BoxingScene.com's Television Pick of The Week - July 14

Pick It: Miguel Marriaga vs. Mark Yap (Tuesday, ESPN, 8 PM EST)

Thrice a failed title challenger, Marriaga (29-3, 25 KO) was probably headed toward a fourth frustrating attempt earlier this year against Shakur Stevenson. 2020 happened and Marriaga now resets with his eye on that fourth title shot somewhere else down the line.

Yap (30-15, 15 KO) has lost three of his last four but he’s only been stopped twice, most recently in 2014. What stands out for this card isn’t the main event but the better depth than Tuesday’s affair. Lightweight Felix Verdejo and heavyweight hopeful Jared Anderson will also be in action. 

Additional Show to Watch For

Thursday – Mayer vs. Joseph (ESPN, 8 PM EST)

Jamel Herring has seen worse, and been through tougher circumstances, than a pair of fight postponements. His health is what matters but one’s heart has to go out to both Herring and challenger Jonathan Oquendo. Title fight or not, these are guys trying to make some income in 2020 and they’re competitors who want to compete. Let’s hope Herring beats COVID for good so he can get back to what he wants to do. In the void is opportunity for US Olympian Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KO). The Jr. lightweight hopeful has the main event stage against former featherweight title challenger Helen Joseph (17-4-2, 10). It’s a tough one for Mayer; Joseph is coming off a competitive loss to the excellent Delfine Persoon. We’ll know a lot about where Mayer stands by night’s end.

Saturday – Kabayel vs. Lazaridis (ESPN, 3 PM EST)

It’s afternoon action in the heavyweight division. 27-year old Agit Kabayel (19-0, 13 KO) is in the top 15 of the WBC and IBF with a 2017 win over Dereck Chisora. Is he the contender or pretender? Judge for yourself when he squares off with Evgenios Lazaridis (16-2, 10 KO). The 32-year old has been stopped only once and is riding a four-fight win streak.    

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com