Pick It: TBRB #1 Saul Alvarez vs. #2 Caleb Plant (Saturday, Showtime PPV, 9:00 PM EST)

A new lineage, new TBRB, and first four-belted titlist at super middleweight will be established in this main event here. The 31-year old Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KO), a former lineal middleweight king and already Ring’s titlist at 168 lbs., enters with seven wins in his last eight starts against TBRB or Ring rated opponents.

He’s 4-0 at super middleweight and already holds the WBA, WBA, and IBF crowns. The 29-year old Plant (21-0, 12 KO) has the IBF belt, is 2-0 against similarly ranked opponents, with three defenses so far. It’s a chance to Alvarez to further cement place as boxing’s pound-for-pound leader. For Plant, it’s an opportunity to go from another good fighter with a belt to something more. Super lightweight Elvis Rodriguez, former Jr. featherweight titlist Rey Vargas, and former super middleweight titlist Anthony Dirrell will also be in action.            

Additional Show to Watch For

Friday - Crocker vs. Haroyan (ESPN+, 2:00 PM EST)

Welterweights step to scratch in Northern Ireland. 24-year old Lewis Crocker (13-0, 7 KO) went ten for the first time in his last outing. 28-year old Artem Haroyan (17-2-1, 9 KO) is 3-0-1 in his last four starts and has been stopped only once.     

Friday - Signani vs. Diaz (DAZN, 2:00 PM EST)

Middleweight action heads this afternoon show streaming from Italy. 42-year old Matteo Signani (30-5-3, 11 KO) enters the main event having won seven in a row. 41-year old Ruben Diaz (26-2-2, 17 KO) has been stopped only once. That defeat came two fights ago against future title challenge Kamil Szeremata.  

Friday - Mayer vs. Hamadouche (ESPN+, 7:55 PM EST)

For the second weekend in a row, ladies champions seek to unify. 31-year old Mikaela Mayer (15-0, 5 KO) seeks to defend here WBO belt at 130 lbs. for the second time. 32-year old Maiva Hamadouche (22-1, 18 KO) has been the IBF titlist since 2016 and made six defenses of here title. This appears to be the toughest test of Mayer’s career to date. Several interesting prospects will dot the undercard.      

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