by Cliff Rold
Welcome to the 2015 boxing season.
After the trees and menorahs have been packed away, the lights taken down, the last champagne is sipped.
Time to watch people punch each other in the face.
The year isn’t off to a hot start but we’re quickly closing in on Bermane Stiverne-Deontay Wilder. Before we get there, this weekend has five televised cards of note, three of them selected in order of what’s most likely to entertain.
For completists, Welterweight action of Fox Sports 1 (10 PM EST/7 PM PST) will feature Dusty Hernandez Harrison (24-0, 13 KO) versus Tommy Rainone (22-5-1, 4 KO) on Friday. Saturday night, Flyweights take center stage on BeIn Espanol (11 PM EST) with Mauricio Fuentes (17-3, 11 KO) against Javier Mendoza (22-2-1, 18 KO). Mendoza, the IBF 108 lb. titlist, has a mandatory looming with Milan Melindo. This non-title affair should be about sharpening up.
Those should be solid.
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: Darleys Perez vs. Jonathan Maicelo (Friday, ESPN2, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)
Fighting for the interim WBA Lightweight title, the winner is in line for a crack at Richar Abril down the line. Abril isn’t always something to get excited about. This should be fun in the meantime. Perez (31-1, 20 KO) has one loss, to Yuriorkis Gamboa. Maicelo (21-1, 12 KO) was stopped by Rustam Nugaev three fights ago. Lightweight isn’t the strongest class right now but all the fighters can do is fight. When a cupboard is largely bare, and with Terrence Crawford moving up 135 lbs. will be, there is opportunity. Both these men have a chance on Friday night.
Sho(Box) Time: Ivan Redkach vs. Yakubu Amidu (Friday, Showtime, 11 PM EST/PST)
Showtime’s schedule is a little bit of a mystery right now. We know the Heavyweights are coming. We know we have this. Redkach (17-0, 13 KO) is a promising talent at Lightweight but he’s not ready just yet. Amidu (21-5-2, 19 KO) is the sort of gatekeeper who can reveal where a fighter is. He gave Juan Carlos Burgos a good go in 2013 and if Redkach can beat him easy, he’s another step towards contention. Like the men on ESPN2, he’s in a land of opportunity. Lightweight needs a spark. Can the Ukrainian be that spark?
Pick Solo: Jesse Magdaleno vs. Erik Ruiz
This looks like a walkover at Jr. Featherweight but the man doing the walking is the point. Magdaleno (19-0, 15 KO) is part of a talented fistic family and could make some moves in 2015. Ruiz (13-1, 6 KO) should create the chance to build momentum for the rest of the year. Ruiz has never been stopped. That may change Saturday night.
For BoxingScene’s latest full divisional ratings, log on to: https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/view.php?pg=boxing-ratings
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
