BoxingScene Television Pick of The Week - September 13

Pick It: TBRB #2 Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin (Saturday, ESPN+, 7:30 PM EST)

The man who beat the man (and probably should have beaten Deontay Wilder too), 31-year old Tyson Fury (28-0-1, 20 KO), is back in action this weekend. Will we get much action from it? There hasn’t been a ton of excitement about this main event because so few are familiar with the challenger for the lineal heavyweight crown, 28-year old Otto Wallin (20-0, 13 KO).

Regarded as a promising heavyweight prospect as recently as a few months ago, Wallin is gambling he can make a name for himself against one of the sports biggest personalities. The Swedish southpaw has size and some craft, but Fury is a few levels above where he’s been before. Still, it’s (a claim to) the heavyweight championship of the world and the exciting Jr. featherweight titlist Emanuel Navarrate is on the undercard so this is a pretty easy pick of a busy week.

Additional Shows to Watch For

Friday – DAZN (7 PM EST): #9 Haney vs. Abdullaev

20 years of age feels too soon for a promising young lightweight to challenge lightweight kingpin Vasyl Lomachenko. If Devin Haney (22-0, 14 KO) wins Friday night, he won’t have to worry about that. He’ll be at least 21 when he gets his shot. The Las Vegas-based Haney faces 25-year old Russian Zaur Abduallev (11-0, 7 KO) for the interim WBC belt and a potential mandatory crack at the real deal in 2020. The undercard features one of the best women’s matches available as multi-division champion Amanda Serrano (36-1-1, 27 KO) challenges 37-year old Heather Hardy (22-0, 4 KO) for Hardy’s featherweight belt.   

Saturday – ESPN+ (3 PM EST): Edwards vs. Guarneros

An afternoon slate of British action features a pair of young flyweights fighting for some of the sub-belts of the WBO and IBF. That is usually a sign of a future contender. 23-year old Sunny Edwards (12-0, 4 KO) faces 28-year old Rosendo Guarneros (16-2-2, 8 KO). Guarneros is 1-1-1 in his last three fights.

Saturday – DAZN (7 PM EST): #7 Munguia vs. Allotey

22-year old WBO 154 lb. titlist Jaime Munguia (33-0, 26 KO) is likely headed to middleweight. Will he move up with his undefeated record intact? 28-year old Patrick Allotey (40-3, 30 KO) has won six in a row and, while he’s been stopped twice, it’s been almost five years since he suffered such a fate. Munguia is a flawed talent, but he’s also a fun viewing experience and always worth a look. For the bobby soxer crowd, lightweight Ryan Garcia will also be in action.

Saturday – FITE (8 PM EST): Takam vs. Lewis

38-year old former heavyweight title challenger Carlos Takam (36-5-1, 28 KO) was very nearly the heavyweight debut opponent for cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk. An injury to Usyk scuttled those plans and the Ukrainian has gone in another direction. Craig Lewis (14-3-1, 8 KO) shouldn’t be the same sort of challenge for the aging Takam.  

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