Pick It: Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall (Saturday, ESPN, 8:00 PM EST)
As of now, it’s still game on at the O2 Arena. The passing of the UK’s Queen Elizabeth could result in postponement but if not the biggest women’s doubleheader arguably of all time will still be going down. In the main event, 27-year old two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KO) will defend the lineal middleweight crown against the only woman to post a win over her as an amateur or professional, 31-year old WBO titlist Savannah Marshall (12-0, 10 KO). Shields has the rest of the major belts in the class.
One of them will soon have a full set. In support, Shields’ 2016 teammate will attempt to expand her belt collection. 32-year old Jr. lightweight Mikaela Mayer (17-0, 5 KO) defends her IBF and WBO belts against 28-year old WBC titlist Alycia Baumgardner (12-1, 7 KO).
Additional Shows to Watch For
Friday - Mbilli vs. Ware (ESPN+, 7:00 PM EST)
Super middleweights get the main event with the spotlight on a promising 2016 Olympian. 27-year old Christian Mbilli (21-0, 19 KO) doesn’t get paid by the hour but he’s been the full ten round route and is scheduled for it here. 34-year old DeAndre Ware (15-3-2, 9 KO) was stopped in consecutive fights before winning two in a row. Can he be just the third foe to take Mbilli the distance?
Friday - Wagner vs. Sanchez (DAZN, 7:00 PM EST)
29-year old Josh Wagner (12-0, 6 KO) is making his way toward deeper water in the always dense welterweight division. 34-year old Jorge Sanchez (13-2, 5 KO) has only been stopped once and enters with two straight losses.
Friday - Adorno vs. Roldan (Showtime, 9:00 PM EST)
A ShoBox tripleheader is headlined by Jr. welterweight action. 23-year old Joseph Adorno (16-1-2, 14 KO) had a tough stretch where he went 0-1-2 before picking up two quick knockout wins. The learning curve can be tough and we’ll see where his progress is against 29-year old Hugo Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KO).
Friday - Glanton vs. Aguilar (ProBox TV, 9:00 PM EST)
It’s cruiserweight mayhem in the main event. When 30-year old Brandon Glanton (16-0, 13 KO) is in action, mayhem isn’t too much to hope for. Glanton survived a fight of the year candidate last year with Efetobor Apochi and has won two more since. 31-year old Mario Aguilar (22-7, 18 KO) just might not have the durability to force it out of Glanton. Aguilar has been stopped four times.
Saturday - Singh vs. Vrenozi (DAZN, 7:00 PM EST)
29-year old Sukhdeep Singh (12-0, 5 KO) can dream about being India’s first middleweight champion. The dream is still a way from fruition. Saturday’s main event will see him try to remove 30-year old Xhuljo Vrenozi (18-4, 3 KO) as an obstacle. Vrenozi has been stopped three times.
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
