Pick It: TBRB #3 Jose Ramirez vs. #4 Viktor Postol (Saturday, ESPN+, 7:30 PM EST)
In one of ESPN’s best main events of the year so far, fans will get another indication of just how far 28-year old unified Jr. welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez (25-0, 17 KO) has progressed. The 2012 Olympian raised eyebrows with a career best knockout of Maurice Hooker a little over a year ago. Now Ramirez faces arguably the best opponent of his career to date.
36-year old Viktor Postol (31-2, 12 KO) is a former titlist whose only losses came wide to Terence Crawford and competitively to Ramirez’s fellow dual-belted comrade in the division, Josh Taylor. Postol has won two since the Taylor loss. Can Postol find the form that put Lucas Matthysse on the floor in what could be his last, best chance for glory? Is Ramirez ready to play the destroyer full time or does he still have more growing pains a la his tough evening with Jose Zepeda?
Additional Shows to Watch For
Tuesday – Dominguez vs. Borquez (UFC Fight Pass, 10:30 PM EST)
Welterweights lead the way in this early week offering. 28-year old Santiago Dominguez (21-0, 16 KO) is coming off a split decision win after putting together a string of eight straight knockouts. 36-year old opponent Adalberto Borquez (30-19-1, 27 KO) has been stopped 12 times. This looks like a good place to see another streak started.
Wednesday – Tszyu vs. Horn (ESPN+, 5 AM EST)
The first of two international shows on the Plus Wednesday will play out when plenty of readers are still asleep. The 25-year old son of Hall of Fame great Kosya Tszyu, Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KO), is taking the biggest step of his young career, 32-year old former WBO welterweight titlist Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KO). They’ll have a solid crowd for this big Australian battle. Both men have already weighed in for this Jr. middleweight clash and look ready to go.
Wednesday – Crocker vs. Greene (ESPN+, 2 PM EST)
From Jr. middleweight back to welterweight, action moves from the land down under to the UK for a regional WBO belt. 23-year old Lewis Crocker (11-0, 6 KO) has gone the route in five straight after reeling off a series of knockouts to start his pro career. He’s scheduled for ten rounds for the first time against 28-year old Louis Greene (12-1, 7 KO). Greene has won three straight since his lone loss and has never been stopped.
Thursday – Barajas vs. Resendiz (UFC Fight Pass, 10:30 PM EST)
Young, undefeated super middleweights will put their ‘0s’ on the line. 23-year Juan Jose Barajas (11-0, 7 KO) enters off two consecutive decision wins. 21-year old Jose Armando Resendiz (11-0, 8 KO) went the distance in each of his first three starts and hasn’t let anyone get to the cards since. Can Barajas stop the trend?
Friday - Preciado vs. Contreras (Telemundo, 11:35 PM EST)
These aren’t quite championship level featherweights in the main event but that doesn’t mean we might not see some leather fly. 32-year old Belmar Preciado (20-2-1, 13 KO) has scored two stops since suffering his lone stoppage defeat. 28-year old Dennis Contreras (21-10-1, 19 KO) has been halted only twice but is 1-4-1 in his last six starts.
Saturday – Dubois vs. Snijders (ESPN+, 2 PM EST)
Tyson Fury leads the field and Anthony Joshua is hot on his heels. It’s a good time to be a UK fan of the big men. One of the shining lights of the future is ready to pick up the slack if either falters. 22-year old countryman Daniel Dubois (14-0, 13 KO) is already rated in the top ten of the WBC and WBO. 26-year old Ricado Snijders (18-1, 8 KO) might not move the needle for him but it’s another step toward the dream of bigger things.
Saturday - #6 Lara vs. Vendetti (Fox, 8 PM EST)
One of the best Jr. middleweights of the last decade and change returns. 37-year old Erislandy Lara (26-3-3, 15 KO) makes his first start since pancaking the brother of Saul Alvarez a year ago. 30-year old Greg Vendetti (22-3-1, 12 KO) was stopped in two by Michael Soro three fights ago and doesn’t look like a big threat but with Lara’s time getting long in the game could the veteran look to make a statement in the thick PBC crop at 154 lbs? Undercard action kicks off on FS1 at 6 PM EST.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
