BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week
by Cliff Rold
So far, more has happened outside the ring in 2015 than in.
That doesn’t really change this week.
The world waits to hear if the five-years melodrama will actually lead to a fight, looks forward to the start of “Premiere Boxing Champions,” and anticipates the return of Gennady Golovkin.
There are still fights along the way.
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: Sergio Mora vs. Abie Han (Friday, ESPN2, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST)
In the decade since he won the first season of the Contender, Mora (27-3-2, 9 KO) has fought only 16 times. He won and lost a Jr. Middleweight strap against the late Vernon Forrest. He dropped two decisions to Brian Vera. And yet his name value remained enough that he was supposed to be fighting Jermain Taylor for the IBF Middleweight belt this week. Taylor, who should have stayed retired after a brain bleed against Arthur Abraham, has fallen apart outside the ring. Mora gets Han (23-1, 14 KO) has consolation prize. Fans might have a better fight because of it. Mora didn’t really deserve a title shot but a win would keep him viable. For Han, it’s a chance to pick up a name and move his career forward. That’s the recipe for intrigue (though, being Mora, action could vary).
Pick Espanol: Ivan Najera vs. Robbie Cannon (Saturday, UniMas, 11 PM EST/PST)
This main event looks like a walkover but that’s not always a bad thing. Najera (15-0, 8 KO) is a decent prospect at Lightweight. Given his hometown of San Antonio, he has market potential. Cannon (14-10-2, 6 KO) will take his shot. Najera should blow through him and look good doing it. It’s all about the road to somewhere else. This is a good chance to see if we want to travel along the way.
Pick More Espanol: Daniel Sandoval vs. Grady Brewer (Saturday, BeIn Espanol, 11 PM EST)
The network that provided hardcore gems in 2014 will have more of them this year. Last week, we got the same-day replay of Kevin Mitchell-Daniel Estrada. This week? This week, we pass some time at Middleweight. Two fights ago, Sandoval (36-3, 33 KO) lost to Omar Chavez. That’s not a good sign. Brewer (32-19, 16 KO), the Season Two Contender winner, can sometimes play spoiler even well past his prime. Who knows? This might be fun for what it is.
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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
