Pick It: TBRB #2 Terence Crawford vs. #4 Shawn Porter (Saturday, ESPN+ PPV, 7:00 PM EST)

Take a look at the current TBRB top ten at welterweight and no one has fought more of them than 34-year old Shawn Porter (31-3-1, 27 KO). He’s faced three, going 2-1 against Danny Garcia, Yordenis Ugas, and Errol Spence and it will be four after this weekend.

Porter challenges 34-year old Terence Crawford (37-0, 28 KO) for the WBO welterweight crown in one of the better fights made this year. Porter hasn’t been an easy night for anyone. Crawford hasn’t had many nights where he didn’t make it look easy before they were over. It’s not the deepest card of the year but the main event looks excellent and that’s the selling point. Undercard action starts streaming at 7 PM EST but the main event won’t be until later. Note, this one is only available by stream purchase in the United States. The undercard will have Isaac Dogboe-Christoher Diaz and a clash of undefeated middleweights in Esquiva Falcao-Patrice Volny and both could be interesting.    

Additional Shows to Watch For

Friday - #3 Andrade vs. Quigley (DAZN, 8:00 PM EST)

If Saturday is all about the main event, this show is definitely about the sum of the parts. It’s a stacked offering on DAZN. In the main event, 33-year old WBO middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade (30-0, 18 KO) defends against 30-year old Jason Quigley (19-1, 14 KO). Andrade’s pursuit of a big fight continues, but it’s unlikely to be the most entertaining bout of the night. That could end up coming at flyweight as 26-year old WBC titlist Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1, 14 KO) faces arguably his toughest foe yet in 35-year old veteran McWilliams Arroyo (21-4, 16 KO). Arroyo, outside an early career loss, has fallen short only against some of the best little guys in the world. This could be his last chance at a major title. 27-year old WBA/IBF titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0, 7 KO) attempts his second defense against 32-year old Jose Velasquez (29-6-2, 19 KO) in what might be the least competitive fight of the night on paper. Rounding out the card at Jr. welterweight, 35-year old WBA titlist Kali Reis (18-7-1, 5 KO) faces 33-year old Jessica Camara. The vacant WBO belt is also on the line.   

Saturday - Barrera vs. De Leon (FITE, 7:30 PM EST)

Nostalgia addicts looking for a budget option Saturday can get their fix here. Legendary Marco Antonio Barrera is in exhibition action against former Jr. featherweight and featherweight titlist Daniel Ponce De Leon.        

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