BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week

By Cliff Rold

Pick It: TBRB #1 Oleksandr Usyk vs. #6 Mairis Briedis (worldboxingsuperseries.com, Saturday, 3:30 PM EST/12:30 PM PST)

The best fight of the week on paper won’t air on a major US network. There isn’t even the scarcely available Audience network that aired some of the World Boxing Super Series quarterfinals. That’s not excuse not to watch as it appears the website for the big cruiserweight tournament will be there for fans. Usyk (13-0, 11 KO) will attempt his fourth WBO title defense and Briedis (23-0, 18 KO) his first of the WBC in this critical semi-final contest. Usyk is on the road to Briedis’s native Latvia. It is the first unification bout for both men with the chance to finish unifying the division in the final. Whether or not these styles clash for a memorable fight, the best are fighting the best at 200 lbs. and in a sporting sense we can ask for little more. 

Additional Shows to Watch For

Friday – TyC (7 PM EST): Lemos vs. Lopez

Lightweight Gustavo Lemos (13-0, 4 KO) wants to be the next breakout fighter from Argentina. Ruben Lopez (12-10-3, 5 KO) probably won’t stop him along the way. If you’re curious about this 21-year old prospect, note the early Friday start time for Boxeo de Primera.

Saturday – HBO (10:30 PM EST): Matthysse vs. Kiram/Linares vs. Gesta

This isn’t a banner show for HBO by any stretch but there’s a chance it could be a sleeper. While you won’t find either of the main event welterweight in the TBRB top ten, Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KO) is #1 in the WBA ratings and Lucas Matthysse is #3. They’ll fight for the not-Keith-Thurman’s WBA welterweight belt. Also on the card, TBRB #2 and Ring Magazine/WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (43-3, 27 KO) faces WBA #15 Mercito Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KO). Gesta’s lone loss came in a 2012 title challenge of then-IBF lightweight titlist Miguel Vazquez.

Saturday - BeIn Espanol (11 PM EST): Ortega vs. Francisco

Drian Francisco (29-4-1, 22 KO) has fought only once since a dreadful November 2015 loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux. Saturday should at least be more entertaining against Edvialdo Ortega (25-1-1, 12 KO). Ortega is coming off a win over former 115 lb. titlist Tomas Rojas, a nice rebound from his lone defeat.

Saturday – TyC (10:15 PM EST): Maderna vs. Rios

Ezequiel Maderna (25-4, 16 KO) has been most memorable on the receiving end from more notable fighters like Artur Beterbiev, Edwin Rodriguez, and Thomas Oosthuizen. Here he fights a rematch with Martin Rios (22-13-4, 12 KO). Rios won a split decision in February 2017 and has since lost three of four. Can Maderna get him back in the winner’s circle?

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com