by Cliff Rold
Is this week the beginning of a sort of new boxing renaissance in the US?
We won’t know for sure for a long time. Boxing returning to prime time can’t hurt. The gradual return of the sweet science to network television over the last few years now leads to this Saturday.
Right now, boxing is paying to be there.
Can the ratings, and action, produce enough to get someone paying the sport to stay?
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: #7 Keith Thurman vs. #10 Robert Guerrero (NBC, Saturday, 8:30 PM EST/5:30PST)
For the first time since Larry Holmes-Carl Williams, boxing returns to NBC in prime time. Other networks had some forays into network in the years since. The most notable occasion was Mike Tyson-Buster Mathis on Fox in 1995. No matter how one slices it, this will be the most available fight to the US public in a generation. It’s a good return engagement. Thurman (24-0, 21 KO) holds the WBA belt at Welterweight that Floyd Mayweather doesn’t, their sub-champion. He has the potential to be more. Blessed with charisma, promotional flair, and talent, Thurman is an exciting young fighter. Guerrero (32-2-1, 18 KO), a former two-division titlist with additional interim belts in two more classes, is his biggest fight to date. Guerrero is not only his best foe; he is also Thurman’s most famous. The styles of both fighters should gel. Also on the show, #8 Jr. Welterweight and former Jr. Lightweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight beltholder Adrien Broner (29-1, 22 KO) has an intriguing assignment. He faces the loser of the 2014 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year, John Molina (27-5, 22 KO). Broner looks like the classier of the two on paper. Molina, in upsetting Mickey Bey and nearly upsetting Lucas Matthysse, is dangerous as long as he’s on his feet. This is a must-watch doubleheader.
Pick the Gamble: #3 Amnat Ruenroeng vs. Zou Shiming (HBO2, Saturday, 5 PM EST/ PST)
This might not be the prettiest fight. For those who follow the Flyweights, and those who like beyond the ring issues, it is highly interesting. Ruenroeng (14-0, 5 KO), a Thai Olympian, had one of the best campaigns of any fighter in 2014. He won the vacant IBF Flyweight title, went on the road to defend against undefeated two-division titlist Kazuto Ioka, and came off the floor to best former Olympian McWilliams Arroyo. Shiming (6-0, 1 KO), a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, hasn’t face remotely the same opposition but, based on ratings in China, is already one of the most watched fighters on Earth. He was better than Ruenroeng in an amateur rivalry and, already 33, his people are gambling on what appears the most beatable (perhaps for Shiming the only beatable) current Flyweight titlist. Shiming has made rapid progressions from the fencing unpaid style he employed in the Games to a more professional approach. The 35-year old Ruenroeng is a smart, tough, often dirty fighter; call him Hopkins-esque with the prison story in his past to boot. With Roman Gonzalez rumored to be headed to HBO in May, this rich era at Flyweight is finally inching towards the spotlight it deserves. If Shiming can win here, the money in the division grows. Additional bouts from the undercard will air on UniMas later in the day (11 PM EST/PST).
Pick YouTube: #3 Zolani Tete vs. Paul Butler (UK, Friday, ?)
For US fans, the best chance to see this one will probably come on YouTube after the fight. It could be a good one. Tete (19-3, 16 KO) has won three straight, including a knockout of talented Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr., on the way to winning the IBF title at 115 lbs. Butler (17-0, 8 KO) vacated the IBF title at 118 lbs. and is moving down to challenge Tete. Tete has been in with the tougher competition but Butler has home court. Eventually, the wealth of talent at 112 lbs. will be moving up. The winner here could be in position to cash in down the road.
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