Pick It: #5 Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo (Tuesday, ESPN, 7 PM EST)
While the nation remains enmeshed in turmoil and pandemic, boxing begins its return to the airwaves this week after an absence of a few months. DAZN, Fox, and Showtime will eventually follow suit but Top Rank gets the ball rolling and is featuring one of its best chances for future stardom.
2016 US Olympic silver medalist and reigning WBO featherweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KO) has pound-for-pound dreams and a big national stage to play on here. In non-title action, he will face a Caraballo (13-1, 9 KO) with only a single loss and a solid win over Jose Nieves. Given how few fights Stevenson still has, it’s a good match as he continues to develop while getting folks used to seeing him with belts in tow.
For those starved for the sweet science, both Top Rank cards this week are scheduled to run four hours and the Stevenson-Caraballo show will feature another big Olympic talent. Two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Stevenson’s conqueror in 2016, Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba (2-1, 2 KO) was stunned in his pro debut, knocked down in the first round en route to a decision loss. Expect Ramirez’s rebound to continue here against Yeuri Andujar (5-3, 3 KO). Fans will also get a look at 20-year old heavyweight hopeful Jared Anderson (3-0, 3 KO). Anderson has yet to see the second round as a professional.
Additional Show to Watch For
Thursday – #8 Magdaleno vs. Vicente
Now competing at featherweight, Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KO) has won two straight since losing his 122 lb. belt to Isaac Dogboe in 2018. Magdaleno faces Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2, 28 KO) and it should be good for some rounds. Vicente has never been stopped and he is 11-1 in his last twelve starts with all eleven of those wins coming inside the route. Magdaleno will be favored but this isn’t a contest without upset possibilities. The rest of the night will be filled out with some solid prospect action and a chance for new names to be added to the discussion.
Boxing isn’t all the way back but the return has to start somewhere and these two main events are where it begins again.
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
