboyboxing.com, Phoenix. Iron Boy Boxing are doing there independent broadcast thang in the Southwest with a club show headlined by local lightweight prospect Castron (15-0, 7 KO)
- Romulo Koasicha, vs Guillermo Avila, Friday, Telemundo, Mexico City. Featherweight journeymen do battle for your entertainment.
