By Cliff Rold
Last week saw a heavy slate of action but no presumed must-see action. This week sees less televised cards but one of them is as good a show as boxing can ask for. From ESPN to Telefutura to Pay-Per-View, there’s not a card that need be skipped in the bunch. However, there are still time options to consider so what demands to be seen? What can be taped for later? And what should be pursued for a later date?
These are BoxingScene’s television picks of the week.
Pick This: The Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor II HBO Pay-Per-View
I was in the minority that thought the first bout between Pavlik (32-0, 29 KO, World Middleweight champion) and Taylor (27-1-1, 17 KO) was the fight of 2007. I am ever voicing the cause of increased viewership for this generation of 115 lb. battlers. Combine those two and that makes Saturday an all-out geekgasm for yours truly. Pavlik-Taylor II may be shorter than their first seven-round epic, but it won’t lack for explosiveness. Underneath it will be two excellent Jr. Bantamweight showdowns. One is an all-Mexican battle between Martin Castillo (33-2, 17 KO, Ring Magazine #1) and Fernando Montiel (35-2-1, #5, WBO titlist), two of boxing’s most skilled fighters; the other features serious potential pound-for-pound level Mexican Cristian Mijares (33-3-2, 14 KO, #4, WBC) and 2000 U.S. Olympian Jose Navarro (26-3, 12 KO) in what could turn into some very violent chess. For all those who complain about big shows with a rich main event and an impoverished community of fighters below, this is your night. It’s three fights that could be main events of their own for the price of what could be one great night of fighting.
Tivo This: Mike Alvarado (19-0, 13 KO) vs. Jesus Rodriguez (17-2, 5 KO), Telefutura
Both Telefutura and ESPN2 have interesting shows this week but, as is usually the case, they will likely overlap in key spots. The Friday Night Fights show with Jr. Middleweights Troy Browning (20-0-1, 8 KO) and Delvin Rodriguez (21-2-1, 13 KO) is a solid, skilled, crossroads type fight. Therefore, with push leading to shove, I say tape the Telefutura show. Why? Well, it has nothing to do with the quality of the fighters. I just don’t speak fluent enough Spanish so I usually watch English language cards first and then if the Telefutura fight disappoints, I can always hit fast forward. And I’m a sucker for the Brian Kenny studio segments. Still, Alvarado is a quality young Jr. Welterweight and Rodriguez has won nine in a row so you won’t want to miss the chance to see it.
Chase This: Nicolay Valuev (47-1, 34 KO) vs. Sergei Lyakhovich (23-2, 14 KO), No U.S. TV
In the world that is “Has anyone uploaded that fight on YouTube yet?” this Heavyweight eliminator is likely to lead the class next week. The winner will face off sometime this year (presumably) with the world’s second best Heavyweight, WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KO). Is the potential high for a great fight? Hell, of course not. These are heavyweights. But there might be a good knockout and YouTube’s distilling abilities might squeeze this down to the moment that counts.
Enjoy the potential of the week ahead and hope it meets the hype.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
