Pick It: TBRB #9 Jamal James vs. Radzhab Butaev (Saturday, Showtime, 10:00 PM EST)

As the WBA sorts out the mess it made of its title situation over the last two decades, the 33-year old James (27-1, 12 KO) might just have landed in the perfect place at the perfect time. Undefeated in seven starts since a loss to Yordenis Ugas, James is positioned for a potential Ugas rematch and maybe more in the always tough welterweight division.

James just has to keep winning and the 27-year old Butaev (13-0, 10 KO) appears to be a real threat to that. An accomplished amateur, Butaev is all the way live in a quality main event seemingly below the radar. The show will also feature red hot welterweight contender Jaron Ennis and promising lightweight Michel Rivera in action making this the easy must-watch of the week.         

Additional Show to Watch For

Friday - Sharp vs. Kabore (ESPN+, 2:00 PM EST)

Jr. lightweight gets the spotlight on this afternoon card. 26-year old Archie Sharp (20-0, 9 KO) got a little attention on social media this week in a back and forth with new divisional titlist Shakur Stevenson. Sharp is competing for a fringe WBO belt here, a chance to inch toward a  challenge of Stevenson. 38-year old Alexis Kabore (28-4, 7 KO) has only been stopped once but has lost two of his last three.   

Friday - Canizales vs. Valenzuela (Estrella, 10:00 PM EST)

One of the more surprising upsets of 2021 came in May when Jr. flyweight Carlos Canizales (22-1-1, 17 KO) was stopped by unheralded Esteban Bermudez. Canizales makes his return, rebuilding at age 28. 22-year old German Valenzuela (16-2, 12 KO) has never been stopped and is 3-1 in his last four starts. All three wins were by stoppage.

Friday/Saturday - Betancourt vs. Marrero (Telemundo, 12:00 AM EST)

Lightweights go to scratch on this Florida card. 30-year old Victor Betancourt (27-3, 14 KO) enters off a knockout win after being stopped in the first one fight prior. Miguel Marrero (9-1-2, 4 KO) is 2-1-2 in his last five and has never been stopped.

Saturday - Cameron vs. McGee (DAZN, 2:00 PM EST)

Junior welterweight title unification action airs live from the UK. 30-year old Chantelle Cameron (14-0, 8 KO) is looking for her second defense of the WBC crown at 140 lbs. 35-year old Mary McGee (27-3, 15 KO) makes the trip across the pond riding a seven fight win streak as she attempts her second defense of the IBF crown. McGee hasn’t lost since back to back defeats to Erica Farias and Holly Holm in 2013. 

Saturday - #3 Zepeda vs. Vargas (ESPN+, 6:55 PM EST)

32-year old Jr. welterweight Jose Zepeda (34-2, 26 KO) won the 2020 Fight of the Year in an instant classic with Ivan Baranchyk. The eight-knockdown thriller may have taken years off both men. Baranchyk lost his next start and Zepeda struggled mightily in his next fight with an aged Hank Lundy. 23-year old Josue Vargas (23-1, 9 KO) has won 13 in a row and has the biggest chance of his career to date against a potentially vulnerable foe. This could be fun.    

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