Pick It: TBRB #1 Errol Spence vs. #7 Danny Garcia (Saturday, Fox PPV, 8 PM EST)
It might not be the welterweight fight the hardcore faithful want the most, but it’s plenty along the way there. That it comes with a hell of a two way story helps too. 30-year old unified titlist Errol Spence (26-0, 21 KO) is lucky to be alive after an accident that looked as lethal as any ever caught on film. He makes his first start since and it’s impossible not to wonder if he comes all the way back.
Even if he does, 32-year old former lineal Jr. welterweight king Danny Garcia (36-2, 21 KO) is in his toughest underdog spot since he faced Amir Khan and Lucan Matthysse. The latter was a career making, and to date defining win and Garcia hasn’t had another win like it since. He lost competitively to Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter and mostly held serve between. This could be his last, best chance for another elite standout win. It’s not the strongest undercard but we will get a look at Sebastian Fundora, one of the more intriguing rising names at Jr. middleweight. The main event is the real selling point though and it’s a good one.
Additional Shows to Watch For
Wednesday - Dickens vs. Walsh (ESPN+, 2 PM EST)
Regional UK featherweight action highlights this mid-week afternoon affair. 29-year old Jazza Dickens (29-3, 11 KO) has won seven in a row since consecutive stoppage losses, one of them to the excellent Guillermo Rigondeaux. 34-year old Ryan Walsh (26-2-2, 12 KO) has his own win streak, four in a row, and is unbeaten in six fights since a split loss to Dennis Ceylan in 2016. Walsh has never been stopped.
Thursday - Adams vs. Duversonne (NBC Sports Net, 9 PM EST)
COVID strikes again in the sweet science. For 31-year old former middleweight title challenger Brandon Adams (21-3, 13 KO), it means 30-year old replacement opponent Sanny Duversonne (11-2-2, 8 KO). It’s the second Fight City main event and the first show was good viewing. This is the first start for Adams since his loss to Jermall Charlo. Duversonne has lost two straight but never been stopped.
Friday - #10 Saunders vs. Murray (DAZN, 2 PM EST)
31-year old WBO super middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KO) looked like he might be in line for Saul Alvarez earlier this year. If he hopes to be in that mix in 2021, he’ll need a good showing here. 38-year old challenger Martin Murray (39-5-1, 17 KO) makes this a solid UK grudge match but Murray’s best days may be too far behind to make a real go. As is, Murray is a fighter who was just a little better luck away from wins over Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez once upon a time. Murray lasted longer against Gennady Golovkin than anyone else before Daniel Jacobs ended the Golovkin KO streak. An upset would be one of the feel good stories of the year for a solid prizefighter who reveals how thin the line to glory can be.
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
